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The Voice of Islam :: General :: General Islam :: Hijaab
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Why Do I Wear Hijab
by .:Hibat Allah:. Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:23 pm
Why Do I Wear Hijab
by Sultana Yusuf Ali, 17 Year Old High School Student
Published in Toronto Star - Young People's Press
I probably do not fit into the preconceived notion of a ‘rebel’. I have no visible tattoos and minimal piercings. I do not possess a leather jacket. In fact, when most people look at me, their first thought usually is something along the lines of ‘oppressed female’.
The brave individuals who have mustered the courage to ask me about the way I dress usually have questions like: ‘Do your parents make you wear that?’ or, ‘Don’t you find that really unfair?’
A while back, a couple of girls in Montreal were kicked out of school for dressing like I do. It seems strange that a little piece of cloth would make for such controversy. Perhaps the fear is that I am harbouring an Uzi underneath it.
Of course, the issue at hand is more than a mere piece of cloth. I am a Muslim woman who, like millions other Muslim women across the globe, chooses to wear the Hijaab. And the concept of the Hijaab, contrary to popular opinion, is actually one of the most fundamental aspects of female empowerment. When I cover myself, I make it virtually impossible for people to judge me according to the way I look.
I cannot be categorised because of my attractiveness or lack thereof. Compare this to life in today’s society: We are constantly sizing one another up on the basis of our clothing, jewellery, hair and makeup. What kind of depth can there be in a world like this?
Yes, I have a body, a physical manifestation upon this Earth. But it is the vessel of an intelligent mind and a strong spirit. It is not for the beholder to leer at or to use in advertisements to sell everything from beer to cars. Because of the superficiality of the world in which we live, external appearances are so stressed that the value of the individual counts for almost nothing. It is a myth that women in today’s society are liberated. What kind of freedom can there be when a woman cannot walk down the street without every aspect of her physical self being ‘checked out’. When I wear the Hijaab I feel safe from all of this. I can be rest assured that no one is looking at me and making assumptions about my character from the length of my skirt. There is a barrier between me and those who would exploit me. I am first and foremost a human being and not vulnerable because of my sexuality. One of the saddest truths of our time is the question of the beauty myth and female self-image. Reading popular teenage magazines, you can instantly find out what king of body image is ‘in’ or ‘out’. And if you have the ‘wrong’ body type, well, then, you’re just going to have to change it, aren’t you. After all, there is no way that you can be overweight and still be beautiful.
Look at any advertisement. Is a woman being used to sell the product? How old is she? How attractive is she? What is she wearing more often than not? That woman will be no older than her early 20s, taller, slimmer and more attractive than average, dressed in skimpy clothing. Why do we allow ourselves to be manipulated like this? Whether the 90s woman wished to believe it or not, she is being forced into a mould.
She is being coerced into selling herself, into compromising herself. This is why we have 13-year-old girls sticking their fingers down their throats and overweight adolescents hanging themselves. When people ask me if I feel oppressed, I can honestly say no. I made this decision out of my own free will. I like the fact that I am taking control of the way other people perceive me. I enjoy the fact that I don’t give anyone anything to look at and that I have released myself from the bondage of the swinging pendulum of the fashion industry and other institutions that exploit females. My body is my own business. Nobody can tell me how I should look or whether or not I am beautiful. I know that there is more to me than that. I am also able to say no comfortably when people ask me if I feel as though my sexuality is being repressed. I have taken control of my sexuality.
I am thankful I will never have to suffer the fate of trying to lose/gain weight or trying to find the exact lipstick shade that will go with my skin colour. I have made choices about what my priorities are and these are not among them. So next time you see me, don’t look at me sympathetically. I am not under duress or a male-worshipping female captive. I’ve been liberated.
by Sultana Yusuf Ali, 17 Year Old High School Student
Published in Toronto Star - Young People's Press
I probably do not fit into the preconceived notion of a ‘rebel’. I have no visible tattoos and minimal piercings. I do not possess a leather jacket. In fact, when most people look at me, their first thought usually is something along the lines of ‘oppressed female’.
The brave individuals who have mustered the courage to ask me about the way I dress usually have questions like: ‘Do your parents make you wear that?’ or, ‘Don’t you find that really unfair?’
A while back, a couple of girls in Montreal were kicked out of school for dressing like I do. It seems strange that a little piece of cloth would make for such controversy. Perhaps the fear is that I am harbouring an Uzi underneath it.
Of course, the issue at hand is more than a mere piece of cloth. I am a Muslim woman who, like millions other Muslim women across the globe, chooses to wear the Hijaab. And the concept of the Hijaab, contrary to popular opinion, is actually one of the most fundamental aspects of female empowerment. When I cover myself, I make it virtually impossible for people to judge me according to the way I look.
I cannot be categorised because of my attractiveness or lack thereof. Compare this to life in today’s society: We are constantly sizing one another up on the basis of our clothing, jewellery, hair and makeup. What kind of depth can there be in a world like this?
Yes, I have a body, a physical manifestation upon this Earth. But it is the vessel of an intelligent mind and a strong spirit. It is not for the beholder to leer at or to use in advertisements to sell everything from beer to cars. Because of the superficiality of the world in which we live, external appearances are so stressed that the value of the individual counts for almost nothing. It is a myth that women in today’s society are liberated. What kind of freedom can there be when a woman cannot walk down the street without every aspect of her physical self being ‘checked out’. When I wear the Hijaab I feel safe from all of this. I can be rest assured that no one is looking at me and making assumptions about my character from the length of my skirt. There is a barrier between me and those who would exploit me. I am first and foremost a human being and not vulnerable because of my sexuality. One of the saddest truths of our time is the question of the beauty myth and female self-image. Reading popular teenage magazines, you can instantly find out what king of body image is ‘in’ or ‘out’. And if you have the ‘wrong’ body type, well, then, you’re just going to have to change it, aren’t you. After all, there is no way that you can be overweight and still be beautiful.
