Image credit: rx_kamakshi

Most of us – in general most Muslim sisters in the Indian-subcontinent – we do hijab when we go out. We wear abaya when we go out. But, when it comes to any special occasions like weddings and such events, why don’t we wear our abaya? And if we do, then why don’t we wear our hijab?

You may choose to think that it will nullify your beauty, but on the contrary, it reflects your persona as a Muslimah and also as an inspiration to the other sisters. Is it really necessary to look beautiful for all of the people, or is it something special that must be cherished by its right protector? I will choose the latter one. Not only because it’s the right Islamic choice, but also because I feel my beauty is too precious to be cherished by everyone.

Furthermore, why do we not cover our heads properly when a male cousin comes to meet us? Is he our mahram? Certainly not. A few of us do cover our heads, but it’s more of a formality because braids can be seen from behind and the fringe can be seen from the front. Are we not responsible for our modesty and chastity?

Allah has blessed us all with huda (guidance), no matter how much we try to deny. But the truth is that every time we make a choice, we are well-aware if that is a right one or a wrong one. We mend the wrong choices we make, with the false, self-convincing explanation and excuses. But, what is the point? Are we all not here to please Allah?! Indeed we are, so why do we shy away from the concept of being a full time hijabi?

May Allah give all us sisters the strength and the will to make the decision of full-time hijab. And may He give us the strength and Eman not to go astray from our decision later. Islam is our religion and we are a part of it. Should we not glorify our religion and Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala by following His commandments?

“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognized and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.” [Quran 33:59]

Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has commanded us to cover ourselves with our cloaks so we are not annoyed by the people who think of us lustfully when they see we are not properly covered. Think of it sisters: it is a commandment from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, but realistically speaking, it is made only for our modesty, and only for the respect we deserve. Indeed, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala knows all.

Hijab is not limited to covering of your hair, it is a way of appearance and clothing. You have to be appropriately dressed all the time.

“O you Children of Adam! We have bestowed on you raiment to cover your shame as well as to be an adornment to you. But the raiment of righteousness, that is the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah, that they may receive admonition.” [Quran 7:26]

All of us are aware of the kind of clothing we can afford and alhamdulillah! We are so blessed that we can afford to cover ourselves completely. But how disappointing would it be for Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala to see that despite giving us the power to afford it, we still love to wear those short sleeve shirts, those deep necks, square backs, and the fitted clothes in all the right places, with the use of less and less cloth. Allah is the most forgiving and indeed He loves repentance, my sisters – it’s never too late until your last breath. A few of us might decide to do it at a later stage in our life, but are we really sure that we will live until we reach that later stage? Our lives are uncertain; we must make our motives certain and act upon them with an immediate effect.

I read on a website about a sister who did not do hijab, and when she got to know about the importance of hijab and how Allah declares the women who do not cover themselves as women of ‘tabarruj’ (shamelessness) – that sister started crying and immediately wanted to cover her hair. The other sisters suggested that she can start doing that once she goes to her home as they were in a Dawah centre. She persisted and demanded a hijab immediately. They managed to get her a hijab, and while this sister was on her way to her home, she was killed in a car accident. SubhanAllah! What a wonderful decision she made to start her new life immediately, and to immediately repent.

To the few of our sisters who like to stylize the concept of hijab, please read below a small part of a verse from Quran:
“…and that they (believing women) should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O you Believers, turn you all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss.” (Quran 24:31).

The right path is indeed full of bliss. Although we might see it as a path full of hardships, but the bliss after the hardship fades is the most amazing. Some of these hardships are created by shaytan. The temptation to show at least that fringe of your hair, the temptation to immediately apply nail polish when you don’t have or have to pray, the temptation of wearing some perfume while going out, the temptation to have that tailor-made sparkly abaya, or the temptation to give up on all good things of Islam after all they are so hard.

Allah is indeed the provider of Strength and verily He listens to you. So ask Him for the guidance you need. Ask Him for the will-power you require. Ask Him for the sincerity you wish for in order to do everything in your life only for the sake of Allah.

