What do you think, when a Hijabi walks past you? America has become an advanced country, where many people view the Hijab as a symbol of subjugation and violence, which contradicts the purpose of wearing one. Some people feel bad for such a woman while others fear her. This is not at all why the Hijab is worn though. The Hijab is a symbol of modesty and purity worn by a woman to protect herself from the malevolent and treacherous eyes of society. Essentially, just because a Muslim woman wears the Hijab does not make her a terrorist, nor does it make her any less free than any other woman. The Hijab is part of Islam’s teachings and should be respected, just as the teachings of all the other religions should be respected.
After the 9/11 attacks, many Muslim women avoided wearing a Hijab because of the extreme hatred that was unleashed against Muslims. There was so much detestation and discrimination against Muslims that women feared the outcome of continuing to wear the Hijab. Hearing a few horrendous stories from their peers, they believed they were safer not wearing the Hijab. The spotlight was on them, and not in a positive way. It has been twelve years; yet, we still receive those looks of disgust today. Not everyone is against the Hijab, many people are very respectful of it, and to those people I am very grateful. There have been many times when I have received magnificent compliments about my hijab, greatly increasing the confidence I have in my faith.
Everyone should keep in mind that every year when Women’s History Month comes around, we should not only remember the American women who have played an important role throughout history but also the Muslim women who have played a role just as important. Muslim women have contributed to civilization as scholars, legal jurists, rulers, warriors, businesswomen, poets, mystics, and much more. Some of these women include the wives of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh); Hafsa, daughter of Umar ibn AlKhattab, who was entrusted with the first copy of the Quran upon her father’s death; Fatima, the prophet’s daughter, who was deeply loved by her father; Nusaiba who defended the prophet heroically during the battle of Uhud, and recently Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by Taliban because of her attempt to save the education of girls in Swat Valley. All these women wore the Hijab and did amazing things. Therefore, the Hijab is a sign of modesty, not terrorism.
Personally the more stronger, bolder women in my life have been those wore the hijab themselves.