Hijab: From a Burden to a Blessing

 Hijab: From a Burden to a Blessing

(The person who wrote this amazing post would like to stay anonymous)

“She took it off.”

“Oh! Did she? I knew she would. Who wouldn’t have guessed it?”

“I saw this coming too. May Allah [swt] protect us.”

Sounds familiar, right? Pretty much all of us have been part of a similar conversation. It has become quite easy to tell if someone is about to take of their hijab. But we hardly stop to analyze this issue.

We currently live in a time of fitnah, where the basic Islamic teachings are considered to be controversial topics. Accordingly, many Muslim women do not feel at ease with the decision that they made some time ago: being a hijabi. We are not always as strong as we once were, neither is our iman. Our faith is therefore bound to change due to many factors. The clue is to be aware of your iman level, and start to take corrective actions accordingly.

Let’s start by understanding the tactic..

Taking off the hijab is usually not the end, nor the beginning; it’s merely a step within a series. The reason you won’t be surprised if a friend of yours took her hijab off is because it shows before she does. And this could be any of us, may Allah [swt] protect us. Satan is smart, he drags us step by step…

“O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan - indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing. And if not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure, ever, but Allah purifies whom He wills, and Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” [Qur’an: Chapter 24, Verse 21]

Understanding this technique will help us avoid falling into Satan’s trap. He doesn’t bring it all at once, he’ll take you bit by bit into where he wants. Therefore, when we find ourselves slipping into sins or actions that we never used to do, or giving up on good deeds that we used to do, we should take the hint that our heart is changing. Otherwise, we’ll soon enough feel that our hijab is a burden, that it does not represent us, and that this is not who we are. This will be true, because our actions and beliefs won’t be in harmony, and our hearts are so fragile that they won’t be able to handle this confusion.

We learn from our tradition that iman is what lies in the heart and is reflected through action.

This is the reason why some hijabis don’t feel that they are able to keep their hijab on, and why some non-hijabis feeling of guilt kills them every day. Because our actions and beliefs go hand in hand; they complement one another. We can’t work on one and neglect the other. We need to promise ourselves that no matter how much of a downfall we’re in, we can only stand still and not take steps backwards, until we’re in sha Allah stronger and we’re able to take our imaan steps forward.

We can’t fight our nafs on our own. We can always ask for help. We need to accept that we are humans; we forget and we get attached to this dunia. We need to ask Allah [swt] for assistance and support. Make a lot of dua. Ask Allah [swt] to make you stronger, to teach you, and to make your soul at peace. We should work on our passion, on our understanding of Islam, on being mindful when performing our prayers, when doing dhikr. It’s doubtful that any of us will face the same struggles if we are attentive when we recite this for at least 17 times in our 17 rakaas everyday:

“It is You we worship and You we ask for help.” [Qur’an: Chapter 1, Verse 5]

It’ll also be a lot less of a battle if you share it with your sohba salha (righteous companions). We’re not always strong enough to fight all temptations on our own. Sometimes we need to listen to someone else speaking to our soul. That’s why it’s essential to be surrounded by sohba salha, or to at least have a couple of people who you consider to be your safe sohba salha zone; to whom- at your weakest point- you might burst right there, and return with all the positive energy needed.

This also goes the other way round; if you think a friend of yours is on the edge, your little talk about it might be exactly what she needs. The elephant in the room’s approach will not be the best help you can give her. Your words might not solve the problem overnight, but they might ring a bell, and this might be exactly what she needs. Allah [swt] tells us in the Qur’an”:

“So remind, you are only a reminder.” [Qur’an: Chapter 88, Verse 21]

We also need to remind ourselves, what is this?

