The Many Reasons for Wearing Hijab:

You please Allah. You are obeying the commands of your Lord when you wear the Hijab and you can expect great rewards in return.

It is Allaah's protection of your natural beauty. You are too precious to be "on display" for each man to see.

It is Allaah's preservation of your chastity.Allaah purifies your heart and mind through the hijaab. Allaah beautifies your inner and outer countenance with hijaab. Outwardly your hijaab reflects innocence, purity, modesty, shyness, serenity, contentment and obedience to your Lord. Inwardly you cultivate the same.

Allaah defines your femininity through the hijaab. You are a woman who respects her womanhood. Allaah wants you to be respected by others, and for you to respect yourself.

Allaah raises your dignity through the hijaab. When a strange man looks at you, he respects you because he sees that you respect yourself.

Allaah protects your honour 100% through your hijaab. Men do not gaze at you in a sensual way, they do not approach you in a sensual way, and neither do they speak to you in a sensual way. Rather, a man holds you in high esteem and that is just by one glance at you!

Allaah gives you nobility through the hijaab. You are noble, not degraded, because you are covered and not naked.

Allaah demonstrates your equality as a Muslim woman through the hijaab. Your Lord bestows upon you equal worth as your male counterpart, and gives you a host of beautiful rights and liberties. You express your acceptance of these unique rights by putting on the hijaab.

Allaah defines your role as a Muslim woman through the hijaab. You are a someone with important duties. You are a reflection of a woman of action not idle pursuits. You display your sense of direction and purpose through your hijaab. You are someone that people take seriously.

Allaah expresses your independence through the hijaab. You are stating clearly that you are an obedient servant of the Greatest Master. You will obey no one else and follow no other way. You are not a slave to any man, nor a slave to any nation. You are free and independent from all man-made systems.

Allaah gives you the freedom of movement and expression through the hijaab. You are able to move about and communicate without fear of harassment. Your hijaab gives you a unique confidence.

Allaah wants others to treat you – a Muslim woman - with kindness. And the hijaab brings about the best treatment of men towards you.

Allaah wants your beauty to be preserved and saved for just one man to enjoy: your husband.

Allaah helps you to enjoy a successful marriage through wearing hijaab. Because you reserve your beauty for one man alone, your husband's love for you increases, he cherishes you more, he respects you more and he honours you more. So your hijaab contributes to a successful and lasting marital relationship.

Allaah brings about peace and stability in the society through the hijaab! Yes this is true! Men do not cause corruption by forming illegal relationships because you - the Muslim woman - calm their passions. When a man looks at you, he feels at ease, not tempted to fornicate…

So a Muslim woman in hijaab is dignified, not dishonoured, noble, not degraded, liberated, not subjugated, purified, not sullied, independent, not a slave, protected, not exposed, respected, not laughed at, confident, not insecure, obedient, not a sinner, a guarded pearl, not a prostitute…

Dear women! Come towards the gates of Paradise with us! Fulfill your duties towards Allaah, put on your adornment - put on your hijaab, and race towards Jannah (Paradise) by doing all good actions. You should agree by now that wearing hijaab is extremely beneficial – it must be - because Allaah only commands what is good……and believe me, dear sister, it is good to obey the commands of your Lord…

"Their reward is with their Lord: Gardens of Eden underneath which rivers flow wherein they will dwell for ever; Allaah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him; this is (in store) for whoever fears his Lord."

[Sooratul-Bayyinah 98:8]

SOURCE:

Written by Hussein Revivalism

International Media

I really want to wear a scarf...but I'm too scared to start?

Question:

I wish I could erase all of my history and just wear a hijab. Everyone around me knows me as something else, something that isn't anywhere near a hijabi. The reason I don't want to wear it is because I care what others will think ..."this girl was wearing this yesterday...and now she decides to put on a hijab?" I just feel like I will be completed if I wear a hijab. Any advice?


