I've Got it Covered

Anywhere she goes, she stands out in the crowd. Covered head to toe, she is not the typical image of a woman in the western society. Though she looks different from her friends at school, it does not faze her. She walks down the halls confidently as she wears her hijab, a headscarf; she is a Muslim woman.

Ever since the disaster of 9/11 Muslims have been targeted by the media. Terrorists, Islamists, radicals, and jihadists are among the many names given to those who worship Allah. Living in the post 9/11 world makes it hard to turn on the evening news without hearing those terms. Other than the hatred of Islam and Muslims that has been rooted in the hearts of those glaring at the tube, something else has happened. Since 9/11, there has been an unspoken plight to save the “oppressed” Muslim woman.

Hijab is a head scarf worn by Muslim women. According to Why Islam, an organization that strives to educate others about Islam “Hijab is not merely a covering dress, but more importantly, it is behavior, manners, speech and appearance in public. The headscarf is an outer manifestation of an inner commitment to worshipping Allah; it symbolizes a commitment to piety.”

This new found hatred has had a negative affect on young Muslims, especially those who wear the headscarf. Soon after 9/11, girls who wore the hijab experienced heated confrontations from their teachers as well as unwarranted sympathy from strangers. Nadya Aweinat, an 19-year-old History and Theology student at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona began having such experiences in middle school. “Right after 9/11 happened, my life was a constant flow of ‘Oh honey, you are in America now you can take that off!’ While previously most folk were nonchalant about my presence, I became a walking tourist attraction, a symbol of perceived oppression and imprisonment. A specific incident that comes to mind is my experiences in seventh grade cooking class. Throughout the entire course, my teacher made a habit of directing snide comments at me in front of the class when I refrained from eating pork products. Specifically in the month of Ramadan, in which Muslims fast from sunrise until sunset for a consecutive month, I lost points on all assignments because of my refusal to taste the foods made in the cooking class. Being young and unaware that deducting points based on a religious practice may have been illegal, I took the heat and lived each day of that quarter dreading the time of day in which I would attend my class."

Many Muslim women all over the world wear the hijab. No matter which country they are from or what cultural norms they may have, Muslim women are united by the headscarf. Though the concept of hijab may confuse many people, the reason behind the headscarf is not as complex as it seems. The main role of any Muslim, male or female is to worship Allah (God, in Arabic). The hijab is worn for one simple reason; Muslims believe that in the Quran, the holy book, Allah has commanded women to cover themselves in order to be modest. “O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women to draw their outer garments around them (when they go out or are among men). That is better in order that they be known (to be Muslims) and not annoyed…” (Quran 33:59). It is because of the stated verse from the Quran that a Muslim woman feels proud to wear her hijab. “I wear hijab first and foremost because Allah commanded Muslim women to do so,” says Amera Gouda, a 22- year- old psychology student at California State Polytechnic University, California. “Hijab benefits women in many ways. Hijab gives Muslim women the opportunity to express her modesty. This is especially important in a society as corrupt as today's where women are seen as objects and taken advantage of for the pleasure of men,” says Gouda.

Though the headscarf may be the most conspicuous aspect of a Muslim woman’s appearance, there is much more to hijab than a piece of cloth. Hijab is a complete way of being as it encompasses behavior, manners, as well as appearance. When a woman wears her hijab, she is representing Islam, and by doing so she must have good manners and moral behavior. "Many people perceive hijab to be an outward material covering. In reality, hijab not only entails a physical aspect of the Muslim woman, but additionally a behavioral aspect. Hijab teaches Muslim women to outwardly act in the best of manners and in kindness, as it is imperative that interactions are a reflection of the outer physical covering,” says Aweinat.

