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Do you find yourself in one of these categories?
- Never considered wearing a hijab
- I am not sure if I want to take the leap or not, but I am interested
- Definitely ready to take the plunge, but not sure where to start
If you are among one of these people, then why don’t you try the 30 Day Hijab Challenge this Ramadan.
What will the 30 Day Ramadan Hijab challenge entail?
- The challenge is to wear the hijab whenever you are going out. Whether this is going shopping or for dinner, visiting a friend, relative or even going to work. (I know this will be a tough one…)
- Also to try and be covered whenever interacting with non-mahram males. These are men who are not your: father, brother, son, maternal or paternal uncles, father in law or son in law, sister’s sons and brother’s sons.
What does wearing a hijab actually mean?
Hijab means a barrier or covering. It has a very wide and deep meaning not just in Islamic law but spiritually as well.
As one travels along this journey of wearing a hijab, you start to understand the importance. One slowly begins to understand the wisdom of the Creator behind this. You also start to see the effect it has on the mind, body, and soul. It is not possible to give a detailed version of the true meaning of hijab here, but these are just the basic rulings one can start with.
- Start to wear a head covering like a shawl or a dupatta or a chador, such that your hair, neck and chest area is properly covered.
- Wear loose-fitting garments that do not reveal the shape of your body.
- To be careful that the material of your garment is not transparent or see-through.
Sometimes people can be confused by what is hijab. It encompasses a lot of things and this infographic is really helpful.
Why Ramadan?
- Ramadan is a month of self-regulation and self-training, with the hope that this training will last beyond the month of Ramadan.
- This Holy month brings discipline in our life. It is an apt time to work on our virtues of not just patience and empathy as is widely know but to also work on our character as a believer.
- The basic objective of this month-long process is to mould our behaviour and pattern of life in such a way that we progress towards becoming the ideal human beings Allah جل جلاله wants us to be.
- Ramadan is a month if properly accomplished by a Muslim, will help to purify their soul and .جل جلاله bring them closer to Allah Virtues of Ramadan will make it easy.
Virtues of Ramadan
- Allah جل جلاله says in Chapter 2 Verse 185 of the Quran:
The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you, and perhaps you will be grateful.
Allah جل جلاله is telling us that He intends ease for us and not hardship. Our Creator makes it easy for us, in this Holy Month, to do those things which we would otherwise find difficult.
Abstaining from food and drink from dawn to dusk for the sake of Allah جل جلاله makes the Muslims stronger in their iman and brings them closer to Allah جل جلاله. Allah جل جلاله has promised in the Quran that:
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous” (Al Quran 2:183)
This stronger connection with our Creator makes us want to please Him. Hence it becomes easy to fulfil the commands laid down by Him.
During this month believers strive to purify their body and soul and increase their good deeds. This purification of body and soul harmonises the inner and outer sphere of the life of the believer. When we restrict food and drink our senses become more attuned to ourselves. We become more focused on our speech, our thoughts and ideas. Understanding ourselves gives us better direction and the ability to make better decisions.
How can the principles of Ramadan blend with the principles of hijab?
The month of Ramadan gives us a chance to start our lives afresh. It makes societies purer because most people try and abstain from wrong acts. Similarly, hijab acts as not just a physical barrier but also a moral barrier. It restrains the wearer and those around from indulging in acts of immorality, thus paving the road towards a purer society.
Fasting is believed to promote chastity and humility and prevent outbursts of uncontrolled desires. The hijab too instils humility and prompts the wearer to develop self restrain and have better control of their impulses.
So taking part in the 30 day Ramadan Hijab Challenge will be your step towards the right direction. there is no need to stress, you don’t have to push yourself too much, just start slowly and build your way up. In Shah Allah you got this!
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims experience a sincere sense of social belonging. Similarly wearing a hijab creates in the Muslim women a sense of belonging, not just to their own family or community but to the global community of Muslim women. They are able to share a bond of sisterhood with fellow Muslimahs.
Fasting develops dignity, to stand firm in the face of hardships of hunger and thirst. In return, it trains us to overcome all the hardships we may encounter in life. Wearing a hijab frees us from the shackles of societal expectations of how one should look. It develops in us dignity and strength that is based on who we are on the inside and not just our appearance. Moreover, it encourages us to look beyond our outward beauty. It helps is to look inward and build strength and resilience in our character that will help us to stand firm in difficult times.
Things to remember:
- The term Hijab, includes not only your clothes and covering your self, but also is about your behaviour with members of the same and/or opposite sex.
- It promotes privacy for females and prohibits intermingling between males and females, and thereby encouraging modesty, decency, chastity .جل جلاله and above all, respect and worship of Allah.
- Like we saw before, hijab means a partition or a barrier. The hijab as we know it today has just been reduced to a piece of cloth or head covering. But the true hijab is also to put a barrier between yourself and those things which your Lord has deemed impermissible.
- Wearing a hijab should be a spiritual act, done to seek the pleasure of the Creator. More than a means of personal expression, or a cultural or political statement, it should be an act of ‘ubudiyyah (devotion), done out of one’s heart.
Check out our range of hijabs here. With so many varieties you just can’t go wrong!
So are you ready for the 30 day Ramadan challenge? Let us know how you get on and don’t forget to share so that other people can get involved in the challenge as well!