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.
