World Hijab Day – Celebrating Muslimahs

World Hijab day was founded by Nazima Khan to encourage women of all religions and backgrounds to be able to wear and experience the hijab. The day has been used by university students and women on the streets to reach out to people. Non-Muslims are given the opportunity to experience what a day in a hijab feels like.

There were positive responses from non-Muslims last year e.g. Robyn Blodgett, who does not usually cover her head, posted on Instagram:

There is something indescribably empowering and peaceful I feel when I cover this way. A feeling that many wouldn’t understand[1]

The Hijab Attack

These days the controversy around the hijab has increased tension. Muslims can often feel at edge because it seems they are constantly in the limelight for all the negative reasons. Islamophobia has risen sharply across the World and especially the West where women are bearing the brunt of it.

Women are more likely to be attacked as they are easily identified due to the Islamic clothing they wear, this has led to some women modifying their appearance[2]. The tolerance for the hijab has come to an all-time low. It is quite surprising that this is happening as it seems society is happy to be tolerant about women who go around topless in public places or wearing minuscule clothes.

With so much noise about freedom to wear what one wants, it seems that this does not apply to women who by their own freewill want to observe the hijab! Instead the hijab is seen to be a symbol of oppression or some kind of radical combativeness.

It is very strange that people find it so difficult to believe that it has not been forced upon Muslim women but contrary to that, it is a choice. A choice a woman makes because she wants to maintain her faith and loyalty to Allah (swt).

Some women may even wear it because they do not want to be scrutinised for being or not being beautiful and have thus removed herself from being discussed by the public. It is their CHOICE.

Hijabi women that unfortunately fall within the bracket of being oppressed, are not in that situation because of the hijab. Millions of non-Muslim women across the world are being oppressed and some of them being subjugated to the whims of a man’s desperate need for control. They are being forced to prance around naked under violent oppression of men or financial situation created by a wealthy few.

It is also strange that the focus is being shifted from more serious issues such as child pornography of young girls to hijabs. Many young girls and boys, are being crushed under sick dominant men and women. Young girls are forced to carry out sex acts, or to tolerate sexual abuse whilst videos of them are made and then distributed. The irony is that the world is more worried about young girls wearing hijabs and being sexualised rather than these ludicrous acts.

Hijab: A Symbol of Woman Empowerment

The hijab is empowering because it allows you to move beyond being obsessed with your looks or what people think of you, and focus on other less superficial aspects of your life….things that actually matter more than just looks! This does not mean that you don’t need to be well presented, it just means that the there is no need for your looks to be the centre of attention for you to lead a happy & successful life.

Hijab helps you to become more motivated to cut back on desires. It’s like a chain reaction. This is also very empowering because you learn to control over yourself, and not let your desires control you. Just think about it, there must have been moments, where you controlled yourself from desires that you knew were harmful, hijab works the same way.

The Hijab takes away society’s power to sexualise women and instead focus on her ability to contribute positively to all aspects of like. In Islam. Hijab has never stopped a woman from pursuing education, becoming knowledgeable or from contributing to society in anyway. However countries like Turkey (in the past) and today France & Morocco limit a Hijabi woman to play a positive role in society!

Historically women have played a great role in Islam for example Lady Khadijah, the first wife of the Prophet, played a significant role in the early history of Islam. A successful businesswoman in her own right, she was the first person to accept the message of Prophet Muhammad (saw). Her acceptance and faith were a great source of emotional support for the Prophet (saw). She stood by her husband in the difficult days of early Islam, and spent her wealth for the promotion of the new religion. The Prophet (pbuh) held her in very high regard.

Ayesha (RA) is another great example. The youngest wife of the Prophet (saw), she was very intelligent and witty. She was generous in giving money and helping others. she was a scholar, a stateswoman, and a resource to all Muslims even to this day. She helped establish a women’s right to choose her own husband. She was braver then any woman today, standing at the front line of battles with her husband and was known to have taken part in the Battles of Uhad, Al Khandaq and the Meccan Conquest amongst others.

Popular Opinions about WHD

World Renowned Islamic Scholar Mufti Menk says:

With some countries having banned the hijab and others considering the same, world hijab day, creates the much needed awareness in democratic societies of the basic right and educates the masses about the origins and reasons for the hijab

Ibtihaj Muhammad, an American sabre fencer, the first women to wear the hijab whilst competing for the US in the Olympics tweeted last year

Blessed to live in a time where I have the freedom to wear what I want. Happy World Hijab Day

Naballah Chi, a famous fashion blogger who was also featured in the cosmopolitan says she struggled with the hijab but is now at peace with it, she advices:

To my sisters who aspire to or have recently started wearing hijab and are facing any of the issues that I did…keep reminding yourself that hijab is your protection [and] you ARE just as beautiful if not more with it on[3]

It is an inspiration to see someone like Malala Yousafzai in the public eye. She has been awarded the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for the struggle against suppression of children and young people and children’s right to education. She has helped girls around the world to have the ability to get an education. She believed in herself, her religion and achieved many milestones. Amidst all this, guess what? She never let go of the hijab!

So many fashion bloggers are opening advocating the hijab and are proud to wear it. Take for example Dina Tokio the British Egyptian who has rocked the world with her fashion blogging and her fashion sense along with her are  Maryam Asadullah and Leena Asad.

Mariah Idrissi broke barriers by modelling for H & M and advocated the hijab at the same time and finally Linda Sarsour, a prominent American political activist who has changed the mainstream media without letting go of her hijab.

Finally it is a proud moment to say that we can be unapologetically be Muslim and commit to God and stand up for the right to wear the hijab. With the hijabi fashion exploding across the world we look to see an explosive rise in hijabs and modest wear.  This is being led by fashionable hijabis who are representing a new subculture that embraces our religion.

Time for a shameless self-promotion. We are offering our readers 25% OFF all our hijabs on World Hijab Day by using code WHD18. Make the most of it, as you can also buy 4 and get 1 or buy 6 and get 2 free!

This is a blog hop for World Hijab Day so please do take the time to read the posts of these lovely ladies:

• Sharmeen Kidwai, What Happened When I Put A Scarf On
• Mona M Ismaeil, What Does The Hijab Mean To Me
• Aminat O OdunEwu-Seesa, World Hijab Day – Amazing Stories
• Diah Dwi Arti, The Freedom To Wear Hijab For Muslim Women 
• Sussu Leclerc, My Hijab Is A Hot Charcoal

[1] http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-02/world-hijab-day-women-cover-their-heads-in-solidarity-muslim/8234116
[2] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-islamophobia-attacks-women-bearing-brunt-hate-crimes-a8036581.html
[3] (http://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/fashion/a60598/hijab-styles-for-the-workplace/