Hijab- Yours, Mine, and Ours
After reading the poem, “My Hijab- My identity” written by Islamstory, I asked myself two questions. The first question was; what does my hijab mean to me, and the second question was how does my hijab make me feel.
I am certainly not a perfect human being, Muslim, or hijabi and I don’t claim to be but I love my hijab. I love what it represents, and I can’t imagine what it would be like not to wear it. I really wouldn’t be me without my hijab; it is a part of who I am. My hijab taught me to be strong, especially when people are uncomfortable or object my presence and when they judge me because of it. When something like that occurs, Allah (SWT) gives me strength and patience to deal with the situation. Allah also eases the plight taking place, Subhanna Allah. My hijab protects me. It protects me by keeping me grounded and it protects me by reminding me of my values.
In my hijab I feel confident and beautiful. I want people to judge me for who I am and not by the amount of skin I show, and my hijab allows that. In my hijab, I am respected. People know their boundaries. I like being a walking symbol for Islam, and by wearing my hijab, I am exactly that. As a symbol for Islam I represent a religion that has faced many struggles and many misconceptions. I represent a religion that despite all those struggles still stands strong. I represent a religion of peace and a religion that protects its women and wants them to be respected for who they really are. While visiting other countries I love the feeling that I get when I greet other Muslims and when other Muslims greet me; they recognize me as one of them because of my hijab. If you live or have lived abroad you know the bond that I am talking about. Speaking of bonds the hijab is a bond between Muslim women, from the past, present, and future. Thus the hijab is yours, mine, and ours.
I’ve shared with you what my hijab means to me, and I want to know your story. Let us all bond and inspire each other. Mind you, I do not wish to make my non-veiled Muslim sisters feel unwelcome, rather I want them along with everyone else to understand us and everything we represent. So, share with us your story or stories. Tell us what your hijab means to you and how it makes you feel. Any significant event(s) with your hijab? Any plight you over came? What caused you to take the step of wearing hijab? Poems? Send me an email at hijab.ymo@gmail.com, with any story or stories that you have. If you know anyone that has a story that should be told, have them contact me. If you have an idea but have trouble putting it in words, I will gladly help you out. Your stories will get a chance to be under the spotlight in this blog. Entries will be posted on a first sent, first posted bases.
Salam (Peace)
-Habiba Ghanem
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For the latest updates make sure to follow Hijabymo on Twitter: @Hijabymo
Also be sure to check out my FB page: http://www.facebook.com/HijabYMO
Habiba! That's amazing msA :) It made me feel blessed..
ReplyDeleteI once attended Dr. Fadel Soliman's lectures "How to present Islam & How to reply on the misconceptions about Islam" He said something about our Hijab that stuck in my head since that time.. He said: Hijab is like a remote control for a girl, she's able to control who sees what from her. She controls what a random guy in the street sees and what her husband sees. I really liked the idea, it made me feel freedom! Unlike how people say that Hijab deprive us from our freedom, actually I felt the exact opposite, Hijab gives me the freedom to control my everything including: My body. :)
I don't know but I feel that stories about girls who have to sneak about to wear hijab aren't told, or told enough. You know, those forced to take off the hijab, whether they are converts, or from Muslim families, in western or even Arab countries. I think it's on my mind because I recently read about girls being sneaky, and know a few girls who were subjected and succumbed to such presssures. Thought about that as an idea for future posting. :)
ReplyDeleteHere's an example about a convert, young girl too, it's a couple of questions down in this interview. http://dearlittleauntie.blogspot.com/2011/11/meet-my-14-year-old-sister.html
I LOVE IT!!! Habiba this is what i feel exactly!! i feel blessed, special and unique with my hijab. And as you said, I wouldnt imagine my identity without my hijab. My hijab forms my identity. I'm excited to read more of your posts:)
ReplyDelete@Nada wow those words are sooo powerful, you have no idea how much I love them. & I love your words! I am really glad that you like the blog and inshAllah there are more stories to come. Yulla if you want to contribute a story let me know! =)
ReplyDelete@ The Bakers Daughter wow that blog post is so intense thank you for sharing it. I might have story that sort of relates to that, and I might know someone that has gone through an experience but I will have to ask that person if she can contribute a story. I will do some research on that subject. Also, since you know people that have gone through this experience than you can contribute a story if you would like, you can send it to habibaghanem@gmail.com. Thank you so much for your feedback I really appreciate, I hope you stay tuned to this blog. =)
@ Reem, I am soo glad that you can relate to my words, and i am soo glad that you like the blog. Hijab really is a bond, I will be posting a story very soon =)
you can follow me on twitter @HijabYMO to find out about the latest blog post.
why you do not tell us your story with Hijab? what was te main reason makes you wear it ? were you forced by your parents? were you afraid of wearing it and why? May be your answers will let others overcome their fears.
ReplyDeletewhy you do not tell us your story with Hijab? what was te main reason makes you wear it ? were you forced by your parents? were you afraid of wearing it and why? May be your answers will let others overcome their fears.
ReplyDeleteI will soon tell my story of wearing hijab, i think i talked a bit about how hijab was my choice in two of my entries....an insight ...and To our future mini-me(s). Many of my friends stories also show how they took the step and they tackle the fears that they had and how they overcame them. =)
ReplyDelete