Assalam alaiqum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
One of the most difficult decisions many Muslim sisters face is the decision to start wearing Hijab. This is certainly true for reverts, but
may also be true for sisters whose families or even whose cultures are not particularly observant.I would like to offer some advice that I hope Insha-Allah will be helpful to sisters who are considering wearing Hijab but find that something is holding them back. The first step is to learn about Hijab. There is so much information out there. Many Muslim sisters will assist you in this regard.
This is where the difficulties usually come in. For many sisters, it truly is a Jihad.Here is some advice:
1) Wear it for the sake of Allah Almighty: Various statements are made about why you should wear Hijab, such as for modesty or for protection. But the real reason that we wear Hijab is that Allah Almighty has commanded it. Whenever anyone asks you, why do you dress like that, that's the only answer you need to give him. Allah Almighty is the source of everything we have -- our existence, our life, our capability, even our goodness. If He even stopped sustaining us, we would vanish in that instant. If He took away what He gives us, we would never have even a speck of it. If we worked for millions of years, we could never repay Him for all that He has given us. And yet He does give it to us, and all He asks in return is that we do our best to obey what He has commanded us to do. Surely, wearing Hijab is a very small thing that you can do for Him compared to what He does for you!
2) Wear it for hope of the paradise: Allah makes tests for us in this world. He makes things difficult for us. He wants to see if we will
remember Him, if we will have faith in Him, and if we will trust in Him. These qualities are what is meant by "sabr" (patience). Allah does not lose the work of anyone, ever (see Surah al-Imran, verse 195). Even if it seems like nobody is paying attention to you or notices or
appreciates the good things that you do, Allah has seen them and He will not forget them. Even when it seems like the whole world is against you, Allah is always there for you when you turn to Him. Remember this. Allah always wants the best for us and in His wisdom He knows why each thing that happens to us is in fact best for us. When it seems like everything is going wrong and life is just one disaster after another, it is easy to forget this and to become bitter and skeptical. Yet we must remember always to have faith that Allah knows best why He has willed this for us, and we must always ask Him only "Make me pleased with what You have willed for me". This world we live in, although it seems at times to be the only real thing, is actually fleeting compared to the Hereafter, which is better and more abiding. The trials of this world will seem as fleeting as a nightmare when seen from the Hereafter, and the pleasures of this world will also seem as fleeting as a dream when seen from the Hereafter. It's our happiness in the Hereafter that we should be most worried about attaining, because it is what will last forever, and it's our suffering in the Hereafter that we should be most worried about avoiding, because it also will last forever. Allah has promised the paradise to those who remain steadfast in their faith in Him and who trust in Him. The more difficult it is for you to be patient, the greater the reward for it. So what will it be? Ease in this world and perhaps the eternal sufferings in Hell? Or difficulty in this world and Insha-Allah the eternal bliss of the paradise? Let's face it, the old cliches are true. There's no such thing as a free lunch and you can almost never have your cake and eat it too. We've all got to face difficulties some time. Better by far that they be in this world than in the Hereafter. So that's what you should set your mind to. Yes, it's difficult to wear Hijab. You may be rejected by your family or your friends, you may face harassment and persecution or be fired from your job. These are very scary thoughts, but if you have sabr and keep trusting in Allah, I swear to you sister, this is the path to the paradise, and when you look back on the Day of Judgement, you will know that it was worth it and have no regrets.
3) Wear it today and trust in Allah for tomorrow: What do I mean by that? What I mean is that you should take it one day at a time, or even one outing at a time. Sometimes the future seems to stretch on forever and ever and you don't think you can make it that long. You want to give up before you even begin. So sometimes the best thing to do is keep your mind focussed on what is immediately at hand. Allah will take care of the future. If you have to go out to the market, then concentrate on being able to wear Hijab just for this activity and on getting through it. If you do get through it and nothing bad happened, then give thanks to Allah for making it easy for you, and turn your mind to your next outing. Or if you have to go out to school or work, then concentrate on being able to wear Hijab just for this one day and on getting through it. And give thanks to Allah when you have made it, and turn your mind to the next day. Eventually the outings will turn into days and the days into weeks, and the weeks into months. One day you will realise that you have been wearing Hijab for quite a long time and it isn't really as bad as you feared, and Allah helped you get through it. Don't be ashamed. Sometimes it is like this. The most important thing is to be patient and keep your trust in Allah always.
4) Wear it and spite the Shaitan: My dear sister, the worries and fears in your mind are the whisperings of the Satan. He wants to talk you out of obeying Allah It is very easy to keep going around in circles in your mind and to dwell on all the things that could go wrong. I know that I myself have a tendency to do this. I put it off and I dither and wait for "the perfect time". If I let myself be, I would never do anything at
all! So the thing you have to remember is that you do not need to be perfect in faith to wear Hijab. If perfection were a qualification,
where is the sister who could wear it?? You must also not fall into the trap of thinking that you should wait until all your worries and fears
have disappeared. They never will. Trust me on this, sister. True courage is going ahead to do what's right even though you are still
nervous and scared. So don't listen to the Shaitan. Ignore the worries and fears he whispers into your mind. Tell him that you will not let him keep you from obeying Allah and you will not let him rule your life.
