HIJAB AS AN ISLAMOPHOBIA AND THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OF MUSLIM WOMEN
Some people believe that the Islamic faith is oppressive to women. In the
west, particularly in France, the Hijab or headscarf that many Muslim women
wear has become a symbol of this perceived oppression. This blog explores the
experience of wearing the Hijab of Muslim Women of Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It
will draw attention that why some Muslim women consider it a mark of
empowerment, what kind of motivation they have to wear the Hijab, and how the
Hijab protects them.
MEMOONA ASHFAQ
Assalam o Alaikum wa-raḥmatu llāhi wa-barakātuhu. I am Memoona Ashfaq. I
am a student. I am doing my graduation in BS Zoology from a great institute GC
UNIVERSITY LAHORE. Today the purpose of my writing is to highlight the
importance of the hijab for girls. Hijab is a symbol of modesty and protection.
The Qur'an instructs Muslim women and men to dress modestly, and for some, the
hijab is worn by Muslim girls and women to maintain modesty and privacy from
unrelated males. I started to observe abaya and veil in my university life.
Before that, I used to carry a scarf but the 1st day at the university was the
1st day when I started àbaya and hijab. And then I feel it is very comfortable
and easy to carry. Initially in my 1st semester, one of my friends said it is
just a start. It is a university. People just start this kind of hijab and are
then unable to persuade it just because of the opinions of people around us.
You will also not be able to persuade this. It was the time when I decided that
I will continue to wear the hijab just because it is the beauty of our Islam.
And now it's my 7th semester and still, Allah Pak blesses me strength to follow
the hijab.
Hijab has three
roles that should be considered by Muslim women: it should be not form-fitted,
it should not be transparent, and it should not be attractive.
I, as a Muslim
woman, feel very comfortable wearing the hijab. For me, the hijab means
religious devotion, discipline, reflection, respect, freedom, and modernity. I
am pro-democracy because for me democracy means having choices in how to live
our lives. I also support and promote mutual respect between Muslim and
non-Muslim women. I want the world to treat Muslim women with the same respect
they treat other women, from other religions and cultures who wear headscarves
such as Hindu women, Jewish women, Greek women, and Catholic nuns. The
assumption that wearing a hijab is oppressive should change from an oppressive
idea to a liberating one.
When it comes to
Muslim women, Hijab is expressed in not only the covering of the head but also
typically covering the body when dressing, without tight clothing. It can mean
only showing the hands and feet and face- hence wearing long sleeves, pants,
and the commonly worn headscarf, such as the hijab, which covers the head and
shoulders. In South West Asia and North Africa, it is common to see women
wearing Abayas, which are cloaks that cover the entire body. And why we as
Muslim women are not following the basics of our religion that are safety tools
for us. Because the hijab overtly indicates that she is a Muslim woman. She
represents the values that she follows in Islam.
"The beautiful thing about it is that
I'm representing a religion".
"So when I do
something, I am seen as a Muslim woman that did something. After I talk to
others, I hope they'll remember me as the hijabi who was kind, well-spoken, and
outgoing. “I hope my words may have some positive impact on society. And as
Muslim girls, it is our 1st priority to Follow Islam which is a very easy and
beautiful religion. Thanks.
KAINAT FATIMA
I am Kainat Fatima,
22 years old and a student of microbiology. I started wearing Hijab or dupatta
after my matriculation, I am still not obeying it the way I should but it is
still better than before and will be perfect with time INSHALLAH.
The first thing
that motivates me is the LIFE OF LADY ZAINAB ع
(daughter of Hazrat Ali ع), the way she obeyed
is extraordinary. Secondly, I feel better when wearing any such modest thing that
I do wear western too so I can tell the comfort zone is being less exposed.
Does Hijab protect you?
Yes PERIOD.
Will you suggest other Muslim women to wear
Hijab?
In this case, only
advice to all the women including MYSELF is keep trying less is not the less if
not stopped, everyone owes a different journey may be one day we will be
obeying it perfectly so don't try to find arguments AGAINST HIJAB. Give others
their time take your time. Live it up you all QUEENS.
RIDA IQBAL
My name is Rida
Iqbal. I am from Karachi and 20 years old.I started wearing a hijab when I was
in Class 8.
There are many
things that motivate me to wear a hijab. First of all, it is the order of my
Allah and his Rasool. And surely there is goodness in every order of his. In
addition, in this period full of temptation, it is the best solution to avoid
the evil eyes of the men. In my opinion, the beauty of every girl is in the
hijab.
The hijab is the
best protection for all girls. I feel very protective and comfortable when I am
in a hijab. The identity of hijabis girls is unique and different from all
others. Hijab represents all the girls as Muslim women.
I
love wearing a hijab and I am proud of it.
AFSHEEN RIAZ
I am 17 years old
and a student in my first year. I started wearing hijab from 6 class and niqab
from 9th standard. Alhamdullilah
I started it because,
I feel awkward and I used to see my family girls in hijab afterward. When I
read Quran with Urdu translation so I learned that it is not a choice it's an
obligation from Allah almighty then I started niqab. Absolutely hijab protects
me because it's a barrier between me and the evil eyes of people. Surely, I
will suggest girls wear it because it's a commandment of Allah. Sunnah of
Hazrat Fatima(R.A) and inshallah it will become a deed which will take us to
Jannah because ONE GOOD DEED WILL OPEN THE DOOR FOR OTHER GOOD DEED.
AREESHA ANSARI
My name is Areesha
Ansari. I'll be 20 years old in the next month InsjaAllah. I am currently a
first-year MBBS student. I started wearing a hijab when (1) I was 12 years old.
I would wear it all day all night.. even in front of my family... because I
felt comfortable in it... I was demotivated by many far-related individuals who
thought I was being forced to wear it by my parents. I feel like hijab is my
uniform...something that constantly reminds me of my boundaries, my haya, and
my individuality as a Muslim.. to me it's a submission to Allah that I follow
his commands.
And since the
Prophet (ﷺ) said: If you don't feel ashamed (from
Haya') do whatever you like." This hadith is sacred to me, Because haya is
what brings life to the soul. Hijab indeed is a
blessing and protects me from my desires and helps me in controlling them. I
feel protected from shaitan at some levels only because the hijab reminds me
constantly of my goal for Jannah. I as a hijabi felt comfortable and secure in
it. Hijab is a command not only to women but also men. We all have to be in our
uniforms and show the world that it isn't oppression.
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