Answer:

Salaam Sis,
I remember when I first started wearing hijab. The first thing Shaytan tries to do is create excuses on reasons why you shouldn't wear hijab. I have friends who want to wear them and yet years have gone by and still they have not had the courage to wear it because they have given into the excuses suggested by Shaytan. 

These excuses are:

- only when I become really pious will I wear it
- what will others think of me
- (if you're working) my workmates won't accept me
- when Ramadan comes then I'll start
- I don't have enough modest clothes
and the list goes on and on...

Shaytan will always give you reasons why you are not ready enough to wear it. And I only needed one reason to wear it and that is, "I'm doing this for Allah. I'm following His commandment."

When I was having doubts about when to start and Shaytan would give excuses not to, I decided to imagine myself before Allah on Judgement day. And Allah asking me why I had not worn the Hijab knowing that He had commanded it in the Quran. Why even having that knowledge I still did not wear it.

I realised then that no excuse I would give is good enough to disobey Allah. "I was afraid what people would think" was not a good excuse. "I didn't have enough modest clothes" is not a good excuse. "I was waiting to be more pious" is not a good excuse. Hijab is a must, you don't have to be perfect to wear it, you just have to be Muslim.


SOURCE:
Yahoo!Answers: Ramadan:
 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmoDTsVOExf24LIg4RxNi5zty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20120616141617AAPOb2m

Muslim girls, what motivates you to wear the headscarf?

Question:

I know a few Muslim girls wearing the headscarf (from uni) and they can open it and show their hair in front of girls. And every time i see them without one, i always think: they are far far far more beautiful without the headscarves! Don't they feel like taking it off and flaunt their beauty? And they look so different. Also, not to mention when it is hot! How can you guys handle the hot weather? When at home, those friends i know will make braids in their hair, wear cute hair clips, but as soon as they wanna go out they cover it all! What motivates you guys?? I mean when you look in the mirror you can tell you are beautiful without wearing the headscarf, and yet you have all the determination to put it on. Sorry if this is a stupid question. ( actually i just got back from a Muslim friend's house and i kept staring at her, she is so beautiful without the headscarf, much more beautiful than girls you see on the magazine, but when she wears it she looks.....different, i don't know, not beautiful? :/ )

Answers by Muslimahs:

Muslimah 1:

I used to think this as well- I wanted people to look at me and think 'wow she's pretty' and I enjoyed it when I found out a boy had a crush on me or thought I was cute. But recently I've learnt that these things really do not matter- when I'm old and wrinkly, will boys look at me and call me cute? Why should I rely on (for my happiness and satisfaction) something so shallow and so easily lost with age?
There are also other important aspects to hijab (apart from covering beauty). You tend to 'repel' racist and unintelligent people who you probably wouldn't want to associate with in the first place. You also feel united with your sisters in Islam.  and people will watch the way you act and say 'this Muslim girl did so and so' -thus wearing hijab constantly reminds you to be of good character. Lastly (I don't think I covered all the importances of hijab but then this post would be too long!) it serves as 'dawah'- the 'spreading of Islam' as in curious people will ask questions and we can teach them about Islam (e.g. you), and maybe they will even end up reverting.


'Also, not to mention when it is hot! How can you guys handle the hot weather? '
When a Muslim loves Allah SWT so much he will makes sacrifices readily. For example in the month of Ramadan we fast from sunrise to sunset- of course this is painful, but Allah SWT rewards us in equal amounts to what we sacrifice (and sometimes even greater). Thus when a hijabi goes out on a hot day, you may think it is better for her to remove hijab, but in reality it is better for her to keep it on (she may experience heat, but she is also experiencing a reward in this life/in the Hereafter for her sacrifices and commitment to Islam. And really what is a little bit of sweat in relation to eternity in Paradise?)
And lastly, of course we do not look 'beautiful' with hijab! I forgot to mention this but in modern times hijab also serves against a rejection of today's 'fashion'- we do not feel the need to 'dress to impress', or be ashamed if we wear 'old fashioned' or 'ugly' clothing.
In summary, the hijab serves to force a person to judge you by your character rather than looks, amongst other things. 


