This book illustrates that thoughts of the average Muslim teenager grappling with wearing the hijab, peoples opinions, and how to get by as a observant Sister in a predominantly Non-Muslim society without making cultural waves. Read a review of Randa Abdel-Fattah's book "Does My Head Look Big In This?". A great read for anyone wanting to delve into the mind of a young Muslim teen!
This post is in response to a question asked by one of our Non-Muslim followers: Does the Hijab (i.e. headscarf in particular) make a difference in terms of modesty?
As a Muslim woman, i believe that it does and that my Creator knows whats best for me. There are the traditional responses about how a woman's hair is her crowning glory, how it adds to her sexual appeal etc etc etc. And yes, our hair is a very beautiful part of us. Lets face it, men are visual creatures. Its a well-documented fact the men are wayyyy more visually stimulated sexually than women. Not to say that women dont appreciate an attractive male physique, just that men....REALLY appreciate ours, really really really... ;).
So keeping that fact in mind, as Muslim women we try to make it easier for men (arnt we nice?), by covering our bodies in public, including our hair. (please note: men are also required to dress and behave modestly after all, one of the Names for God(Allah) is The Equitable, this post however, focuses specifically on the headscarf for women).
The headscarf is just another piece of the proverbial "hijab" pie, and without it, our modesty would not be complete. It would be like wearing a skirt, headscarf and belly top....you would certainly attract sexual attention that way. Sexuality is a powerful tool, one that Muslim women wield quite skillfully. The headscarf is just another part of our choice to be modest in public. Our choice to decide who views us in a sexual manner. The headscarf is a sign of true women power!
Get your hijab-on! :)
Love this post! Thanks so much for explaining the hijab and its importance so well!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! Glad you liked it. The next big question we're going to tackle is Men's Hijab, why men arnt required to wear the head scarf, and why the requirements for modesty are different between the sexes. Is Islam sexist? NO WAY! Look for our post of Men's Hijab coming soon!
ReplyDeleteStay tuned!
Thank you very much for this editorial. It is a much better explanation of hijab then many others give. Im looking forward to reading about men's hijab - i didnt know there was such a thing! We often hear about how sexist islam is and how badly muslim women are treated in the media here. you have educated me a great deal on muslim women, hijab and islam. im beginning to think that we may be the ones who are confused....not the other way around.your blog is an awesome testament to Muslim women around the world!
ReplyDeletewow. thank you so much! My goal by starting the hijab question and answer section was to address the basic non-muslim questions about hijab, Muslim women, Islam and modesty. My hope is that i can provide some insight into Islamic thought and "why we do what we do". I pray that i will be able to open an new window for understanding and tolerance regarding Muslims and Islamic practice and belief. I guess im trying to say that in the end, we are all brothers and sisters, all human, and that we have alot more in common then we think! :)
ReplyDelete