Hijab is not about covering our hair; it’s about being modest. This little piece of cloth should remind us every single day that this is not where we belong. We belong in Jannah, and we therefore need to make the effort. Prophet Muhammed [saw] said:

“Be on your guard that the commodity of Allah is precious. Verily the commodity of Allah is Jannah.” [At-Tirmidhi]

This dunia is just a gateway for us to eternally live in the company of Allah [swt], Prophet Muhammed [saw], and the Companions [ranhum]. We need to forego some of our desires, some of our ego, and some of our clinging to this deadly life, in order for us to be eternally somewhere we wish to belong.

To cut things short, is hijab a battle or a blessing?

It’s all about our perspective. If we keep thinking of hijab as an obligation and burden, we will definitely feel sorry for ourselves and we will be looking down on ourselves. The key is to “stay on solid ground” knowing that even if we look stunning without hijab, we are leaving it all for something greater, we let go of pleasing people and pleasing our own nafs “ego” which always wants to be fed with nice words and compliments. But for whom are we doing it in the first place? Yes, Only for Allah [saw] and definitely Allah [swt] will reward us in dunia and akhira.

Hijab is our blessing from Allah [swt]. How could we ever think of trading off a blessing for a false pleasure, how we could imagine that a blessing shall stay with us if we are taking it for granted or as if we are doing something we should be thanked for? No, for our surprise this is not a thing we should be thanked for, it is simply a blessing that we are the ones who should be thankful for, by keeping ourselves as Allah [swt] wants, not as we please.

“So remain on a right course as you have been commanded, [you] and those who have turned back with you [to Allah ], and do not transgress. Indeed, He is Seeing of what you do.” [Qur’an: Chapter 11, Verse 112]

It’s funny how Satan and our nafs are falsifying some deep-rooted concepts inside us, that we might think that our looks could bring us a good job, handsome husband, or could give us any of our pre-written rizq. Allah [swt] is the One and Only who can make us look beautiful, bring us a good job, husband or whatever else. No, it is not me or you, it is not our looks or how smart we think we are.

"O people, fear Allah and be moderate in seeking a living, for no soul will die until it has received all its provision, even if it is slow in coming. So fear Allah and be moderate in seeking provision; take that which is permissible and leave that which is forbidden. " [Ibn Majah]

Passing the real test!

Our battle and struggle is hard; as people are taking it off easily nowadays but here is the test, we shouldn't think that it would be easy, but Allah [swt] will help us get through it if we seek help from Him and take steps towards Him. Yes, we will be tested in our faith and every step we take towards Allah [swt], to examine our sincerity.

“Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried?” [Qur’an: Chapter 29, Verse 2].

But, guess what, every time you feel you are passing a test, by the aid of Allah [swt], you feel stronger, freer, and really liberated from the burdens of your nafs, your shaitan and your desires. For the very first time, you will get that feeling of a champion, a real winner, you win the battle against your nafs because you want an eternal pleasure, you shall not settle down for this worldly life temporary pleasures that may be looking bright from outside. But if they are not pleasing the creator of this world Allah [swt] , they will definitely go in vain.

“Whatever you have will end, but what Allah has is lasting. And We will surely give those who were patient their reward according to the best of what they used to do.” [Qur’an: Chapter 16, Verse 96]

My hijab, I won’t let you go!

Yes, I will hold on to my hijab, to every single aspect of it. It's not the hijab that needs fixing and adjusting so I'd fit in; It's my very self that needs fixing and adjusting.

Hijab is not just a headscarf, it is encompassing modesty not just in how we dress but modesty should be crystal clear in our attitudes and interactions. If anything shall contradict with my hijab, then it is THE thing that I should get rid of, not my hijab.

I know well I am full of mistakes, downfalls and sins that only Allah [swt] knows about and seals every single time. Voila! Satan starts whispering “ How can you wear Hijab, whilst you are making other mistakes; you hypocrite!“

Everyone has his/her own mistakes, but the idea of “I should be a perfect person to be able to put on Hijab” is actually one of the very well-known evil ways of Satan to make us slip in the circle of what comes first: Hijab or morals! Why not working on both together, putting in mind, that NOBODY is perfect, I am not perfect and I never will be, I am just trying as hard as I can to fix my soul, my relation with Allah [swt], my interactions with people and finally my outer look. It is not all or none game, it is the matter of us trying to be as good as we can in each of our life aspects. May Allah [swt] teach us, help us, and guide us to the righteous path. Ameen.

