Blindspot!
From Issue: 485 [Read full issue]
What’s in it for Me? Five Advantages of Hijab
- I can’t be messed with! Hijab protects me – Hijab identifies a Muslim woman as a person of high moral standards to reduce her chances of being harassed.
- I am liberated from slavery to ‘physical
perfection’ – Society makes women desire
to become ‘perfect objects’. The multitudes of alluring
fashion magazines and cosmetic surgeries show women’s enslavement
to beauty. The entertainment industry pressures teens to believe
that for clothes, less is better. When we wear Hijab, we vow to
liberate ourselves from such desires and serve only God.
- I don’t let others judge me
by my hair and curves! – In schools and professional
environments, women are often judged by their looks or bodies—characteristics
they neither chose nor created. Hijab forces society to judge women
for their value as human beings, with intellect, principles, and
feelings. A woman in Hijab sends a message, “Deal with my
brain, not my body!”
- I feel empowered and confident – In contrast to today’s teenage culture, where anorexia
and suicide are on the rise, as women attempt to reach an unattainable
ideal of beauty, Hijab frees a woman from the pressure to ‘fit
in’. She does not have to worry about wearing the right kind
of jeans or the right shade of eyeshadow. She can feel secure about
her appearance because she cares to please only Allah.
- I feel the bond of unity – Hijab identifies us as Muslims and encourages other Muslim sisters to greet us with the salutation of peace, “Assalamu Alaikum”. Hijab draws others to us and immerses us in good company.
Source:
"Hijab:
Fabric, Fad or Faith?" - Young Muslims Publications