After the moment I wrote this article, I realized that I am also a part time-hijabi. I read this article 15 times at least, wondering and questioning myself: why should I advise someone to do something, when I myself am not doing it? Before the end of the day, I knew what I had decided upon, and since then, I have decided to do hijab even in front of my cousins.

The very next day of my decision, we had to go on a family picnic and I panicked as to how my family would react. But, alhamdulillah – it went so well!

Verily, Allah is the Provider of strength, and He makes things easier on you. Alhamduillah.

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Shireen Baig is a 19-year old who works and lives in UAE – Dubai. She is a graduate who likes to write poems and share them on her facebook account.

Image credit: zainubthewayfarer. Used with permission.

I Got It Covered (IGIC for short) is a blog about hijab, but for those of us involved in the project, it’s so much more. IGIC is a perfect example of how we should never belittle the smallest of ideas, never underestimate the power of a simple suggestion. It’s a lesson in taking time out to plan and work behind the scenes, like a seedling which grows underground before poking its head out of the soil. It’s an illustration of the beauty of teamwork and sisterhood, and working together for the sake of Allah.

But let’s back up for a minute. What is IGIC, again, and how did it all start?

The Start

IGIC began as a simple suggestion. It was during an AlMaghrib class on the Sciences of the Qur’an taught by Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Faqih. If you’re not familiar with AlMaghrib Institute, do a google search on it, and the website will come up first thing on the list.

Sheikh Muhammad’s suggestion was that sisters “Should start a website that demonstrates Muslim women’s willingness to wear the Hijab.” He suggested that “We gather signatures from all around the world so that we could prove once and for all that Muslim women willingly wear the Hijab.”

None of the sisters currently involved in IGIC were in that class. None of us actually heard the suggestion.

But one sister attending the class heard the suggestion and took it to heart. She posted the idea on the AlMaghrib student forums, adding, “Does anyone know if this project has been initiated yet or at least who might be interested in initiating it?”

AlMaghrib has a sizeable student body, masha’Allah. And when an idea gets posted on the forums, especially a good idea with a lot of potential, people start buzzing.

People read that first post with interest and added their own thoughts. “There must be something else we can do to help others understand us instead of simply collecting signatures, which might not make a huge impact,” another sister who had attended the class said. “Someone suggested we start a blog and have as many sisters as possible contribute to it by sharing their stories, reasons and benefits of wearing hijab, niqaab, abaya, jilbab, etc. If anyone can think of any other ideas regarding this, then please do share!”

From there, things took off. Lots of people got excited. We shared ideas. We brainstormed on possible names for the project. A domain name was registered. A team was formed. So many small suggestions followed that first small suggestion by the Sheikh, until the idea for IGIC was born.

We had a lot of material to work with, and a good group of sisters willing to do it. Now it was time to get to work, to put it all together.

The Seedling

The beginning was a rough one for IGIC. We had a lot of ideas, a lot of enthusiasm, enough resources and volunteers. But we were at a loss on how to put it all together.

As volunteers, we didn’t know anything about each other. We were sisters who had met online on an internet forum, united by our love for Islam and knowledge and hijab, and the hope to do something for the sake of Allah. We lived in different cities and countries, across different time zones, and the internet remained our main way of communication.

But there was a lot to discuss. And we didn’t know where to start. We’d never done anything like this before. Sure, we had sisters who were skilled in their own areas: writing, editing, web design and development. But how were we supposed to put it all together?

May Allah bless and reward the sisters who stuck with IGIC in its early days underground as a seedling. They were rough days for the project, but blessed by the mercy of Allah. Every time we started a discussion, things would come to a sudden halt. It was a jarring experience, and after months of starting and halting, starting and halting, it didn’t seem like we were going anywhere. There were days when we thought the project would never take off, moments when we might have thought of giving it up entirely.