Some tips:

• Stop the negative self-talk and self-comments. You are beautiful.


• Be mindful in your prayers and dhikr.


• Take time to reflect on your iman level often.


• Make a lot of dua.


• Surround yourself with righteous friends and be a righteous friend.


• Ask for help when you need it.


• Try to have a fresh new start with your hijab, discover and reap its benefits


• Revive your style to be modest and chic.

My Super Hero Cape

       Asalam Aleykom lovely people!! 

                           The following poem is extra special to me. I hope you all like it!                                                       

                                                My Superhero Cape

                                               By: Habiba Ghanem

Most superheroes have capes around their necks

And while I may not be a superhero I have a cape around my head

It is one way for me to represent

The messages of Prophets that Allah has sent

A way for people to REALLY see

My true identity

A way for me to earn respect

And a way for me, my sisters, and Muslims everywhere to connect

I know that some will judge

But rest assured I won’t budge

For what they may not approve of is my safe haven

One of many reminders that my ultimate goal is to go to heaven

And while it may not be a cape that allows me to fly

It gives me many reasons to smile

It is something that makes me, me

Just your average hijabee

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Lucky Blessings

                                                     Lucky Blessings

                                          By: Mariam Ghanem

       I have a story to tell you. A story that may or may not make a difference in your life. A story that you may hear plenty of times but it’s significance still remains obscure. I don’t believe that after you read this you will be hit with a moment of clarity. Nor can I guarantee that you will see the light and everything will make perfect sense. However, I’ll tell it to you anyways because maybe you will find similarities in my life and my experiences that pertain to the path you are on. Maybe these similarities will show you that at the end of the day we are all human, and although at first glance our differences are all we see, if we look a little closer we will realize just how identical we are.

     

    Have you ever felt truly grateful for someone? Have you ever felt that if you did not have someone in your life then everything would feel empty and you would be incomplete? If you have, then you know that the most common reaction to those feelings is to do everything in your power to make that person stay. I desperately wanted Allah to stay with me. It was more than just religious duty or spiritual inclination, it was a matter of life or death and the person at risk was my soul. My path to hijab was not long or troublesome, Alhamdulillah, rather it was short and simple. This is not to say that I was (am) a perfect person whose spirituality is at a level much higher than everyone else’s. Rather it was more about Allah.

    

    I always wanted to wear hijab. Ever since I was a little girl there was no doubt in my mind that when I grew up I would wear hijab proudly and happily. Some say I was “lucky” because I was raised in a religious household and my parents instilled in me the Islamic values that have made me the person I am today.  Others may say that I was “lucky” to overhear my father discussing the importance of hijab with my sister and having his advice still ringing in my head today. And still some may say that I was “lucky” to be so sure about hijab and its’ significance in my life.

     

    But I was not lucky, I was blessed Alhamdulillah. Luck is a trivial concept that means nothing in the real world. Many people grow up in religious households but end up choosing a different path, and the opposite is true as well. Many times I sit and wonder if my life was different would I have been able to choose the path I am on today or would I be a completely different person. The truth of the matter is I have no idea. I am not totally disregarding the importance of circumstances, however, I believe that the power of your circumstances pales in comparison to the power of your strength to choose otherwise.

      

     I remember the day when my dad told my sister something that shook my world and changed my perspective on a lot of things. He said that, “For every man who sees you without your hijab you get a sayeea.” Nothing has ever shocked and profoundly influenced my way of thinking as much as the sentence above. I vowed that I would never give anyone the opportunity to be the reason for the sins on my left shoulder to increase. When I pursued the matter more I learned not why hijab was an obligation for Muslim women, but why hijab was important to me personally. I was not thinking about anything the day I decided to wear hijab other than that this was my armor and my shield protecting me from harms way. This was something that covered my beauty but did not eliminate it. Something that covered my head but did not destroy my brain, rather it amplified my intelligence.

