By Why do you wear the hijab?
Muslims and non-Muslims alike have asked me the same question countless times. While it is true that Islam, in addition to the spiritual enlightenment, has preferred women to wear the hijab for their safety and modesty, there are additional important reasons worth mentioning.
I wear the garment for a further cause. I wear it because of you. You read that correctly, sister – whether you are Muslim or a non-Muslim, I believe in the right of every woman that has ever lived or will ever live. I believe that women are not reduced to the carrot-top beauties and big-chested supermodels. I believe that women should be regarded with respect and not because their gait is suggestive. You, as a woman, should have the freedom to leave the house with dignity rather than be a victim to peeping neighbours and lusting friends. Women are more than long legs and captivating eyes. A bikini-clad woman should not be used to advertise cars and shaving products. Her silhouette should not be used to sell medicine and her curves should not be a tool for sales in a bedding company.
I believe that when men speak to you, regardless of your views in life, they should look into your eyes rather than anything lower, and when you pass by them, they should not stare at your receding form. I believe women’s barely clad bodies should not be used as the front cover to sell adult or cooking magazines.
Teenage girls, or even pre-pubescent girls, should not turn on the TV and aspire to be a celebrity who is solely judged by her body and not by her character. She should not view herself in the mirror and imagine her body a few inches thinner. Our younger siblings should not need to go to the bathroom to vomit what they have eaten because their bodies make them feel insecure and lacking in confidence.
A woman should be judged by her character, her morality, her views on life, her intelligence, her undying pursuit for the advancement in this world, her love for every brother, every sister, and every child. She should be given a right to speak with her words rather than her body. Her eyes should be igniting with her self-worth rather than ashamed because the current trend of jeans does not fit her body type.
I wear my hijab for every woman who has walked the paths in this world. I believe in her rights, her freedom, her mind, and the power that lies within. A woman can change the world. She can inspire generations. She can bridge barriers. I am proud to be a woman. I am aware of my confidence and my status as a human being.
I know I am beautiful and these are my reasons to wear the hijab.
beautifully written! so wonderful and inspiring. =)
Masha Allah, this is a beautiful post, Samia. I espeically love the last part – its so inspirational, motivating, and shows the world that we too women, could have the strength and the confidence to bring about a better change to this world.
Wonderful article once again! =)
Assalam alaykum!
sista samia m very impressed with your words, they are moving, inspirational and most importantly truthful.very well said. we need loads of sista samias around here.JazakhAllahu Khairan!
I love this article. There is so much that inspires me about what Samia has written. There is beauty in that fact that she wears hijab not only to please God but also in solidarity with sister who suffer from the pressures that come with our modern culture that exploits us women and so deeply damages our self esteem. I am inspired and joyful.
Thank you, Samia.
Blessings to you.
sisterdeie
closetsuperhero
Thank you for your kind words, sisters. May Allah (SWT) reward you for your intentions and give us all knowledge and the ability to do the right thing (Ameen).
…along with the beauty of the main reason for wearing hijab, this is a secondary great one too, that’s never spoken about =)) =)
MASHA’ALLAH !!!
u left me speechless sister !!!!
perfetly said n nicely put…..
the exact same thing i’ve been wanting to say but had no idea how to express it…… ^_^’
jazak’allah
true dat
U Rock, sister. Flower power!
MASHALLAH, beautifully written sister! I used to be a victim of such crazed + distorted media perception of women as just a physical ‘pretty thing’ and so are a lot of girls today- and it truly kills your confidence and true inner beauty! But Islam has enlightened me to a far deeper level alhamdulillah, and I think every woman deserves to understand their own self worth. The hijab is a great way to do this and I hope those curious eyes on the streets eventually learn to understand the meaning and reason behind hijab inshaAllah. 🙂
P.S- and whoever thinks Muslim women are oppressed or don’t have a voice should read your post!
Jazakallah for this inspirational article
Jazakallah:)
Your words made my day
Thankyou
This was really inspiring, although i was born into a Muslim family, i was never really taught why we do what we do such wearing the hijab or fasting. Now that I’m going to college in the fall, i want to wear the hijab and want to become closer to my religion. I’m a little scared but I’m fortunate enough to have my older sister, brother, and mom supporting me. I’ve been mentally preparing myself for quite a while now plus in the end of the day god’s opinion of me is much important than any human.
i am muslim and spanish and i have a lot of muslim frendis that wear hijab
Your post was beautiful, but I take issue with you saying that you wear a hijab “for safety reasons”. I don´t think that wearing a hijab makes you less prone to sexual assault. It seems like you´re implying that women get assaulted only because of the way they dress and that´s not true. God bless.
yes, i agree. men could sexually assault any woman, regardless of dress because they know there is a woman’s body underneath, but women who dress modestly are LESS LIKELY to be assaulted, is all i think she is trying to say 🙂 thanks for visiting this site!
And why shouldn’t men wear a hijab as well, so that we are all not judged for our outward appearance? Also, I’m not sure that women’s hair is what keeps people from seeing their inner character…I would personally pick some other body parts…
Hi!!!!
I am a non Muslim fifteen year old girl and I was just wondering if you could answer some of my questions.I’m not interested in conversion or anything like that but I’m just curious about Islam because there are a lot of Muslims in my area and I was just wondering why/what they believe what they do. If it wouldn’t be a bother could you please answer the following questions.
1. Do Muslims belive that Muhmmand is the greatest prophet or just the last one?
2. Why do muslims think he’s a prophet/ what is the need for the quran?
3. Is it true about the quran telling muslims to kill non believers
4. why do muslims not think that Jesus is God?
6. If you converted what made you convert/choose Islam
Thank you so much. And I don’t mean to sound snarky or in polite (I know sometimes comments can come across that way) I’m just very curious about your relgion.
Thanks again and may Allah bless you
oh sorry one more. What is the greatest thing about your faith and do you have a relationship with Allah like how evegenical christians claim to have with God
Hi i think the problem about how non muslims missunderstand Islam is because they don t take the chance to talk to muslims. I am not muslim yet but as I Have read a lot i think i can give you some answers.
1 muslims believe in all of the prophets christians do, plus mohamed who gave the last revelations, there wont be more prophets.
2 why do they believe in mohamed and quran is a matter of faith. The existence of Mohamed is historical, its a fact. And quran is the message he gave from God according to Islam.
3. Your question number 3. Its a common lie said by the media. The quran say whoever kills an inocent man will be punished as he had killed the complete humanity. The pophet himself had christians and jew friends. Christians and jews in ISlam «people of the book» because they respect the bible for being also from God. You dont believe me… read the quran. The called Saint war refers to the obbligation a muslim has to defend their family and religion but there is a condition the media wont tell you. It must be deffensive. Never offensive. The terrorist youve heard about are crazy evil people not real muslims. Do you remember how christians used tu burn people alive its the same. Bad people who use religion as an excuse though they are acting against it.
4. Sorry to tell you this but if you read the bible you will see jesus never said he was GOd. Actually for many centuries christians didnt believe in him as a god. Until a cruel roman emperor (now considered for catholics as a saint) declared that whoever said christ want a god would be killed or deported. This is not religion, this is history.
I am not a muslim yet but am thinking about it because it matches a lot of thinks that i knew before and many things that i believed.