But by the mercy of Allah, we pushed forward. There was always one sister or another to ask what the next step was, to remind us to keep moving, to inspire and encourage us forward. “Renew your intentions,” they’d say, or “Think of the reward lying ahead!” If anything, our IGIC experience gave us a profound understanding of Surat al-Asr:

“By time, * Indeed, mankind is in loss, * Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.” [Al-Asr, 103].

Truly, we would have been lost, and IGIC would have been lost if, through the blessings of Allah, we hadn’t had a group of sisters, striving in belief and righteousness, and advising each other to truth and patience. We ask Allah to make us so, and to purify our intentions.

We took our time with IGIC. We took time to get to know the other sisters on the team, developing a sense of sisterhood. We discussed our vision and our plans at length. We fussed over kinks and details. We made timelines; sometimes we stuck to them. And then one day, nearly a year later – it was such a long year in the time of IGIC! – we found ourselves setting and announcing a launch date. Allahu Akbar! What a blessing from Allah.

The Vision

One of the things we really took our time with on IGIC before the launch was developing a vision and a written mission statement. We took a hint from Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. We had each member send in their own personal mission statement for the project, what they hoped to contribute to and see come out of the project. Then we took all those individual statements and put them together. What we ended up with was this:

I Got it Covered is an online network that personifies women everywhere who willingly respond, with love and dedication, to the command of their Lord in wearing the hijab. Through the stories and voices of these women, IGIC exposes the realities behind covering, correcting stereotypes about hijab and becoming a source of inspiration and support for women who wish to pursue wearing it. Doing so, IGIC hopes to create bridges of education, respect and understanding, ultimately sharing the beauty of Islam with the world.

It was a statement we were satisfied with, because it began with the concept of sincerity (doing it for Allah), because it focused on hijab, because it ended with a broader spectrum and vision of supporting Islam. And because we’d worked together as a team to perfect it.

We officially launched IGIC on December 29th, 2008, corresponding to the 1st of Muharram, 1430 AH, over a year after Sheikh Muhammad’s first small suggestion was made. We’re not even sure if Sheikh Muhammad is aware of the project, but here is IGIC, moving and growing and expanding, and all praise and thanks are due to Allah.

The Future

IGIC has been on the web for over a year. It’s hard to believe, subhan Allah! Any good in the site, we acknowledge is from Allah alone, and any mistakes or problems with it are from the evil and imperfections of our own selves. We ask Allah to forgive us and guide us to what is better.

We’ve come a long way at IGIC, but we still have a long way to go. And we’d love to have your help along the way!

What can you do for IGIC? Read, comment, and share with friends. Send in your submissions, your own stories about hijab! Remember to never underestimate the power of a simple idea; never belittle the reward that can lie behind a small word or the sharing of a single link. Let us know your thoughts and ideas on the site and how we can improve – we love hearing from our readers! And make du’aa for IGIC. Lots, and lots of du’aa.

We ask Allah to accept from you and from us, and to make us leaders for the people of taqwah. Ameen.

The IGIC Team

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This article initially appeared in the October/November 2009 issue of the Modest Beautiful Muslima Magazine. The section called “The Future” was amended to reflect the time difference between when the article was first published and today.

3 minutes and 56 seconds, that’s all it took.  That is all it took for me, in my public speaking class, to stand up in front of a crowd of Non-Muslims, a crowd of people that have been brainwashed for years by the media to believe that Islam oppressive to women, to clarify its beauty to women.  To explain that the hijab found in Islam, frees women.  I stood there, my voice loud and clear, confidence and passion up, eye contact maintained with my audience, hand gestures utilized at all the right times, and revealed to them, the truth of hijab.

Below is the outline I used and created myself on the day of my speech.  I thought I would share:

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Outline for Speech

Topic:  Covering my body as a Muslim woman.

General Purpose:  To inform.

Specific Purpose:  At the end of my speech, my audience will know that Muslim women cover by choice and are free, not oppressed.

Central Idea:  Why I cover, why Muslim women at large cover, what it does for me and how I feel about  it.