    

     The first couple of days after I started wearing hijab were truly the most amazing days of my life. The warmth and happiness that I felt inside my heart were absolutely indescribable. I felt a special kind of peace that to this day is the reason why I am a stronger person. I remember that an elderly man I’d never met before came up to me the first day I wore hijab and congratulated me on the big step I had just taken.  He concluded his shocking statement with a simple “Rabena yebareklek” (God Bless you). And He has. He has blessed me with the honor of getting to know and love Him. He has blessed me with indisputable clarity and doubtless confidence.

  

    The day I grabbed a scarf and told my cousin to help me wear it, I was not choosing hijab, rather Allah had chosen me to take a step closer to him. Allah had cleared a path for me out of all the people in the world, and I was getting ready to walk that path. I do not believe in a neon light or a day that will “just feel right”, but I do believe in knowing what is right and doing it without thinking of the worldly consequences that will mean nothing to you in the future. So my advice to anyone conflicted or confused is quite simple; find what is going to make you a better person and just do it.  A lot of girls are waiting for the right day or the right moment to wear hijab and to those girls I say: there is no right day, no right time, and no right moment, everyday you are breathing is the perfect day, the perfect time, and the perfect moment.

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This is Me

                                                                    This is Me

                                                         By: Mai Demderdash

It is part of who I am. Without any exaggeration it just became my identity; this is ME. It makes me feel so powerful, because I know that I wake up everyday to make the same decision that I've been making for the past nine years. All by myself, I choose who sees what, I put the limits I want, and I dress the way I want.

The story of me getting veiled is not very exciting, Ilhamdulellah I did not struggle like others did; my family was neutral, they respected my decision except for my loving Grandma who always thought I would never get married with the veil on; 'Typical Egyptian grandma'.

I was 13 when I put on hijab, and I cannot remember any other reason convincing me to take such a step except for my mathematics teacher who was just perfect mashaAllah. She was Decent, well raised, very very dedicated to her work, helpful, kind, successful, very successful actually and veiled. She impressed me with everything she did, and the way she dressed, and made me as a teenager find her style actually way better than anyone else’s style. She was cool, chic, casual, young and neat all at the same time. She was a walking example of my all-time dream, which is being a successful Muslim Woman who impresses people with her actions. I don't believe she knows the impact she had on my life, I never told her I love my veil that much because of her.

It has been 9 years now and not once Illhamdulelllah did I think that I was any less pretty than other girls. I knew exactly back then what I was giving up the moment I decided to put on hijab; I knew what kind of guys would lose interest in knowing me, what kind of clothes I would never be able to wear, and what kind of places I would never go to. But it didn't matter then just as it doesn’t matter now because the most important thing is that I know WHO I gave this all up for. He is the Most Merciful, who sends people to compliment my appearance to raise my spirit. He is the Most Merciful who made my friends for so many years adjust their outings to be suitable for me; He is the Most Generous who gave me family and friends who were nothing but supportive and nice throughout the years. And He is " Al-Wadood” (The Most Loving) who made my grandma now show off to her friends how pretty she thinks I am with my veil on.

Isn't He just, amazing. Subhan Allah =). 

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The Bigger Picture

                                                               By: Raghda Serag
 

There was always a part of me that felt guilty, a part that knew something was wrong and never felt content. Nonetheless, I kept searching for my happiness in all the wrong directions… it was as if I insisted on being unhappy. I grew up in a family who’s close to god and I always felt guilty for not doing what I’m really here to do. I also felt guilty for how I could never step back and look at the bigger picture…the real one.

