|
My Niqab Story
As'Salaamu 'alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu
I accepted Islam when I was about 15. I knew Islam was the truth but I didn't officially say the shahadah with witnesses until I was 18 and a freshman in college. I went to college wearing shorts, little shirts and tall shoes, as I had not been able to submit myself to hijaab at that point and was still greatly influenced by dunya.
Alhamdu lillah I met some Sisters at my college and they wore khimaar and encouraged me to do so. I told them I wanted nothing more than to be a fully practicing Muslimah and wear the complete hijaab, so the day I went to officially take my shahadah I put on an abayah and khimaar and never looked back, Alhamdu lillah!
My first year wearing khimaar was all new and strange to me. I still felt weird showing my face as in my college wearing a khimaar didn't seem to signal to men to not talk directly towards me as you would a non-Muslim woman. I still had non-Muslim men speaking to me in manners which I didn't feel was appropriate even though I was conducting myself in the best manner I could insha'Allah.
A brother at my campus gave me some books and tapes on niqaab around this same time I had a feeling within myself that I wanted to cover my face. Reading the evidence from the Qur'an and Sunnah was a real awakening moment to me... I decided right then and there that I wanted to wear niqaab to obey and please Allah insha'Allah. So in August of '98 I put on niqaab and Alhamdu lillah have worn it ever since.
Even though it is hard at times I try to remind myself that attaining Jannah is not easy and that we must overcome our desires and nafs and please and obey Allah in the best way we can. So Alhamdu lillah I wear niqaab and realize it was one of the best decisions I ever made for myself!
Umm 'Umar
