Having Confidence in Hijab
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We live in a world where we sometimes find our value to be defined little by our intelligence, integrity and insight. A label seems to be attached to us based on our appearance; a label given even if we do not wish to have it. With the pressure of society to be molded into a particular manner to be deemed beautiful, women can find their confidence plummet. We should always remember that our beauty is not just determined by our external appearance. In fact, our minds, personality and spirituality are what brings out a type of beauty that cannot be found externally alone. 

About

As Muslim women, we are guided to adorn ourselves with modesty. One of the ways this is achieved is through wearing what is commonly known as “hijab”. Though we usually refer to the headscarf as hijab, the meaning of this Arabic word is “barrier” or “screen”. There are different views amongst the scholars on how much a woman should cover, i.e., whether this includes the hands, feet and face. Nonetheless, when a woman takes the choice to take the step in covering up, many trials can arise as a direct result of it. Be it internally with oneself or externally with family, friends or colleagues, the adornment of modest clothing and hijab can become a focal point of discussion and thought.

Many times, we find sisters eager to wear the hijab but are frightened of the consequences that can arise. Something that is fundamental to our practice as Muslim women has become a focal point in media and governmental policies, bringing about new problems and issues to face. So, what do we do in times like this? Do we leave our Islamic teachings and continue with those that are accepted by man in society?  

What we need to do is turn to Allah  and to His book for our ultimate guidance. We should view the issues we face today as something old that has been recycled with a new face; the crux behind the difficulties has always been the same. A trial, difficulty or an issue are signposts in life to redirect and refocus our vision towards our relationship with Allah  .

“Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned.” (Al-Baqarah 2:286)

Here are some simple ideas and thoughts to contemplate on, when thinking about hijab regardless of how long you have been wearing it. We should always be working towards strengthening our love for this commandment.

Remember Your Lord

Wearing hijab is a personal choice between you and Allah . Though there is a very external aspect to it that others can see and comment on, ultimately your choice to wear it and your source of strength should be through your relationship with Allah . Shaytaan likes to creep up on us, especially when we find ourselves moving towards acts that are obedient towards Allah  and emaan boosting.

Use your struggles to turn to Allah  for guidance, strength and confidence in your life. Remember Allah  loves you. Remember Him  and insha Allah; this will dramatically improve your confidence in hijab. Our Creator loves us more than any human ever could and His  commandments are there as direction towards good and protections against evil.

How do we ensure we strengthen our relationship with Allah ? Make dua. Pray to Him to grant you the patience with your troubles and to keep you focused on your religion.

“Yā Muqallibal-qulūb, thabbit qalbī `alā dīnik”

“O Changer of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion” 1

Learn About Hijab

As women, we are often told that hijab is compulsory and we must wear it. This is true. However, actively educate yourself on ayaat and hadith concerning the hijab and modesty that Muslim women should abide by. Why is this important? When difficulties around practicing hijab arise, if you have a strong conviction and understanding for the teachings behind the concept, you are much more likely to withstand in the issues. If we do not know why we are doing something, we are very unlikely to stick by it when things get difficult. Challenges will always be thrown our way because life on earth was never supposed to last forever; it was never meant to be perfect. Know your facts because it is knowledge that will keep a candle lit during dark times.

Take it One Step at a Time

Adorning hijab is a transformation that differs for each individual sister. Some can go from being uncovered to being in niqaab (face veil) in a relatively short space of time. Whilst for others, it can take months or even years to feel fully comfortable being in hijab full time. It is great to take others around you as forms of inspiration and motivation, however, we should always be aware of our own personality and resilience.

Know yourself and how much you can handle. Take things slowly to begin with. When rushing into actions when we are not fully comfortable runs the risk of doing a dramatic U-turn; this can be damaging to a person’s faith. For example, if you have never covered your hair and are worried about how to go about it, wear the hijab on Fridays or the weekend and gradually build up from there.  This by no means should be translated as never wearing hijab full time or appropriately. Rather, the journey should be taken at the speed that is comfortable for you and have a goal in mind of where you want to reach.

Explain to Others

One worry many of us have is how others perceive us, especially family members. To those who are closest to you, include them in your journey. This can be done by explaining your choice of wearing the hijab, asking their opinion and perhaps getting them to come shopping with you when you buy hijabs and clothes. Whilst they may be opposing to hijab, relationships are affected negatively when we make choices without explaining it to those around us. Many opinions fly around such as “you will never get a job”, “nobody will want to marry you”, “you will be seen as an extremist” – the list goes on. Hearing such things can be irritating and annoying, however, we should always respond with patience and gentleness. The best way to tackle such statements is head on with action and resilience to prove them wrong. 

Work on Your Inner Self

As mentioned above, the modesty that women are to adorn is both external and internal. Be balanced on your focus between the two. The more we work on our internal selves, the more confidence we develop in the external aspects of hijab. Work on developing the characteristics of a Muslimah and cleaning your heart from diseases and sins. This is a lifelong journey and one that will be directly affected by your circumstances at any given time. However, we should set regular goals that we wish to achieve in order to always have something to strive towards.

I pray this has been useful. May Allah grant us all the strength, understanding and patience to adorn the clothing He has commanded us to wear insha Allah. The ultimate goal is peace in Jannah and hijab is one of the tools that will help this point.

What tips do you have for women who are thinking of wearing hijab or facing internal/external struggles while deciding to wear hijab? Please share your tips/suggestions/advices/words of encouragement to fellow Muslimahs to help them in their journey to come closer to Allah . 

 Hasan, Tirmidhi 3522



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