I was so into well..."life," what am I going to wear? How will I do my hair … short… long… short again? When will my next trip, birthday, or outing be? Basically anything but why I'm really here. Then all of a sudden with no rational thinking I felt guilty and thought that wearing the veil would make me complete and at peace, even though I did not think it through or even try convincing myself first. This was a huge mistake for me. I didn’t even have answers to my OWN questions inside my head… like why does god want me to suffer, look uglier and to carry that burden? (AstghfuAlllah) So I took it off after feeling agonizing pain of just wrapping it around my head, thinking that I will gain my happiness back which I never really felt.

After a few months of being around good Muslim friends who were nothing but amazing and supportive, I started to love everything about my religion and not feel the burdens that I used to feel before. They were truly an inspiration...a gift from Allah (SWT).

The questions that I had in my head were answered silently inside of me until it suddenly hit me...How could I be that BLIND?? How could I not see how Allah (SWT) wants nothing but our benefit and everything that was asked from us was for our own sake? How could I love Him and not do a thing He asked me to? So, I said ok I’ll try my best in everything and I’ll wear long sleeves but no to veil since I failed at it miserably before. Then I began to see the bigger picture of how my religion focus on details that shape us and build us into better characters. A religion that cares about human beings, animals, family bonds and friendships and much more. It basically sums up our lives. How could I not see how god loves me and wants nothing but my protection from all the things that I used to chase that did nothing but ruin me and left me broken?

So at last I felt at ease with the decision of putting the veil on again after being fully convinced that its right and feeling that it’s a part of who I am now. I keep praying to god to help me through and I pray to continue working on being a better Muslim…
"يا مقلب القلوب ثبت قلبي على دينك "

           

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Understanding the Hijab

                                                          By: Hannah Potter

I used to think that the word hijab was undeniably connected to other words such as oppression, radicals, fundamentalism, and persecution. Why would women want to be covered completely, turning into no more than a piece of cloth, losing any sense of individual identity? I pitied the women who in my simple mind were being controlled by fathers, brothers, and husbands. Living in the “free” world, I was astounded at the fact that the women were so marginalized in the current globalized world we lived in. In short time, I was realized my immense ignorance and began to realize my misunderstanding. Was I to blame for my ignorance? Yes and no. Growing up in rural North Carolina, I had never met and known a woman wearing a hijab, even though we travelled quite often.  My parents took me to a Middle Eastern restaurant in a neighboring city since I was young, but the subject of the hijab was one that never arose. My lack of interactions coupled with being surrounded by overly biased news media in post 9/11 America, I lacked exposure to the other side of the story. However, it took no more than a few books to realize that I was previously mistaken, and that women wearing the hijab were simply women, women who could not be labeled with overarching generalizations, and whose individual lives were simply that, individual and specific to each person.

My reading left me with further questions to understand the women, and their reasoning. I understood at that point that the decision to wearing the hijab was one that people make as a sacrifice to God as a symbol of their devotion. Even with this understanding, I was still not entirely convinced that I truly understood why the women would want to cover themselves, hiding themselves from the rest of the world. There were many questions that needed to be answered until I felt I could be truly accepting of these women. At that point, I respected that the women were making their own decision, but I would never dream of doing the same.

In August, 2009, I traveled to Egypt for six months in my senior year of high school. I lived with three extremely kind, generous, and loving host families in Harem and Mohandiseen, took Arabic lessons, and went to school at Misr Language School. This was a life-changing experience. I not only fell in love with the country, but more importantly the people that lived there. The people were some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. Everyone I met was willing to help, welcoming, and overly hospitable. Those people are who inspired me to continue studying Arabic, the region, and the culture, so that I could return again someday. Aside from the newfound 7b or love, I also gained a new perspective on many issues, particularly the hijab.

