I've done seven posts about different questions I get about hijab - but here's the last post in the series. One that answers the big question: Why I DO wear hijab. No, it's not because my dad made me, it's not because it's the cultural norm in my country, and it's not because I'm worried that people will think I'm promiscuous if I don't...
Why DO I Wear Hijab?
Because God Told Me To
This is the REAL reason I wear it. You don't know what it means to do something selflessuntil you do something for God. He gave you life, He provides for you, but what do YOU do for Him?
One of the things that I feel like I did for Him was to wear hijab.
"And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! Turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss.” [Q 24:31]
This isn't a fancy explanation, but it's the truth. There's nothing in the world I wouldn't do for Allah (swt) and, that's it.
Modesty
I feel very protected and safe in hijab. It really does take away a lot of the pressure of men looking at you. When I didn't wear hijab, guys would ask me out, touch me, just be GROSS. Now, no one does anything that makes me feel uncomfortable. No one touches me. It's very powerful.
There is a pretty common story that a nonMuslim man asked a Muslim man why Muslim women cover themselves in hijab. He took a piece of candy - took it out of the wrapper - and threw it on the ground. It got dirty, ants came and swarmed it, etc... He took another piece of candy - that was wrapped - and threw it on the ground as well. Then, he asked the nonMuslim man if he wanted the wrapped candy or the unwrapped candy? He of course said the wrapped one. The unwrapped was to symbolize uncovered women - how they are walking through this filthy world . The covered woman was symbolized by the wrapped candy - which is protected from the dirty things on earth.
I know it's kind of cheesy, but the meaning makes sense.
To Be a Representation
Wearing hijab gives me the amazing ability to be Super Muslim. Everyone knows what religion I follow when I walk down the street, so there is an opportunity to answer questions that they may have. I'm not sure what it is about ME personally that makes everyone open to ask me questions, throw out comments, and sometimes even insult me, but there must be something. It's something most other religions don't get to experience. Maybe the Amish. Maybe some Sikhs, or Hindus, but not MOST religions.
It's also nice that when people think I'm going to start speaking in broken English, that I'm fluent :) It shocks them sometimes that I speak English so well. I know that sometimes people pray I don't come to their line in the grocery store because they think communicating with me will be impossible, then, I open my mouth, don't have an accent, and they realize it's not so bad to talk to a Muslim lady!
Like I've said before, it's pressure, but it's also a gift.
So I Don't Have To Do My Hair
Okay, so it's not a religious reason, but it saves me a lot of time in the morning to not have to blow dry and straighten my hair everyday! Plus, my hair looks MUCH better than it ever did when I didn't wear hijab. Fine, so it's not a reason, but definitely a perk ;)
To Prevent Myself from Doing Wrong
Every time I look in the mirror, I am reminded that I am so incredibly blessed that Allah (swt) chose me to be Muslim. It gives me the passion about my religion that I need to live every day as the best possible Muslim I can be. You can't go into a bar in hijab. It very easily helps you to avoid haram.
To Remind Myself of What Really Matters
Yes, I was much more attractive to the general population before I wore hijab, but it didn't mean anything. It is so much more important to work on what's inside of you - to perfect your religion, to better your personality, to increase your knowledge - than to work out your calves and curl your hair. Really, it is. I know. I promise you.
For My Future Husband
A final, very important reason. No, I'm not married. And I might not be married for a long time, but I already love my future husband and respect him. I wouldn't want him to be out there right now - whereever he is - showing off for girls. I'm not a hypocrite. So, I choose to wear hijab - partially - for him. I already belong to him, and him to me, so I'll save my beauty for him as I save my heart for him, inshaAllah.
I'm not under any pressure to wear hijab - and I wasn't when I first started wearing it. I love it. And I am not taking it off. InshaAllah, not now. Not ever. And I don't care what that means for my job, for what people think of me, or for anything except for the fact that it pleases God. The rest of the reasons are just support of the first reason - and doing something for God is doing it for the Best of reasons.