Look at any advertisement. Is a woman being used to sell the product? How old is she? How attractive is she? What is she wearing more often than not? That woman will be no older than her early 20s, taller, slimmer and more attractive than average, dressed in skimpy clothing. Why do we allow ourselves to be manipulated like this? Whether the 90s woman wished to believe it or not, she is being forced into a mould.
She is being coerced into selling herself, into compromising herself. This is why we have 13-year-old girls sticking their fingers down their throats and overweight adolescents hanging themselves. When people ask me if I feel oppressed, I can honestly say no. I made this decision out of my own free will. I like the fact that I am taking control of the way other people perceive me. I enjoy the fact that I don’t give anyone anything to look at and that I have released myself from the bondage of the swinging pendulum of the fashion industry and other institutions that exploit females. My body is my own business. Nobody can tell me how I should look or whether or not I am beautiful. I know that there is more to me than that. I am also able to say no comfortably when people ask me if I feel as though my sexuality is being repressed. I have taken control of my sexuality.
I am thankful I will never have to suffer the fate of trying to lose/gain weight or trying to find the exact lipstick shade that will go with my skin colour. I have made choices about what my priorities are and these are not among them. So next time you see me, don’t look at me sympathetically. I am not under duress or a male-worshipping female captive. I’ve been liberated.
.:Hibat Allah:.- Join date : 2009-04-14
Posts : 45
Re: Why Do I Wear Hijab
by aashiqa-ilaahi Wed Apr 22, 2009 4:39 pm
wallah islam liberates women through hijaab!!we r not judged by our looks,weight,appearance etc..our value lies within!!
"indeed the most honourable in the sight of ALLAH is the most pious amongst you"...
it is said..."more veil-more value"!!!..& thats exactly what we are..valuable gems,pearls,diamonds..so we cant expect anyone 2 realise our value,if we dont realise it ourselves!we are precious,with our hijaab & all!!may ALLAH TA'AALA guide all females 2 understand their true value,obey HIS beautiful command of hijaab which is 4 our benefit in this dunya & aakhirah!
"indeed the most honourable in the sight of ALLAH is the most pious amongst you"...
it is said..."more veil-more value"!!!..& thats exactly what we are..valuable gems,pearls,diamonds..so we cant expect anyone 2 realise our value,if we dont realise it ourselves!we are precious,with our hijaab & all!!may ALLAH TA'AALA guide all females 2 understand their true value,obey HIS beautiful command of hijaab which is 4 our benefit in this dunya & aakhirah!
aashiqa-ilaahi- Join date : 2009-04-14
Location : south africa
Posts : 7
Re: Why Do I Wear Hijab
by aashiqa-ilaahi Wed Apr 22, 2009 5:12 pm
Any woman in hijaab/niqaab knows its perhaps not the easiest thing to adapt to when you initially begin covering yourself.& the odd stares & comments which are flung at us from time to time sometimes becomes unbearable..but it is all gulped in..knowing that so long as MY ALLAH is pleased with me,who cares about what anyone else thinks!!also the thought always crosses my mind..that what in the world are they looking at..when they can see nothing!!when in actual fact,they might be looking outrageously weird & they fine about that 
Once a white non-muslim woman approached me & i thought 2 myself ,oh here im gona be questioned about my niqaab again!!but 2 my utter surprise..she said:"sorry to stop you , but i just want 2 tell you something.. you look STUNNING!!"& i was actually lost 4 words..(perhaps even gone all blushy under my purdah)
..but reality is just that!! that IS what we are..even if many non-muslim women dont outwardly admit it..they do envy us,coz ALLAH has honoured us & protected us from the evil gazes of men..& our value is intact!!SUBHAANALLAH!I LOVE ALLAH & ISLAM !!
Once a white non-muslim woman approached me & i thought 2 myself ,oh here im gona be questioned about my niqaab again!!but 2 my utter surprise..she said:"sorry to stop you , but i just want 2 tell you something.. you look STUNNING!!"& i was actually lost 4 words..(perhaps even gone all blushy under my purdah)
..but reality is just that!! that IS what we are..even if many non-muslim women dont outwardly admit it..they do envy us,coz ALLAH has honoured us & protected us from the evil gazes of men..& our value is intact!!SUBHAANALLAH!I LOVE ALLAH & ISLAM !!
aashiqa-ilaahi- Join date : 2009-04-14
Location : south africa
Posts : 7
xX-Mini_BB-Xx- Join date : 2009-04-23
Location : Over The Hills And Far Away
Posts : 34
Re: Why Do I Wear Hijab
by .:Hibat Allah:. Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:00 pm
xX-Mini_BB-Xx wrote:Hijab is our life
'Jiabi for ever
lol yeah hijab iz! m wt ya der bt ima be jilbabi 4 lyf inshala hehe
.:Hibat Allah:.- Join date : 2009-04-14
Posts : 45
Re: Why Do I Wear Hijab
by xX-Mini_BB-Xx Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:05 pm
.:Hibat Allah:. wrote:xX-Mini_BB-Xx wrote:Hijab is our life
'Jiabi for ever
lol yeah hijab iz! m wt ya der bt ima be jilbabi 4 lyf inshala hehe
lol sis what did you think i meant?! hijab isnt just a peice of cloth on your head! it includes covering your figure and wear modest clothing :p inshallah plan on being a niqabi soon but still havent gathered the guts to do so yet *cries*
xX-Mini_BB-Xx- Join date : 2009-04-23
Location : Over The Hills And Far Away
Posts : 34
The Voice of Islam :: General :: General Islam :: Hijaab
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