I met many women and young ladies that wore the hijab.  Two of my host mothers wore it, and several of my new friends did as well. During Arabic class, our teacher would answer our constant questions about it, and her life with it, giving me more and more knowledge and understanding of it. I became to realize that when the comments in the West talking of the hijab as an oppressing tool of men, those same comments are just as oppressive if not more oppressing to the wearers of the hijab. Most women decide to wear the hijab on their own, and by saying it is oppressive is infringing that individual’s rights. Furthermore, I began to see the beauty of the hijab, and those who wear it. One day, I had the beautiful experience of a friend showing me her hair, which had been covered everyday from the rest of the world under her hijab. The beauty of her hair blew me away, and I gained a greater amount of respect of her than the high level I already had in her. All of a sudden, I understood. I can still distinctly remember the pure beauty of her and her hair. Let’s say, I had seen her hair every single day, would I have such a strong memory of her hair now? No, I would have noticed it the first time, and then taken it for granted every day after that. Aside from the beauty, wearers of the hijab appear to have much more respect for their bodies than most other women that I know. They know that they have something special, and that it is worth protecting. Being modest with their physical traits, the women are able to put forth their intellectual, emotional, and mental gifts without being judged otherwise. My experiences in Egypt created a huge amount of respect for the women that make the choice to wear the hijab, and a sense of envy for their tireless commitment and dedication to not only their faith, but to respecting themselves.

Since being back in America, I have furthered my study of the Middle East, particularly the women living there. Reading different sources, my view of the hijab has evolved even further. I recognize there are women who never had a choice, and do feel marginalized within society, feeling they have no individual voice. The voices of these women should be heard, but I also still hear the voice of those women who did and do choose. I have learned how the hijab can be a liberating force for women, creating a greater free space for them, without the looks or calls of men. It allows the women to be out of the house, making their own in work and school, and other arenas of life. It is a symbol to others of who they are, and whom they represent. Another role I have found in America, is constantly trying to defend the women who wear hijabs to others who may still be in the ignorance I once was in. There is still great misunderstanding about this issue, and I feel it is my responsibility to spread the experiences and knowledge that I have gained.

Reading this beautiful blog has furthered my understanding of those women who chose to put on the hijab. I feel as if I am opening a journal, and reading these women’s innermost thoughts. It deepens my knowledge of the process of transitioning to wearing a hijab, and the emotional journal that it entails. Several friends did express their stories about this deeply personal matter while I was in Egypt, but I feel so privileged to be able to read such a wide range of experiences and journeys through this blog. It has also been a great source to share with friends, so they can have a greater understanding as well. In conclusion, I am grateful for the opportunities and people I have met to have insight into the hijab, and it is a topic that is beautiful, mysterious, and enlightening. 

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You and YOUR Actions...That's it

  

                                      By: Mariam Ghanem

Let me begin by warning you; that this is a rant. Lately I’ve noticed that people of my own religion are insulting me. Comments like, “All hijabis are [explicit], so what difference does it make if I wear hijab or not?” or “I’m a better Muslim than most of the hijabis I know;” are very degrading.

There are so many things wrong with those comments. Before I go any further, let me apologize if my comments come off as offensive that is honestly the last thing I want to do. The first reason that those comments bother me is the generalization. There are about 8 billion people on this planet, many of which are probably hijabis. Those comments insult billions of sisters. No matter how many friends you have on Facebook, Twitter, or Tumblr, do you mean to tell me that you know a billion people? Just because you meet a couple of hijabi sisters who are not fulfilling your idea of Islamic decorum does not mean that ALL hijabis are the same. In the society we live in these days, everyone is struggling for “individualism” and “independence.” What’s interesting is that many of the people throwing these comments are advocating such ideologies as independence, yet they are completely contradicting them with their ignorant comments. We are all completely different from one another so there really is no point in creating such stereotypes.