5) Make the decision to wear it: Once you have come to know in your heart that you must wear Hijab, then all you have to do is set a day and JUST DO IT!! This is the only way. Set a day and when that day comes, you have to do it. Don't back down. Don't give up. Do it.Make Du'a. Make lots of Du'a. Do not stop making Du'a. Ask Allah Almighty to give you strength. Ask Him to make it easy for you. Ask Him to help you. He will, I swear it to you. He is always there for you when you turn to Him. Remember how much He has given you, how everything that you have, even your very existence, is due to Him. Remember that He deserves this from you. Remember the promise of the paradise. Remember that remaining patient and faithful through difficulty now may lead to the paradise, Insha-Allah. Even if bad things happen, keep these thoughts in your mind. Don't worry about tomorrow. Just concentrate on getting through today and leave tomorrow to Allah until it gets here. That's how you do it.Never feel that you are alone, or that you are the only one who is scared and worried and nervous. Just about every other sister who has travelled down this road has gone through the same things.
I pray that ALLAH give you isteqamat.Ameen.
but has He? Apparently in the Qu'ran the term hijab is not mentioned. All that is mentiond is that men and women are to dress modestly, cover their bodies and not wear revealing, tight or transparent clothes.
well doesnt that just make us hypocrites? We wear the hijab not because we want to but because of bribrery ie the reward of paradise.
very true. From personal experience ramzan is defo a good time to start wearing the hijab and much easier as the shaitaan is locked away.
No not the gum drop buttons! – Gingy
speak for yourself sister.
how do we get to jannah? by obeying the commands of Allah (swt), and one of the commands for the believing womon is to wear the hijaab.
there is nothing wrong in doing an act just out of the fear of jahannam and the desire for jannah.
a hypocrite is someone who says he’s someone or something when he’s clearly not.
the word used in the quran is 'khimaar'.
What does khimar mean? the definition? religious? linguistic?
(just saying Khimar leaves a lot of questions. I am interested. for now.)
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
something which covers the head.
heh, simpler than I expected.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
A polite request stop calling me sister
I didnt say by wearing a scarf it makes you a hypocrite hence the question mark. Some ppl could view it as being hypocritical while others wont.
I know what the definition of hypocrite is you dont need to quote the dictionay!
No not the gum drop buttons! – Gingy
oh, i am sorry. try to make yourself more clear next time.
admin, i thort you liked simple? so what u complaining for?!
Imam ibn Kathir: "Khumur is the plural of khimar which means something that covers, and is what is used to cover the head. This is what is known among the people as a khimar."
Aqrab al-Mawarid: "The word khimar refers to all such pieces of cloth which are used to cover the head. It is a piece of cloth which is used by a woman to cover her head."
Now I am confused...
@Noor - not complaining. Not at all. Simple is good.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
but arent u a girl?
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane, by those who couldn't hear the music...
i think its the way i say it :?
LMAO
told u shez a boyyy
"ThiS WoRlD Iz A PrIsOn 4 A BeLiVeR AnD PaRaDiSe 4 A NoN-BeLiVeR.........."
did u actually read what you say how can she be a boy if where to say told you naz was a boy ok but you said she which means you have accepted the fact that she is a girl
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane, by those who couldn't hear the music...
erm.... ok werido
"ThiS WoRlD Iz A PrIsOn 4 A BeLiVeR AnD PaRaDiSe 4 A NoN-BeLiVeR.........."
haha ur reply is funny to me you kno why because you didnt have the will power to use ur single brain cell to come up with an intelectual reply
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane, by those who couldn't hear the music...
Can we leave this banter elsewhere please.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
like where?
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane, by those who couldn't hear the music...
No topic? recycle bin?
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
ok
recycle bin it is
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane, by those who couldn't hear the music...
Sorry I must get confused easily, Naz why do you mind being called a sister?
As far as I can see Noor didn't write it in a negative way.
There are two sides to every story, but only one side to the truth.
he- she is confused atm so he-she doesnt know what gender to be
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane, by those who couldn't hear the music...
"ThiS WoRlD Iz A PrIsOn 4 A BeLiVeR AnD PaRaDiSe 4 A NoN-BeLiVeR.........."
Is there something wrong with that?
People pray/fast/cover/give charity for many different reasons - out of fear of Allah, hope for Paradise or the pleasure of Allah.
As long as its for the sake of Allah - its all good.
absolutely not. Just expressing the alternative argument.
One thing ive noticed about this forum is that ppl seemed more concerned about what gender someone is then actually discussing a topic. What does it matter what gender you are? Is it enough that the majority of us a Muslims?
No not the gum drop buttons! – Gingy
Half of the time it’s done as a joke but they ^ were genuinely confused this time.
It all started this day back then. This guy decided to not do something. people were confused. Then they were told why he did not do it and they had a halo moment.
and everybody lived happily ever after.
@ Noor - only one person was still a part of the joke. Everyone else moved on after it got old. Surprisingly Omrow did not jump on the bandwaggon in his small stint.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.