What does the hijab mean to you?

[2Timeless]

Salam, 

To the female members; what does the hijab mean to you? Why do you wear it? Is it more physical or social for you personally? Do you enjoy the hijab? 

As for the male members, while your input is much appreciated, I'm only interested in finding out womens reasons for wearing/not wearing the hijab and what they think of it. 

[Noor Taleb]

Just now, 2Timeless said:

Salam, 

To the female members; what does the hijab mean to you? Why do you wear it? Is it more physical or social for you personally? Do you enjoy the hijab? 

As for the male members, while your input is much appreciated, I'm only interested in finding out womens reasons for wearing/not wearing the hijab and what they think of it. 

It means a lot to me 

it’s a rebellion against the western standards of beauty , it’s a gift and a very good escape from long hours of hair straightening lol 

but most importantly it’s feels like a protection shield against so much evil 

I’ve honestly started to do it because I would hate styling my hair then slowly slowly you realize the value of it . People in my family are some what very liberal and say weird things like you wound be able to keep it on for long haha ha  say things like oh what are you going to do on your wedding blah blah 

Therefore  it’s a struggle as well . 

[Ruqaya101]

6 hours ago, 2Timeless said:

Salam, 

To the female members; what does the hijab mean to you? Why do you wear it? Is it more physical or social for you personally? Do you enjoy the hijab? 

As for the male members, while your input is much appreciated, I'm only interested in finding out womens reasons for wearing/not wearing the hijab and what they think of it. 

I Like wearing the hijab. It makes me feel safe and protected. A lot of people I know say they hate it and don’t like to wear it, but I believe that is because of western society and the way it views the hijab as a symbol of oppression. Or because it takes away from their beauty or... simply because of the weather, maybe even because of the news and the media, the harrassment. It’s a lot of aspects that make someone’s veiws different, it could be subjective veiws or even political veiws. 

Everyone has their own experience with the hijab. For me personally, hijab is part of my identity and I don’t think I could be who I am without it.

[3wliya_maryam]

18 hours ago, 2Timeless said:

Salam, 

To the female members; what does the hijab mean to you? Why do you wear it? Is it more physical or social for you personally? Do you enjoy the hijab? 

As for the male members, while your input is much appreciated, I'm only interested in finding out womens reasons for wearing/not wearing the hijab and what they think of it. 

I wouldn't say im in love with the hijab, but I never really had a problem with it

however when I first began to wear it at the ripe age of 9, I didn't like it. I just felt like it was too early

I'd say I wear it not only because Islam makes it obligatory upon us, but also because of my parents who taught me the importance of hijab. I feel like if my parents didn't teach me about it then I don't think I would choose to wear it; families have an impact upon childrens' faith. But thankfully my parents did teach me its essence, so I would never take it off

 

[rkazmi33]

Hijab means dignity for me. I am good at physical hijab, but I am not good at social hijab. When I have to interact with men for long times, I feel that my expressions give wrong signals to men. It's not intentional, men can take anything as signal and I am hoping Allah will forgive me but people don't forgive. Wearing hijab also has advantage that I don't have to worry about my hair. 

Anyway I love hijab because it gives me an excuse to stay out of dating games. If I was born in a non-Muslim family, I would have been exploited, deceived so much by men that I would probably become a lesbian. Many people resent the hijab because of the fact that religious people use this as an excuse to stay out of dating game because they know they cannot compete with other people. 

[arch1027116]

I love wearing hijab because it is a symbol of modesty for me and it is a way of honouring Allah’s order. I feel proud of it!

[AkhiraisReal]

rebellion against shaytan and his army. Rebellion of the western and eastern standard of beauty. Free woman making her own choice, outside of what she has been programmed to do by this system. Woman with physical and social hijab are the most beautiful woman. May Allah give them all sabr and strength and not to fall into shaytans trap.

The way you become the most beautiful in this world is by obeying Allah his messenger, Prophets and Ahlul Bayt. Because they have no other agenda than what is good for you. You do it because you believe in it yourself, and you have self confidence in that believe. Not because someone else told you, or because someone forced you.

That is the reason these top models and super models are never happy, they do dozens of plastic surgery and still have low self esteem. Because they all do it for shaytan, they do it for other men, other people, for attention. Which only is harmful, because they can never win the battle. 

 

Edited August 14, 2019 by AkhiraisReal

[Islandsandmirrors]

The hijab to me means that some women wear it out of choice and because it gives her confidence, others wear it due to pressure from family and friends. Where I live, hijab is seen as a negative because of a variety of factors such as poor social behavior displayed from many hijabis. My one friend was nearly killed because of her hijab. 

I personally don’t want to be lumped into that category. I don’t want to be a target for negative attention and reactions. I believe that Allah wants us to be modest, and that if hijab causes disruption in society and creates hardship like that, then one could dress more modestly without necessarily wearing a headscarf. I know who I am, what’s in my heart, and Allah does too. 

[2Timeless]

5 hours ago, Islandsandmirrors said:

if hijab causes disruption in society and creates hardship like that

I agree with most of what you've said, but I don’t necessarily think that the hijab creates disruption and hardship in society. It might be because you live in a more secluded city? I understand that the hijab can create some sort of tension but its never been unbearable or more than awkward in my experience. 

[Mzwakhe]

- a lady kept indoors even when she's outside.

- her being indoors doesn't necessarily mean that the lady is safe

- a rough time when she's outdoors

[Guest Zahra212]

The Hijab serves both a physical, social and personal purpose for me.