            This brings me to my next point. As Muslims, we are constantly explaining to the outside world that you must not look to Muslims to learn Islam, rather you should look to Islam to learn Islam. Read the Qur’an and the Seerah, we tell our non-Muslim friends, and learn what Islam is really about. Because of this blind stereotype that is being placed on hijabis, we are doing the exact same thing as people who claim that “terrorism” is synonymous to “Islam”. We are forgetting the basic Islamic teachings because shaytan (Satin) is doing his job and leading us astray. Hijab is clearly stated in the Qur’an:

“And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests.” 24:31 Qur’an

         Yet some sisters use the actions of others as an excuse to ignore what is written in the Qur’an. On the Day of Judgment, you stand alone. You have no one and nothing to speak for you but your actions. So, on the Day of Judgment, that hijabi girl that you claim “isn’t Muslim enough”, will not be there to stand as an excuse for why you chose not to wear hijab. You cannot call on her actions to justify why you chose not to abide by something clearly stated in the Qur’an. You see, in the life we are living now, it does not matter what everyone else is doing because at the end of the day, you are not being tested based on the choices of others.

       Your life is your test. Your choices are your answers. So do not waste your time judging others because you don’t know what is really going on with them. Allah is the only one who has a right to judge, for He is perfection. You are not perfect, and I am certainly not perfect, therefore how dare we judge others for their mistakes when we make so many?

  

"On the Day a man will flee from his brother, And his mother and his father, And his wife and his children, For every man, that Day, will be a matter adequate for him." 80:34-37 Qur'an

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A Journey

  By: Habiba Ghanem & Salma Amer

During the first week of my freshman year in college, I was waiting for my friend when I saw a girl pass by. I had recognized that girl from the sports club that I went to, her family usually sat near where my family used to sit. That day something was different about the girl, she was wearing hijab. I went to her and I asked her if she just started wearing hijab, she was surprised that I had noticed and she said yes, I congratulated her and she seemed touched and happy. A couple of minutes later I went to my last class of the day, and that same girl was in my class. Salma Amer and I have been friends ever since.

                                                                   ◊

A couple of weeks ago, Salma and I met at a cozy café in Zamalek where she started telling me the story behind her decision to wear the hijab. I got out my little notebook and started taking notes. I couldn’t help but smile really hard as I listened to her story.

                                                                     ◊

Salma explained to me that she started considering taking the step of wearing hijab when her best friend started wearing it. She started to change the way she dressed, “I started wearing long sleeves, even though it was hot outside,” she said.

 At her cousins wedding Salma wore a spaghetti strap dress with a green and blue pattern, the dress came with a matching shawl. “I was wearing the shawl before I went to the wedding and I was planning on taking the shawl off once I got there,” Salma recalled. However, when she got there she didn’t feel comfortable taking her shawl off. One of her older relatives ended up taking the shawl from her but Salma was persistent to get it back.

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During the summer right before her freshman year in college, Salma started trying wearing the hijab at home. Before her older sister went off on a vacation to Spain and Italy, Salma had asked her to get her some new clothes. When her sister would call her and tell her what she had gotten her, Salma would start to imagine what would work with hijab and what wouldn’t.

  

When Salma and her family went to the North Coast, Salma would swim at Le Femme or Yashmak. Both of those private beaches are places were women, hijabis or not can go swim.

One day Salma was switching through the TV channels when she stumbled upon Mustafa Hosney’s show “Khadaou’k Fa Kalou’’the episode was called Ana A7san Men Gheeri and it was  discussing hijab. “I found Mustafa Hosney tackling the things that seemed to always cross my mind,” Salma exclaimed to me. “Things like; what will people say, I can wear it when I am older, I don’t want to change the way that I dress.”

Mustafa Hosney responded to all of these thoughts and questions by asking; “If you are working at a place and there is a dress code, would you abide by it or not?” That is what hijab is, it’s a dress code for us Muslims, it’s a dress code sent to us from Allah, yet we have a hard time following that dress code but we can easily follow a school’s dress code, or work dress code, or even a party’s dress code.

“And concerning the 'I can wear it when I am older'excuse, I told myself that if I had any guarantee that I will still be alive by tomorrow then I can say I can wear it when I am older but unfortunately I had not. Also, I thought that having this idea in my mind and wanting to wear hijab  means that Allah wants me to get closer to Him and I will honestly be very stupid to miss this chance and get closer to Allah , who knows when will this chance come to me again and whether it will come to me again or not,“ explained Salma.