Intro:

Looking in the mirror over three and a half years ago, I thought to myself, “I just need one good reason.  One reeaallllyyy good reason to cover.”  So I stood there, by myself for a moment, tilting my head while trying to adjust a scarf over my hair, and it came to me, “For God.”  And that was it.  I made the choice to observe the hijab permanently.

The hijab is the clothing that a Muslim woman wears that covers her head and body that is worn for the sake of God alone. Quite contrary to the untrue popular belief, we Muslim women do not adhere to the hijab because some manipulative, controlling man told us to do so.

It might also come as a surprise that the hijab is absolutely not meant to degrade women.  Instead, it is meant to highly uplift her status in abundant ways, as I will explain shortly. However, if we look at what the media hurls at us, we see that it is meant to hide her identity, subjugate her and degrade her.  But I tell you, as a practicing Muslim woman, as a woman who lives in a family in which almost all the women do not cover, that this is a powerfully advertised, blatant lie.  And such a powerful lie it is, because countless people actually fall for it.  So I am here simply to explain the truth and clear up falsehood.

Body:

I. Sole reason Muslim women cover.

A. Above all, hijab is worn for the sake of God alone, because in the Quran, He commanded us to wear it.

B. Islam teaches us that the purpose of life is to worship God.

1. We worship Him in all aspects of our lives, such as eating, walking, talking.  Hijab is worship though clothing.

II. Numerous benefits of hijab.

A. It allows us to have a deeper, more personal relationship with God.

1. Wearing the hijab is a reminder, directly on my body, that I am being watched constantly by my Creator. Thus, I strive to be the best I can be in my day to day life.

2. Hijab is also the flag of Islam for others.  Thus, I always keep in mind that I am not just representing me, Mahvish, I am showcasing the religion of Allah so I have to habitually maintain myself with excellent character.

B. It teaches us and those around us to respect the modesty, opinions and high status of a woman.

1. You don’t need to look at the figure of a woman to appreciate her.  This is actually disrespectful.

C. It teaches us modesty not only through clothing, but conduct as well.

1. The hijab has grown into me, I carry its lessons everywhere, even at home.

2. Because of the hijab, I highly value my hayaa, and therefore would never have the heart to wear immodest clothing in front of anyone, including those who can see me without the hijab.

Conclusion:

Overall, the hijab can be looked as the symbol of the pure love a Muslim woman has for God; it reflects her willful adherence to His laws.  Not in any way is it oppressive, and I speak from great experience, it is actually quite freeing.  It reminds me, and Muslim woman at large, to be the best person we can be and that it’s the inside that counts.  It teaches us modesty not only on the outside, but in the inside as well, and best of all, it brings us closer to our Creator.  Hence, not for all the riches in the world, would I ever give up my hijab.

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In the end, people, including my teacher, loved my speech.  They thanked me for clarifying this mysterious topic and I left an impact on them, Insha’Allah, for the rest of their lives.  I erased the years of filth created by the media in a matter of minutes.  Alhamdulillah.  So don’t be afraid to speak out to defend the religion of Allah regardless of the short amount of time you have.  After all, a little can really go a long way.

Not too long ago, I was checking site statistics, and something caught my eye.

One thing our site statics show are “search engine terms,” those words people search for before landing on the website. We don’t know who searched for what, or why, but it gives us some idea of the things people are looking for. Sometimes these terms are straightforward, sometimes they’re strange, sometimes they’re funny. And sometimes they really touch you.

As I was looking across the list of terms for that particular day, it was this string of words that caught my eye:

“Too late to put the hijab back on?“

Like I said, there’s no way for us to know who made that search, and the anonymity provided by the internet can be a blessing. But somewhere out there, it seemed, is a person – a sister, perhaps – wondering if it’s too late for her to put her hijab back on. Maybe she’s young, and maybe she’s old. Maybe she wore the hijab for years before taking it off, and maybe she wore it just one day. Whatever her circumstances, she’s wondering now if there’s any way back.

To the sister who’s searching, wondering – to any sister who’s searching, wondering – “Is it too late?”