By wearing a headscarf, a Muslim woman is fulfilling her sacred duty. However, hijab is much deeper than wearing a scarf and having good manners. Along with good manners and proper dress, hijab is about the relationship a woman has with her Lord. Wearing hijab alone does not make a woman more superior than her non-hijabi counterpart. "Islam and hijab is about wearing your faith inside out. It's not just on the inside, and it's not merely external, but hijab is a combination of inner faith, outward dress, and outward mannerism. To properly fulfill this way of life, you cannot have one without the other,” says Aweinat. Since God is the only one who knows what is in our hearts, He is the only one that can judge us. To say that a woman who wears a scarf on her head is better than the woman who does not would be a faulty statement. A woman wearing the hijab may be doing so for the wrong reasons such as showing off or appearing to be someone she is not. It is stated in the Quran, “Surely We have revealed to you the Book with the truth, and therefore serve Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience” (39:2). This verse illustrates the importance of sincerity in actions in Islam. It is for this reason, that hijab is not a factor in determining a woman’s worth in Islam.  

There are many misconceptions about hijab, and the reasons for a woman wearing it. One of the biggest misconceptions about hijab is that women are forced by their male relatives to cover up. This is a common misunderstanding created and made popular by the post 9/11 media. Many women today, especially in the United States, do not cover up because they are forced to do so. “The decision to wear hijab was made entirely by me. No one forced me to wear it, nor did I ever feel pressured from anyone to put it on. I feel that wearing hijab is one of the most important steps I took in my life that I will never regret, regardless of all the stereotypes people may have of Muslim women,” says Gouda.

Another major misconception about hijab is that it is a sign of oppression. Many people believe that since women cover everything but their hands and their face, they are oppressed or seen as second class citizens. This is definitely not the case. In fact, those who wear hijab say that they feel empowered by doing so. “I started wearing hijab when was 12 years old. I was attending youth group and I started learning a lot about hijab and one day I was just like ‘I want to wear it. I want people to know that I am Muslim.’ I am proud of my religion and I want that to show,” says Sara Abdelfatah a senior at Diamond Ranch High School.

For many girls, hijab has been an important factor in developing confidence and self esteem. Hijab has made it possible for women to feel comfortable in their skin by enhancing their sense of identity. “Prior to hijab, I was always the quiet kid in school. I never raised my hand when I had a question or comment. I was preoccupied with what people thought of me. When I wore hijab that all changed. It put me in the spot light, people started to notice me and ask me questions. It was new for me to talk to people I barely knew. The best thing was that I didn’t care what they thought about me wearing the hijab, I was proud of it. This is who I am. Hijab made me stand out and that is a good thing. It not only showed my faith and it helped me be someone I never thought I’d be,” said Sara Abdelfatah.

It is no secret that a picture of a scantily clad woman has the ability to sell any product, but such images have a negative influence on society. Not only is a woman’s worth reduced incredibly with such images but her self esteem is also severely damaged. Hijab is also a powerful statement. It is a manifestation of a Muslim’s faith and a rejection of popular culture and marketing strategies. “Hijab for me signifies that I reject what the material popular culture dictates for women to be like and dress like. Hijab for me signifies that I want to be judged on what I think and say rather than how I look and what I'm wearing,” says Safaa Abdelfatah, a 22-year-old an active member of Why Islam.

Despite the fact that so many Muslim women cherish their hijab, there is a lot of media frenzy. Hundreds, if not thousands of YouTube videos, news segments, articles, and books are produced exclusively on the topic of Muslim women and their head scarf. Just type in “hijab” in any search engine, and you will be sure to find many negative results. Hijab is so hated that in certain countries such as France and Denmark, the adorning of hijab and similar coverings can be punishable by law. It seems as though everyone is out to liberate Muslim women, but what many people need to understand is that Muslim women who wear hijab do not feel oppressed to begin with. "Wearing hijab completes me as an individual,” says Aweinat. “It is a reflection of my inner faith, my beliefs, and a constant reminder to check my outer actions and interactions. The decision I made to wear hijab changed my outlook on life and the entire direction of my growth. It strengthened my faith, built confidence in my actions, and identified me as the person I have become: A Muslim woman,” says Aweinat.