Mustafa started answering emails from viewers, one viewer sent an email that said, “I want to take the step of wearing hijab but I can’t take it, I need advice.” By coincidence the viewer that sent that email was also named Salma.

 At that point Salma’s heart started racing. Nothing had braced her for what was about to occur. That other Salma person was going through what she was exactly going through and she needed a push as well. Mustafa Hosney looked at the camera and started saying, “Ya Rab tet7agbi ya Salma.” His voice kept getting louder and he kept saying the same line over and over again. Tears flowed from Salma’s eyes as she heard his words.

“I remember yelling out at the TV screen: but I am in the North Coast right now, I don’t have the right clothes” Salma explained to me. At that moment, she couldn’t escape the signs and desire to wear hijab, “Allah was telling me, I chose you, I couldn’t say no,” she told me.

On the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, Salma went to her parents and confronted them with her decision. They had asked her if it was a sudden decision but she told them that it was something that she had thought about a lot. Her parents were supportive with her decision and didn’t have any doubts that her decision was very sincere. They sensed that this was a step that she really wanted to take, and they didn’t try to stand in her way. Later that day, Salma told her older sister. Her sister was thrilled with the news and she took Salma shopping for new clothes. They got cardigans that would go with the new clothes from Spain and Italy, and scarves to match her new outfits.

The next day Salma, went to Taraweeh prayers wearing hijab. She ran in to her second grade teacher and an old friend. Both of them praised her decision and were genuinely happy for her. Their reactions gave Salma a boost of confidence, and she was filled with joy.

A couple of days later, Salma and her family were invited to suhoor at their relatives’ house. This would be the first time her relatives would see her. Salma’s stomach was in knots. When she first walked in, the grownups were surprised but very happy and they all congratulated her. A younger relative had seen Salma walk in and ran to Salma’s two cousins who had not yet seen her. The little cousin started yelling to the girls “Salma ithajibit.”

“Salma who?” They kept asking. They then walked outside only to find that the girl the younger cousin was referring to was their very own cousin Salma. They looked at Salma with awe and they were ecstatic for her.

“Everything was going well, until one of my guy cousins walked in,” Salma said. He started cracking mean and uncalled-for jokes. But Salma didn’t let him get her spirit down. Thanks to God, she was calm and nonchalant to the jokes. What bothered her about the jokes was that she didn’t want to be labeled as an extremist, she was still the same person. She was just on a path to improve herself. She prayed to Allah to keep her on the right path and keep her firm on her decision.

The next day while she was checking Facebook, a friend of hers had written on her wall. She had congratulated Salma and she broke the news to her that she had also taken the same step. Her friend’s name was… “Sarah Nabil Saad,” Salma said to me.

I looked at her, “Omg Sarah! Our friend, Sarah!?”

She smiled at me and nodded her head. “After seeing that wall post I felt like I was given a push, someone that I knew, not only took the same step but on the same day! It was unbelievable,” Salma exclaimed.

Salma also recalled that she wanted to enter university wearing her hijab, she didn’t want to change her mind. “If I hadn’t taken the step then, then who knows what would have happened,” she said. From that day on Salma has worked hard to keep on improving herself. She always asks herself what the next step is, after figuring it out, she works at it. She checks to see if her actions in this world will correspond to deen (faith). Hijab to her and most girls is not just covering your hair, it is a way of life.

Before ending the conversation, Salma told me a line that she heard Moez Masoud say. Upon hearing that line, Salma was already a hijabi but the line was a reminder to stay firm on her beliefs. Moez Masoud was saying that when someone has the desire to improve an aspect of his deen (faith) that person should have the intention and remember that, “It really means to spend from what you love for the sake of Allah. True love is when you take out something you love and say I love you more and the proof of it is here.”