By Jessica DaqamssehAfter two years abroad, I returned with hopes of ease. Day dreams produced glimmers of comfortable conversations lacking in cultural complexities. Like a lifelong friend, I embraced my home again, longing to avoid sideways glances, puzzled looks, and the flagrant whispers which effortlessly follow foreigners as they stumble through life’s daily song and dance. With…
By Zainab KhanSisters, can we talk? In particular, can we talk about haircare tips for hijabis? I get it, wearing hijab can sound so simple in comparison to having to do your hair everyday for school or work, but the truth is, wearing hijab has its obstacles, from fly-away hairs peaking out for everyone to see, to…
By MG StaffI watched the young woman across from me wrap the soft stretch of fabric around her face. She folded a part of it that hung close to her ears and loosened it slightly, put her fingers slowly under the fabric and experimented with how much room there was. Would a stethoscope ear piece fit through…
By MG StaffI grew up seeing the women in my family adorn their heads with colorful headscarves. At home, dupattas would loosely hang from their heads. When the doorbell rang, they’d quickly fix it, making sure not a strand of hair would show. On occasions, my mother would choose a scarf with glitter and shimmer to match…
By MG StaffIn this poem, the author explores media representations in which women take off their hijab for one reason or the other, often to satisfy Western standards or the male gaze. As the girl on the TV takes off her hijab, I watch in awe, I thought people would accuse her of breaking the law, I…
By MG StaffWhy do some Muslim women get nervous about wearing their hijab in the workplace? Fear that you will be judged and thought less of. Fear that you are the unknowable other; that there’s nothing in common, and that there never will be. Having worn the hijab for over 20 years, it is as much a…
By MG StaffA few years back when I visited Sydney, I was amazed at the number of Muslim women wearing the hijab. While many Muslim women observe the Islamic dress code all over the world, in Sydney I felt a palpable sense of pride in one’s identity. As a Muslim-American woman who wears the hijab, I felt…
By imaanasimRecently, MuslimGirl.com caught up with 18-year-old ballerina, Stephanie Kurlow. She began dancing at the tender age of 2, and is currently training to become the world’s first headscarf-donning professional ballerina. Here’s what this trailblazer had to say about her life, dance career, and being a Muslim woman in a space that hasn’t typically seen many…
By MG StaffFor those who wear the hijab, you know how it easy it can be to wear your hijab the same way day after day. We came across this hijab tutorial by YouTube user Ro’s World, who demonstrated six different and super easy hijab styles that take only about a minute each to achieve. We knew…
By Jessica DaqamssehThis poem is an ode to the headscarf, a fabric that has been heavily policed and debated, yet represents autonomy for many Muslim women. Who am I to you? Terrorist. Oppressed. Confined. Restricted. Hidden. Imprisoned. Controlled. The fabric which envelopes me, a welcome friend, a haven. Unnerves and offends. This barrier restricts myself to you….
By imaanasimA hospital in Birmingham has become the first in the UK to introduce disposable hijabs. The catalyst for this change was a British Malaysian doctor named Dr. Farah Roslan, who became worried about spreading infections to her patients through her hijab. The junior doctor researched fabrics and designs that would allow her to honor her Islamic faith…
By Last week was a rough one as far as the United States Constitution is concerned, as a talented runner’s freedom of religion came under blatant attack. Noor Abu Karam, a 16-year-old athlete from Ohio was devastated to find that she had been disqualified from her 5km race. Noor told BBC that prior to the race,…
By Jessica DaqamssehThe sun kissed my bare arms. My pale skin burned red, dripping pools of sweat. A forgotten sensation triggered internal conflicts: discomfort and relief; shame and freedom. My new beginning, birthed in pain and spiritual turmoil, reduced to the superficial. A constant friend’s comfortable embrace unraveled the strings from their stitch. Holes loosened bonds to…
By manalmoazzamThere’s no denying that Muslims get asked some head-scratching questions about Islam. While we’re always happy to help clarify some of the weirdest of the weird misconceptions, there comes a moment when you’re faced with a question so odd, that you can’t help but take a step back, tilt your head backwards, and let out…
By During the early hours of the 10th of April, a Muslim woman was attacked by a knife-wielding man in Milwaukee, Wisconsin after attending morning prayers. According to sources, the injured woman was treated at a local hospital after the assault. Although opting to initially remain anonymous, in the consequent days, 68-year-old Leila Hamichdg came forward as the…