Muslimah 2:

Obeying Allah is what motivates me. It also makes me feel respected, not just cos the head scarf but dressing modestly head to toe. Some women wear it just to wear it I noticed, like as a 'fashion style' cos they still have makeup, tight clothes, heels, etc. When I first wore it I thought I would take it back off but I felt like I was pleasing Allah and like it kept me protected and many people showed respect, as for the ones that show disrespect it only makes me wanna keep it on more
Do I ever feel like I wanna take it off, honestly I do sometimes but I know that it's not the right thing to do and it's for my own good so I leave it on and Insha Allah I'll continue to wear it.


Muslimah 3:

We wear the headscarf because it shows our modesty.We don't go around showing our beauty to stranger men, but we show it to our husbands. The one who really deserves to see it.


Muslimah 4:

When I wear the headscarf it teaches me the importance of Character. People look at WHO YOU ARE rather than WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE.

I love this quote: "I cover my hair, not my brain."

There are some people in this world who get ahead by their beauty rather than their qualifications. Qualifications can not be taken from you but your beauty can.

We wear the headscarf because:
WE dress to impress NO MAN,
WE dress to impress Allah.

You mentioned how we can handle the hot weather. Cancer organizations educate the public to cover up when going in the sun. That wearing long sleeve shirts will keep you cool. Its actually cooler to be all covered up than to be exposed in the sun. Because when the sun's heat touches an exposed skin you feel the heat more than one that is covered.

My DETERMINATION to wear the headscarf comes from BELIEF and FAITH.
I love this quote by the boxer Muhammad Ali:

"...everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them.
Your body is sacred. You're far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too."

"Superheroes allows their capes to hang off their backs,
but our SUPERWOMEN choose to wrap them around their heads"
~Boona Muhammad

To conclude:
My headscarf has taught me:
I'm more Precious than diamonds,
I'm a Superhero,
It's my Character that's important &
And I dress to impress only Allah.


SOURCE:
Yahoo!Answers, Ramadan:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20121229004142AAnp98m

My Hijab...

I Love This!

Dear sisters :)

When your Hijab is see-through...
Or when it's half on your head and half not...
Or when it's on, but your fringe is showing...
Or when your hairs are covered
... but your ears are showing...
Or when your Hijab is on
but your wearing skin tight clothes
Or when you think Hijab is JUST covering your hair....
Sisters
THAT IS NOT HIJAB!!!

Sisters in islam understand the true value of Hijab, wear Hijab for the right reasons with the right intentions and with pride ♥
-GB-



SOURCE:
Ya Allah I Need Your Guidance [Facebook]

Why I Choose to Wear Hijab...

If only you knew...

"If only you knew how special you are to Him.

So much so, that He has demanded that you were protected in every way,

Hijab being one of them.

So much so, that He has placed Jannah beneath your feet.

So much so, that He sent His greatest creation (the Prophet sallalahu alaihi wassalam) to show men how to treat you.

So much so, that life revolves around you; the future revolves around you.

So much so, that the most Merciful has dedicated a whole chapter of His words to you

[Surah An-Nisaa].

He has valued you; He has elevated your worth; He has beautified your existence -

Don't cheapen your soul to a value any less." ♥

SOURCE:
Daily Qur'anic Verses by Toufique H. Sumon [Facebook]

For My Sisters In Islam,

I'm Superwoman!

But I Love the Attention

With the hijab comes sacrifices, but we must be willing to weigh the temporal pleasures with the eternal bliss.

In her recent novel Boy vs. Girl, Na’ima B. Roberts illustrates an important, yet overlooked phenomenon for girls and women who wear hijab:

“But lately, she had lost some of that confidence, that immunity to guys’ indifference to her. It had started to bother her that their eyes glazed over when they saw her, sliding away from her face, brightening when they saw Robina’s cheeky smile and highlighted hair.
Her pride was hurt, her vanity bristled…
Once upon a time, she had been the darling of every clique that mattered. Now, in her hijab, she was considered a pariah…”

This excerpt details the struggle of Farhana, one of the main characters in the book, as she dons the hijab. She is a teenager in high school and the confidence with which she began to wear hijab slowly diminishes as she discovers some of the consequences.

