WORLD HIJAB DAY

Here's a major throw back to an 18yo Afra in 2011 - 3 months in to wearing the hijab.

Okay, so apparently there's this day where people celebrate me and other women covering majority of their bodies - um wut? First things first - I had NO idea this day existed. But I guess it's kinda cool that people are talking about it? But also, I am confused. Like what is hijab in a societal sense?

Most muslims know that hijab covers all tenets of character, dresscode and way of life men and women. But obviously, the woman, is scrutinised for *suprise suprise*, how she dresses, how she covers her hair, whether she is wearing jeans with her hijab (lols) etc. The criticism is from varying degrees of opinions of 'modesty'. 

There once was a dawat that my mother went to and an immigrant hijabless woman in her early to mid thirties commented on how girls that wear the hijab with jeans might as well just take the scarf off. To that, my mother retorted, 'the young girls that are choosing to cover their hair, are doing so in a western society. They endure far more pressures than we ever did in our youth. At least they are trying to do the right thing - what are we doing?'. Now I wasn't present but I had recently started wearing the hijab and do wear jeans with my scarf (oh pls condemn me pls). But I really appreciated how my mother responded, in fact, I didn't even realise that people thought this way about the constructs of wearing hijab. 

I started covering when I was 17 in 2011. Back then, it wasn't as popular as it is today. It was a rare occurance for a girl my age to willingly start covering in her youth as hijab was perceived to be uncool, untrendy and an oppressor. In some parts of the world, it sadly still is. And then suddenly, it evolved into this crazy hijab positive movement where more and more girls were covering and meshing hijab with style. This wasn't accepted by some; hijab was never supposed to be a fashion thing. To them hijab was being abused when worn differently/incorrectly. However, many welcomed it. Despite the disagreement from selective muslims, Western companies were/are introducing modesty in their clothing lines, 'hijabi influencers' was on the rise and the notion of modesty was really integrating into Western society. Those that didn't cover wanted to cover now cause it was so very cool to. And then there was a plateau. A different type of hijab was introduced to the climate, that caused absolute uproar - I call it the 'the sun's out bangs out hijab'. Some thought it was cool, others thought it to be blasphemy. That carried on for a while and still exists to this day. But now, the tables have turned entirely, hijab is no longer the trend it used to be (wut wutt!?). Influencers and young girls are taking off their scarves. 

'What. Happened.' thought everyone.

I think the tumultuous perception of hijab in the physical societal sense clearly suggests that it is a culture that is cultivated in the environment it is bred in. Whether it is Western, Asian, Middle Eastern, African or a fusion of all, it is something that is ever changing. There are most definitely reasons behind women wearing hijab a certain way or choosing to take off. Some serious and some not but we will truly never know. Some boil down to comfort, culture, discomfort, fashion trend, a bad experience, negativity from US - the critics (like that unkind aunty lol) dissuading them etc. 

So, where do we draw the line? Can we pinpoint a definitive line? Are the turban wearers that cover their hair safe cause at least they don't simultaneously show their bangs? Or are we going to give free passes to proper hijab wearers that wear jeans but anything more drastic than that is a cardinal sin? Modesty in Islam had always been a gradual process (i.e. modest wear > hijab > jilbab/burqa > niqab) just like imaan. It's just that in this day and age there seems to be more steps in the process.

Bottom line is, hijab has devolved significantly, in the character sense. It's time we let it go, let people do what they want and accept the fact that it is a very real product of our environment and generation. Be steadfast in your beliefs, and if you falter, go back to where it all began. Be yourself unapologetic-ally but constantly try to better yourself. Practice less haram policing and more minding our own businesses-ing. For me before you, always.

much love,

Afra