Why would it be too late, when Allah Himself says,

وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَعْفُو عَنِ السَّيِّئَاتِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ

“And it is He who accepts repentance from his servants and pardons misdeeds, and He knows what you do.” [42:25]

Why would it be too late, when we read,

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah . Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”’ [39:53]

Sister – every sister wondering – it’s never too late. Whether you used to wear hijab and then stopped – whether you’ve never once worn it yet – whether you’ve never once in your life worn it – as long as Allah has given you life, why not repent and start a new page? Why not start wearing it now before it really is too late?

Don’t say, “I want to wear hijab, but…” Don’t say, “I want to repent, but…”

Repentance, seeking forgiveness, turning back to Allah – they’re all part of our existence as Muslims. And no matter what our sins or what we’ve done, Allah’s Mercy is greater than all that… and as long as you still live, it’s never too late.

If anyone has any words of advice, any pieces of wisdom they can offer a sister asking “Is it too late?” please share them in a comment below. Somewhere out there are sisters who are searching, and maybe you can help provide an answer.

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“Ya Ummi” is an IGIC column for asking and giving advice, so named because the person we often turn to when we don’t know what to do next is our mother. If you would like to submit your own “Ya Ummi” post, you can do so via the Contact form. Please note that this is not a place to seek fatwas, but rather a place to seek advice from others who may have gone through similar experiences. If you would like answers to fiqh issues, you can visit IslamQA.com or contact your local imam.

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The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wasallam said, “None of you will truly believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

Our love for others is not only to love for them the aspects of this dunya (good health, security, prosperity, etc.), but to also love for them the most dear aspects to our hearts regarding the deen: the love for firm belief, the love for staying away from sins and earning reward, the love for jannah. Our love for others encourages us to give them naseeha, to advise them to wear hijab, to call them to all aspects of Islam.

What ways can you think of to show your love for your brother, for your sister? And when was the last time you manifested this love?

I read a quote in an article the other day that said something along the lines of: “Humans have become an epidermis with no soul.”  How true do you find this statement?

The idea of beauty has been awfully distorted by the media – images everywhere of women flawless from every aspect.  Sure, lowering the gaze may protect us greatly, but unless Muslims consciously ponder this matter, nobody is immune to the pressure of being “drop-dead-gorgeous.” So I thought it would be a good idea to bring up this discussion from a couple of different aspects.

Perfectionism and Lies

Much of the dillema surrounding this topic stems from unhealthy perfectionism. I myself can be idealistic sometimes, which is why this aspect intrigues me most.

A model: A little thinner and taller than the average woman is taken “captive” by makeup “artists”.  She is painted and colored and designed and molded.  She poses.  Then the picture is handed over to the masters of photoshop.  She is airbrushed, stretched, squeezed, and fixed so that every single aspect of her body is “perfect.”  Eerily perfect.  And this product is now a nonverbal lie.  That is not what she actually looks like, but that is what the masses are told she looks like, and implied that they should also look like, to be happy.  And to be perfect.  And, well, perfectly happy of course.  Many other “perfect nonverbal lies” are made in this manner, and the spread of lies results in a spread of self-doubt and insecurity.

The Deal with Perfection

Humans are far from perfect – in fact our continous mistakes and sins are what make us in such a dire need for Allah’s mercy and forgiveness.  Our physical creation, however, is perfect as Allah almighty says in the Quran:We have indeed created man in the best shape [95:4]. Thus, we should be content and pleased with the way Allah has created us, so that in turn Allah will be content and pleased with us.

As a general rule, perfection should not be our aim in anything, because perfection is attributed to Allah azza wa jal alone.  Rather, we should aim for “Ihsaan” or “excellence” in everything we have control over from our spirituality to schoolwork.  Our outward appearance is nothing different.  Practically speaking, eating healthy and exercising frequently should suffice.  Otherwise, time spent in this arena should only be proportionate to its importance.  And considering all the many duties and responsibilities we have as Muslims, this does not score very high on the importance level.  Again, the key is balance.  We should not neglect our appearance, but it should not be an issue that consumes our time, emotions, and efforts.

