I knew I embraced the hijab early last year because I remember my first ‘holiday in hijab’ – Abu Dhabi, March 2013. But, I wasn’t sure exactly when I began to wear the hijab. So imagine my pleasant surprise when I got an email reminder yesterday telling me that today was to be the anniversary of performing Umrah and deciding – this is it – I want to wear a hijab. My past self must have sensed this was a momentous decision and worth recording for the benefit of her future self. I’m glad she did this for me. Continue reading A Year In Hijab
Category: Trending Topics
The Niqab Debate
“Big debates recently over whether Muslim nurses should be allowed to wear Niqab in work when working with patients. What are your thoughts?” (@MonsterMikester)
The above tweet caught my attention yesterday. My answer, in short, was:
“Yes. It’s a way to increase tolerance & understanding of people’s differences. Niqabs aren’t problem-racist patients are.” (@RabiaBashir1979)
There was so much more I wanted to say but the nature of Twitter forces you to cut down your response to the bare minimum. What I wanted to say in full was: I found the question to be interesting and thought provoking – that I didn’t reach my answer straight away even though I’m a Muslim woman myself. Continue reading The Niqab Debate
Who’s The Fairest of Them All?
To feel like you look beautiful is one thing; to feel like you are beautiful is entirely another. Neither of which are easily attained states. Nor are they permanent. I know because I have spent many years chasing them both. I managed to catch hold of one or the other at different points in my life, but it’s been difficult to achieve at times.What makes it so difficult? Societies defining and limiting beauty to physical appearance…worst still, to the colour of our skins. Continue reading Who’s The Fairest of Them All?
It’s My Hijab – It’s My Choice
I recently began practicing hijab (wearing a headscarf, dressing and behaving more modestly).
Women wear the hijab for many different reasons: to show devotion to Allah (swt – the exhalted), to be identifiable as a Muslim, to make a fashion statement, to hide their hair/skin problem, to keep others happy, to show obedience to their husband/parents/government, to fit in with their friends/family/culture/community, or to …… (the list can go on). Continue reading It’s My Hijab – It’s My Choice