Now, many females more or less know the reasoning behind wearing hijab—namely, to be modest and obey God’s orders. In essence, this also means deterring attention away from oneself by appearing and acting in a humble manner. For many of us, attention is something we prize so it is only natural to feel that way. We feel loved and secure when somebody gives us attention, whether it is as simple as a glance from a classmate or as complex as a relationship with a family member. Thus it is only natural that we feel hurt when some of that attention is lost.

Personally, I didn’t mind when people glanced past me because of my hijab. I’ve been shy for the majority of my life and I tended to be the student who hid behind another’s head so the teacher wouldn’t call me. But it isn’t so simple for other, more extroverted individuals. It may cause pain when those who had more or less adored you, such as your friendly male cousin or the guy sitting at your math table, doesn’t give you the same amount of attention anymore. It hurts when you cannot be part of that popular clique anymore and moreover when your crush hardly gives a glance in your direction. Even shy girls may crave this kind of attention once in a while—to have the temporal comfort of a good-looking guy flash a smile at you.

But, in the end, what good is that small bit of pleasure we gain? Can anything more happen beyond that smile, that glance, or that attention we crave? Or perhaps the better question is, shouldn’t we want something beyond that and why? Most of us are fortunate to have the loving care and attention from our parents and family. Others may not be so fortunate but an undying trust in Allah can help them move forward. And all that attention and affection can insha’Allah be attained one day by a loving spouse. Why bother your soul, your faith, your relationship with Allah for a mere desire to have attention that can only last only for a short time?

So, my dear sisters, don’t sulk with the feeling that you’re not getting as much attention now that you have a hijab on. Surround yourself with those who will give you affection—your family, your friends, the elderly, and even children in your community. And for those sisters who have not begun wearing the hijab yet, do not let the ideas that you won’t be as beautiful any more, or that nobody will like you or marry you prevent you from embarking on this journey.

Allah indeed is the provider of all good things. We have a duty to our Lord and no words are more powerful than His to consider:

“…And who is more astray than the one who follows his own desires separate from the guidance of Allah…”
~[Al-Qasas, 28:50]

When you find yourself brooding and lonely, ask yourself which you prefer to be—a slave to your fleeting desires or a slave to your Lord?


SOURCE:
I Got It Covered
http://www.igotitcovered.org/2011/10/12/but-i-love-the-attention/

More Precious Than Diamonds

The following incident took place when Muhammad Ali's daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were not modest. Here is the story as told by one of his daughters:

When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father's suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day.

My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Hana,

...everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them."

He looked at me with serious eyes.

"Your body is sacred. You're far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too."


SOURCE:
More Than A Hero: Muhammad Ali's Life Lessons Presented Through His Daughter's Eyes
By Hana Ali

I have a wonderful poem to share!

My Struggle

They ask: How will you progress in life with yourself covered from head to toe?

I ask: How will I progress to the Other Life if I do not do so?

They ask: What is the use of all your education if you do not care to make a career?

I ask: What is the use of reading His Book if I am void of His fear?

They ask: Why do you insist on being backward in these enlightened times?

I ask: Why do you insist on being modern while being oblivious to all the avoidable crimes?

They ask: What happiness do you find in hiding your face?

I ask: What happiness do you find caught up in this rat race?

They ask: Why do you want to complicate your life further?

I ask: Why do you wish to humiliate yourself in the Life Hereafter?

They ask: How will you face everyone from behind a veil?

I ask: How will I face my Lord when I am judged and I fail?

They ask: What will you gain by this action?

I ask: What if I gain His Mercy, even if it’s a fraction?

Source:
Courtersy of "I Got it Covered"
http://www.igotitcovered.org/2011/02/15/my-struggle/