I wanted to take this time to post something a little special. Today marks the day I have been wearing the hijab for a whole year! I know the hijab is a wajib (compulsory) act of faith for all women as they come of age, but I only had the courage to don one a year ago. It is the best decision I have made in my life! I would like to tell you my hijab story.
For many years, wanting to wear the hijab had been gnawing at my heart, but I had brushed it away with many excuses. I was afraid that I would be ridiculed by my family, abused by strangers in Melbourne. I was particularly afraid of the prejudice I would face in my classes and those around me who have had only media skewed images of Islam and the hijab. However my perceptions were far from the truth.
Though I faced some opposition at first primarily from those close around me, I realized that my friends, especially my non muslim friends were supportive, understanding and thrilled! My classes went on as normal, and though I had to work twice as hard to overcome prejudice, it only benefited me in the end! My grades are testimony to that :) I also realized that men stared at me less and I felt more comfortable in my own skin. I no longer felt the need to be skinny or sexy, or to push myself to be someone I was not.
These are all the superficial pros to wearing the hijab. The primary goal of me wearing the hijab was to please God. Wearing the hijab did not make me feel more religious, neither did it make me feel that I understood my religion better. It did not give me a 'head's up' to non hijabi sisters. I was still the same ol' crazy Far. However it gives me peace of mind that I am doing something that pleases God. I may not be perfect in my dress, but I am still learning and will do better each day insyaallah..
So what is you story? and how does your hijab make you feel? leave me a comment!
ps: My hijab do for Hari Raya Haji
i love this post! i share rather similar stories. and yes my reason to start covering myself is for Allah's sake and nothing else. and i understand the part when u said that males don't look at u that much, and u don't feel the need to dress to impress people, and d desire to appear sexy in front of people.
ReplyDeletei am grateful for the fact that i am more comfortable now that i was before i don the hijab. i feel very much protected by Allah :)
good to hear ur story and i respect ur effort in posting it here so it can be shared with our sisters who read this post. May Allah bless us all :)
jazakallah khayr.