Hijab is NOT for Blending in
And it never will be…
When I became Muslim and started wearing the hijab I would sometimes be questioned by other Muslim non hijabi sisters over why I was wearing it. They would say things like:
“You don’t have to cover your hair you know.”
And, in their defence or justification for not wearing the hijab they would say things like:
“I don’t like symbols. My faith is personal, I don’t need to show it to others by something I wear on my head.”
And when questioning the relevance of wearing the hijab in terms of being more modest and not drawing attention to oneself:
“You stand out a lot more when you’re dressed like that, this isn’t a Muslim country”.
Unfortunately like many Muslims and even those Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab they have failed to realise one critical point:
Hijab is not meant to make you blend in.
It may seem controversial for me to say that but it’s actually really true. What does Allah tell us about this in the Quran?
‘O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.’
Surah Al-Ahzâb: 59 Sahih International
Allah clearly states in the Quran when He gives the command for the hijab that it is so we can be known and recognised as Muslim women. It has nothing to do with us becoming invisible and blending in with our surroundings.
I would like to stress that although the hijab and covering one’s awrah has many benefits including creating a physical barrier between a woman’s body and the unwanted gazes of men that it’s not its sole purpose. The hijab is a command from Allah and an ayah (sign).
The reality is that when we make any command from Allah about something other than the main objective which should be to obey Allah we fall into many traps that we may or may not be able to explain. For example we know that as Muslims we are forbidden to eat pork. Yet, many people in this world eat pork, so if we attach the reason for not eating pork to be due to the health risks etc, how do we then explain the fact that in much of the world pork is a cheap and affordable meat that many people eat on a daily basis without suffering harm? Some farmers who breed pigs can even show that their pork meat is of such a high quality and very healthy to eat with scientific proof. Should we then say that it is OK to eat pork as long as it’s a healthy one? No, of course not, because eating pork is clearly forbidden in Islam and unless it’s a life or death situation we would be sinful for eating it.
By making the focus of hijab to be mainly about men we are falling into the trap of ridiculous narratives that Islam is an oppressive religion and Muslim women are forced to cover because of men. I think this is why many who grow up in Muslim homes from cultural backgrounds that consciously choose not to cover, feel that if they live in an environment where the hijab is not the norm it is OK for them to abandon hijab because they think its purpose is to not stand out.
But we should stand out as Muslims, it is a dawah to those who do not know about Allah. As Muslim women who adhere to the hijab we become the notably unnoticed. By covering our natural God given charms we are noticed for the belief system that we follow. The only religion with Allah, the way of all of the Prophets.
In a society where the correct hijab is not common some would argue that wearing it is drawing attention to yourself. In non Muslim countries some sisters get abused for wearing the correct and even incorrect hijab in public. In Muslim countries where the niqab is shunned Muslim women also face discrimination. Yet sisters still persevere in the face of difficulty to obey Allah’s command, seeking the reward from Him.
The hijab is not for blending in, it is so we will be recognized as Muslim women, believing women, God conscious women.
The hijab is an opportunity for us as Muslim women to stand out for the right reasons instead of the wrong ones. In a world where ‘sexual identity and freedom’ is at the forefront of so-called human rights, education and so-called ‘progression’. Of course we will stand out because the hijab is the opposite of all of that. The hijab is about what we cherish in our hearts, minds and souls- the love of Allah and seeking His pleasure. We do not seek the whimsical short lived pleasures of the dunya. Our thoughts are not so flimsy to have physical pleasure as our main goal in life.
Our hijab should be a reminder to every Muslimah that our physical looks are what Allah has bestowed on us. They are not an achievement for us to show off to others. They are not tools for us to compete with each other or use to get ahead in life. Our physical looks are not a goal or even a purpose in life, they are simply a gift, an amanah from Allah that we must take care of.
In a world where we are constantly told by others that Islam is oppressive and misogynistic and that covering is patriarchal control over women, we:
hijab wearing,
niqab wearing,
jilbab,
abaya,
covered women,
are noticed.
It takes courage to be different and stand up for what you believe in, not just in words but in deeds.
Hijab is not for blending in. It never was.
Be proud of your hijab proud of your Islam.
The Niqabi Diaries is a podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of the Muslim women who have experience wearing the face veil.
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