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My Hijab Story
Asalaamualaikum,
My road to hijaab or should i say 'proper' hijaab is long gradual and not very dramatic. I was 14 yrs old and used to go to school with my brother and sisters. My dad used to drop & pick us up to & from school.
Due to heavy work load and tight schedule, my dad decided to arrange for a taxi for us for about two weeks period.
This taxi driver was a very nice and friendly man, who would tell us stories and jokes on our way to school and back. We started liking and respecting him like he was an uncle. He didn't know English, but one day gave us Marmaduke Pickthall's translation of the Quran.
One day, while taking us home, all of a sudden, he, indirectly, said that Muslim girls should cover their heads. He didn't say anything else.But his words kept ringing in my ears all day.
I had not worn a scarf before. 99% of the girls in my class did not wear it. I didn't even like the idea of a scarf for myself. But i also could not refute what he had said. Despite my disliking, i could not deny the fact that Muslim women are supposed to cover their hair. Consequently,i decided to wear a scarf for school next day. I have to admit, i started out because i had respect for this man (the taxi driver) and because i honestly did not have any excuse for not wearing it. My parents were pleased at my decision.
During the initial days, i wore a 'half-head scarf', which ofcourse wasn't right. Later, i realized the hypocrisy of my action and wore it the proper way, properly pinned and everything.
No, it definately wasn't easy, eventhough i live in a Muslim country. My Muslim friends would ask me why i would do such a thing.According to them, it was a practice for old ladies only.We are in school,we are suppose to have fun. It make me look old and serious, etc. etc. But alhummdullilah, i had decided to adopt it forever.
I started wearing full-sleeved loose clothes with scarf for every occasion.
It was only in Sept.2001 that i learned that Jilbaab in compulsory. Alhummdullilah, i've been wearing a Jilbaab ever since.
Looking back, i think hijaab, has tremendously helped shaped me as a Muslim. When i had started wearing it, in the earlier days, i wasn't even in the prctice of offering regular prayers. But, alhumdullilah, step by step, my hijaab helped me shun all the wrong and unislamic practices prevalent in my surroundings. I had formed a certain image in my eyes and others. So, i had to live by the criteria of that image. The image of modesty.