Seeking perfection in this manner is not only destructive regarding the ideals they spread, but it is also a flat out lie.  And although lies are everywhere in our world, that does not lessen the magnitude of this sin. Lying is one of the “Major Sins,” and truthfulness is one of the most important qualities a Muslim should be beautified with.

Looking Deeper

If you happen to see one of these images, engage your heart and look deeper into the picture. Behind the smooth complexion, huge eyes, and subtle smile what do you see? Chances are… nothing. What has this airbrushed woman accomplished?

Think of it this way: for what niyah (intention) is this woman trying to beautify herself? Compare it to the noble intentions suggested for beautifying ourselves in Islam. For example, a woman may beautify herself for her spouse, and thus get ajar (reward) for it, and the time in front of the mirror is not a loss. Allah is the Greatest and Most Gracious. When we beautify ourselves at home, we may be getting rewarded for not doing so in public.

Look deeper into the picture, how much time has this same woman spent beautifying her innerself? When you look at it this way, you may make du’aa for Allah to grant her hidaya (guidance) and pity how lost this “perfect-looking” woman really is.

What Really Deserves our Attention?

We were created to be tested. Our focus in life should be what Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala expects and commands us to do. Our worry should be how we present ourself before Allah subahanahu wa ta’ala and nobody else. I think the best summary for what really deserves our attention in this short life is this hadeeth:

“Verily Allah does not look to your faces (shapes) or your wealth, but He looks to your hearts and to your deeds” [Muslim].

So if that is how Allah will judge us, that is what we should focus on.  How do our hearts look? How are our hearts “shaped” and “colored”?  Are they “even”? Are they consistent?  Instead of questioning our apperance at the mirror, more often than not, we should be questioning our interior.

Image credit: Jer Kunz

It was early morning, and my mobile phone was ringing. I suddenly woke up.

That was my friend calling me to wake for Fajr. I was about to get out of bed when someone started talking to me in my head. Someone told me to keep sleeping because life is not about sacrifices and waking up on time; life is all about chilling, having fun and waking up whenever I felt like it. But I pushed those thoughts away, reiterating what the Mu’athin had just said in the Athaan – “Salaah is better than sleep,” and  that success lies in Salaah.

When I did wudu’ and wore my hijab, I looked in the mirror and then again someone infiltrated my mind, telling me: I look so much better when I don’t have this piece of cloth on my head; I should put on more and more accessories to accentuate my beauty. I should wear makeup so I can look attractive – when I have a good head on my shoulders, why should I hide myself like that… when the opposite sex can be attracted by just a glance, then why not become eye candy…

Why hide when I can show what I have, and thus become so much more popular, gain fame and glory… Who will give me preference when I apply for a job and my competitor is an obscenely dressed girl displaying all that I hide? Who would accept me as a wife when I’m not following what the world follows? When the majority of the people call me an outcast, when I don’t attend parties where they serve drinks and have a dance floor, when I don’t dance at Mehndis when all my friends do? Why am I rejecting the beauty of life, my friends, the pleasures that I can get by just changing the way I dress, the way I look, the way I interact with people?

All this can change in a minute, you don’t have to wake up for Fajr, instead you can sleep whenever you want to, you can have a boyfriend like all the other girls you know who have one, you can wear whatever you want to, you can get whatever you want to, you can do whatever you want to!

It would have been so easy to just give in, to take off the scarf and climb back into bed. Instead, I read ta’awwuth. I read ayat al-kursi and said salat and salam over the Messenger, salla Allahu alayhi wasallam.

I told that someone, the devil who had invaded my head, that this life is a test. The test is not so hard for those who aim for Jannah, those who strive in Allah’s way, subhanahu wa ta’ala, those who want to live and die for Him. Those who have sold their souls to Him in exchange for Jannah. Those who submit themselves to Him, those who think of Him day and night, those who believe that His will takes precedence over theirs, those who are not frightened by the minority who follow Islam and the majority who doesn’t, those who believe that He is the Creator of the Worlds and that nothing can harm them when they follow their constitution that is the Quran and the Sunnah with commitment and devotion.

