unslaved roses

HIJAB: Fabric, Fad or Faith?

“Yeah, I just got on the bus and I’m on my way home. Okay, Mum, Wa’alaikum Assalam.”

I slip my cell into my bag. A girl in a yellow tank top and dark blue cut-offs plops into the seat beside me.

“Ugh, I hate taking the bus, especially in this heat,” she says.

I nod and smile.

She raises her eyebrows at my full-length dress and the cloth wrapped around my head. “Aren’t you hot in that?” she asks.

I contemplate my answer. The girl shoots another question. “Why do you wear that thing on your head anyway?”

I fiddle with the clasp on my bag. I wonder what I should say. Why do I wear Hijab?

Why the Hood?

It’s tough to explain, isn’t it? Hijab relates to the basic faith that there is only one God worthy of worship. As Muslim women we want to submit to God and obey all His commands. Since Hijab is a clear commandment of God (see Quran 24:31), we choose to do it to please Him. If we wear Hijab for any other reason, we may fulfill an obligation without gaining the reward for it.

Aisha (The wife of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him) said, “May Allah have mercy on the immigrant women (from Makkah). When Allah revealed ‘that they should draw their veils over their juyubihinna*,’ they tore their wrappers and covered their heads and faces with them.” [Bukhari]

The female companions of the Prophet gave up the traditions and norms of their society and covered up immediately to respond to Allah, before they knew the proper method.

Only a Head Covering?