In society, the hijab connects me to a bigger community (Islam),  it presents my values and beliefs to whomsoever I meet and sets expectations to the way people interact with me.To go into detail, when I meet a new person, the hijab symbolises to them that I am trustworthy, modest and devoted so it controls the way they converse with me, for example when I talk to my male colleagues they look at my ideas rather than my body so we are able to have purposeful conversations. 

The Hijab also makes me aware of my actions because I know that I am representing my faith and if I were to do anything the first thing people would label me before my culture, gender or age is a 'Muslim'.  Although this does set some sort of pressure on my shoulders, it empowers me to do the right thing.

On the personal level, the hijab is submitting myself to the order of my lord (The definition of Islam is submission) 

When I am referring to Hijab I don't just mean wearing the scarf but the way one thinks, speaks, acts and treats others

[Guest Zahra212]

On 8/19/2019 at 3:37 AM, Islandsandmirrors said:

The hijab to me means that some women wear it out of choice and because it gives her confidence, others wear it due to pressure from family and friends. Where I live, hijab is seen as a negative because of a variety of factors such as poor social behavior displayed from many hijabis. My one friend was nearly killed because of her hijab. 

I personally don’t want to be lumped into that category. I don’t want to be a target for negative attention and reactions. I believe that Allah wants us to be modest, and that if hijab causes disruption in society and creates hardship like that, then one could dress more modestly without necessarily wearing a headscarf. I know who I am, what’s in my heart, and Allah does too. 

What kind of disruption are you referring to sister?

[Mzwakhe]

35 minutes ago, Guest Zahra212 said:

.To go into detail, when I meet a new person, the hijab symbolises to them that I am trustworthy, modest and devoted

isn't this judging a book by its cover?

[Guest Zahra212]

19 hours ago, Mzwakhe said:

isn't this judging a book by its cover?

Sister that is what hijab symbolises, it does not mean you necessarily have those attributes. The same representation goes for nuns who wear a veil, do you not immediately assume that they are devoted and obedient to their lord? 

God has allowed us to be represented in such a beautiful way, unfortunately it ourselves who tarnish this image. 

[Mzwakhe]

1 hour ago, Guest Zahra212 said:

Brother I thought you were a sister

End of times are here indeed (Please avoid this thought) & read what you wrote & help me please. 

You're saying in detail that upon being sighted for the first time the symbol viewed is of trustworthiness, modesty & devotion.

- Trustworthiness from say someone who came across a programmed bomber in hijab is &$@@"'^•, not there in simple terms.

- devotion means to be devoted to someone a husband, friend or family or devotion to the Creator(سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) & that too is not what seen through the hijab

- modesty : 

modesty

noun

1. the quality or state of being unassuming in the estimation of one's abilities.
2. the quality of being relatively moderate, limited, or small in amount, rate, or level.
3. behaviour, manner, or appearance intended to avoid impropriety or indecency.  

[Guest Zahra212]

1 hour ago, Mzwakhe said:

End of times are here indeed (Please avoid this thought) & read what you wrote & help me please. 

You're saying in detail that upon being sighted for the first time the symbol viewed is of trustworthiness, modesty & devotion.

- Trustworthiness from say someone who came across a programmed bomber in hijab is &$@@"'^•, not there in simple terms.

- devotion means to be devoted to someone a husband, friend or family or devotion to the Creator(سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) & that too is not what seen through the hijab

- modesty : 

modesty

noun

1. the quality or state of being unassuming in the estimation of one's abilities.
2. the quality of being relatively moderate, limited, or small in amount, rate, or level.
3. behaviour, manner, or appearance intended to avoid impropriety or indecency.  

Asslamalykum,

1) Not all people from society may accept this symbol of Hijab because of the way the Media has portrayed Islam today, but if we look at nuns for example ( because their image has not been affected) we are able to relate this quality of trustworthiness to them because it is fundamental to their faith, just as it is in ours 

2) Devotion means being in love with your lord and following his order. I see devotion in women who have sacrificed not been able to show their hair for the pleasure of their lord. Why would we wear a symbol of devotion in front of our lord when we are praying and leave it when we are in front of others. 

3) Modesty? This is obvious and relates to the third definition 'behaviour, manner, or appearance intended to avoid impropriety or indecency.' I have stated how this can be seen above.  

[Mzwakhe]

22 hours ago, Guest Zahra212 said:

Asslamalykum

wa alaykum salaam wrwb

23 hours ago, Guest Zahra212 said:

) Not all people from society may accept this symbol of Hijab because of the way the Media has portrayed Islam today, but if we look at nuns

- hijab as a symbol of trustworthiness. we need to disregard people from society or the media or the nuns & focus. Do not weigh truth with people rather weigh people with truth. There are no simple terms to put it so...

23 hours ago, Guest Zahra212 said:

) Devotion

hijab is not a symbol of devotion

23 hours ago, Guest Zahra212 said:

Why would we wear a symbol of devotion in front of our lord when we are praying and leave it when we are in front of others. 

It might be because of sincerity or lack thereof & Allah(سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) knows best

23 hours ago, Guest Zahra212 said:

I see devotion in women who have sacrificed not been able to show their hair for the pleasure of their lord

& what do you see when you see a woman in hijab with hair showing? Poor devotion or apathy or someone either not well informed or taking its significance lightly? I wouldn't know & it it's not easy to tell about their devotion with hair out in public. 

 

23 hours ago, Guest Zahra212 said:

Modesty? This is obvious and relates to the third definition 'behaviour, manner, or appearance intended to avoid impropriety or indecency.' I have stated how this can be seen above.  

How can one see the behavior of someone as being well mannered, good thinkers etc because of being in a hijab? The definition of hijab is not the point but you're saying it brings about the impression you noted. 

* Let's look @ it differently. Does a good name mean a person is good?