I don’t care about the girl who will get preference over me when I apply for that job. I don’t care about that man who will refuse to marry me when I don’t show my skin -  in fact I reject him and all such men in the first place. I don’t want to be someone’s girlfriend or whatever. I want to be judged by what I think and what I do rather than what I wear and how I look. I want to stand up for my values, and bow down to my Lord. I don’t want to substitute sleep for salaah.

Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has said in the Quran:

And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the Pleasure of Allah. And Allah is full of Kindness to (His) slaves. [al-Baqarah, 2:207]

He has also said, subhanahu wa ta’ala:

Indeed Allah has purchased from the Believers their lives and their possessions, promising them Paradise, in return. [at-Tawba, 9:111]

Let’s all kick the waswasa of shaytan from our lives. Let’s just live and die for Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala. Let’s just kick away all those excuses that get in the way of happiness. I pray that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala accepts our good deeds, that He gives us a place near Him in Jannah. Ameen.

No one has the right to see anything of me that I don’t give them permission to see. It’s my right to choose who gets to see the best of me – and that will be the one who Allah gave the right to see me, the one who is halal for me, not some stranger. This is a man who will, insha’Allah, have the same feelings of love towards me, and will be willing to sacrifice for me like I sacrifice for him.

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9. Because I am precious.

There’s no way I’m going to degrade myself by becoming an object to be seen by the eyes of every man and stranger. And I’m not going to let anyone steal a glance at my bare body, so long as I can help it.

But I can’t stop the men from looking… and I apologize to my sister who does not wear the hijab, because there are those out there with weak souls that will look your way, even if you do not want it. That is why Allah made the hijab fard, so that those with weak hearts will not be tempted in the same way. I’m talking about those men who, wherever they walk or drive, are always looking at every woman they see. And they continue their search, because no amount of looking is enough for them – but I won’t let them see much of me.

—–

8. Because I respect myself.

I value myself and will not enter that sexual race where the prize is a vulgar word, a lustful glance, or the offer of an inappropriate friendship or relationship.

—–

7. Because my beauty isn’t just on the outside.

When my husband comes along, the one I will marry and give a part of my life to, the one I will share my hopes and dreams with, the one who will become the father of my children – he will not choose me because of my body, insha’Allah. I do not want him to love me for it; I want him to know me for who I really am, to love my personality, to respect my values. Beauty fades with age, but the soul does not. There are many women out there who choose to wear the hijab after they are married, thinking that is how they will win a husband over initially. But if it was beauty that won him over in the first place, it can win him over again with another woman.

—–

6. Because I fear for my brother in Islam.

The one I see at school or work or even on the bus, the one who’s struggling to please Allah by lowering his gaze. I do not want to be a hardship on him, and I do not want to be an obstacle in his path of closeness to Allah. How would I stand before my Lord bearing such a sin?

—–

5. Because I care about my brothers in Islam.

Many of these are brothers who, more than anything, want to get married to fulfill their desires in a permissible way, want to avoid haram glances – but they can’t get married yet because of their financial circumstances. I do not want to be a reminder of that to any of my brothers as he passes me, I do not want to be someone who arouses the desires he is trying so hard to control.

—–

4. Because the “zina” (fornication) of the eye is the glance.

The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wasallam said, “Every son of Adam has his share of zina. For the eyes may commit zina and their zina is looking…” [Bukhari, Muslim and Ahmed].

I want to protect myself from such glances. I don’t want to make such glances. I don’t want to be the object of such glances, either, and I certainly don’t want to be the cause of these glances. I don’t want anything at all to do with them.

—–

3. Because I care about my sister in Islam.

The woman who walks along with her husband as he glances at me, comparing us and thinking of all the different women there are out there, while she experiences the hurt and jealousy. One day I might be faced with the same thing, and even if I think I’m pretty… well, there’s always prettier.

—–

2. Because I fear for myself.

Then there’s another reason, a more important reason, and it’s the hijab: that hijab I will one day wear as part of my burial clothes. There’s one difference here – I won’t have a choice about whether I wear that hijab or not, so why not wear it in this life, while I have the choice to follow the command of Allah? Allah asks us to be modest even in our graves when no one will see us or value us, so why shouldn’t we do it while alive? I want to wear hijab before it’s too late to be rewarded for it, before it’s too late to avoid punishment for not wearing it. I would rather walk this earth obeying and pleasing my Lord because I choose to, rather than meeting Him on the Day of Judgment having displeased Him.

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1. Because Allah said so.

But in the end, these are all secondary reasons, all reasons that come after the most important reason of all: I wear my hijab to obey Allah and worship Him. Even if I did not know the wisdom behind hijab or have any other reason for wearing it, I would still wear it because He has asked me to. I choose to be of those who say, “We hear and we obey” [2:285].

—–

And that is why I wear my hijab, walhamdulilah. May Allah make the hijab a jewel to every Muslim woman, as it is to me.

_____________

Loosely translated and adapted from an Arabic email forward.

Allah is the One who loves and commands hayaa, so we shouldn’t be affected by the words of those who mock it!

When we think of role models for hijab or hayaa, who do we usually think of? We tend to think of women we know or have heard about: our moms, sisters, aunts, daughters, friends; the Sahaabiyaat, or the Wives of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them.

But what about a Prophet, a man, a slave of Allah, as a role model for hayaa? Hayaa is the defining characteristic of Islam, and it was a characteristic of all the Prophets of Allah. Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah’s Messenger Muhammad salla Allahu alayhi wasallam said:

Musa alayhi assalam was a shy person (a person of hayaa), and used to cover his body completely because of his extensive shyness. One of the Children of Israel hurt him by saying, “He covers his body in this way only because of some defect in his skin, either leprosy or scrotal hernia, or he has some other defect.” [The Children of Israel were in the habit of bathing in front of each other, but Musa's hayaa prevented him from doing this, so he would bathe in seclusion, and this is why the rumors started.]

Allah wished to clear Moses of what they said about him, so one day while Musa was in seclusion, he took his clothes and put them on a stone and started taking a bath. When he had finished the bath, he moved towards his clothes so as to take them, but the stone took his clothes and fled. Musa picked up his stick and ran after the stone saying: “O stone! Give me my garment!” until he reached a group of the Children of Israel who saw him naked, and found him in the best shape of what Allah had created, and Allah cleared him of what they had accused him of.

The stone stopped there, and Musa took and put on his garment and started hitting the stone with his stick. By Allah, the stone still has some traces of the hitting, three, four, or five marks. This was what Allah the Almighty refers to in His saying:

O you who believe! Be not like those who annoyed Moses, but Allah cleared him of that which they alleged, and he was honorable in Allah’s sight!” [33:69]

[Sahih Al-Bukhari]

Subhan Allah, Musa ‘alayhis salaam lived thousands of years before us. Yet, for practicing hayaa, the innate quality of every Muslim, he was made fun of. Take a look again at what they said: “He covers his body in this way only because of some defect in his skin, either leprosy or scrotal hernia, or he has some other defect.”

SubhanAllah, how many times has someone in hijab been told something similar – that they must wear it because they’re ugly, or have a defect, or a million other reasons. Even the Prophets of Allah dealt with the same kind of situations, with the cruel words and the mockery of the people. However, look at how the Prophets of Allah dealt with it – not by showing off or giving in, but by relying on Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala alone to show the truth – however it may be.

Obviously, Prophet Musa’s situation was unique – but for us, as hard as it may get, as much as people may ridicule us, ignorantly, for practicing our deen – always know that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is on your side because you chose to obey Him. Just as it was for Prophet Musa, a believer himself, it is the same for us. And know this:

The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wasallam said, “Islam began as something strange, and it shall return to being something strange, so give glad tidings to the strangers.” [Muslim]