In The Name of Allah, the Most Gracious Most Kind

When anyone brings up the topic of “Muslim women”, an image of a fully clothed from head to toe, Middle Eastern type woman often comes to mind. Mysterious and mystifying, why can’t we just understand and free her? (Cue desert background and snake charmer music). Another perception that comes to the ignorant minded is often a young “miserable” girl, forced to wrap her loose locks at the behest of her parents, more specifically her father or another male member of the household, in order to avoid facing physical abuse etc. Often these types of families are depicted as extremely irreligious but thank God they still hold on to hijab (sarcasm again). 

In the recent years, there has been a steady increase in minority inclusivity in our everyday experiences from major companies casually including us in their advertisements, being elected to government type positions, to media in terms of popular shows and social media influencers. Many contest that this is well needed and necessary in pushing and fighting against the stereotypes we as muslim women have faced throughout the years. But are we minimizing ourselves and selling ourselves short? 

So why exactly are we setting the bar for ourselves at the West’s perception of who we should be? And let’s be real, the bar is on the ground. Two words: colonial assimilation. But Kim, we can’t expect to live in the West and not integrate some part of their lifestyle into ours as long as its within Islamic principles. Yes this is true, but where do we draw the line on our Islamic principles and principles that reflect a societal norm? And why are we allowing the latter to dictate which direction we should take? This is quite the slippery slope. And we girls are slipping so fast our hijabs are sliding off, literally.

If you are able to, try and look for an old photo of your mother or another female member of your family that wore a hijab before 2005 and compare it to the leading female Muslim influencers. What’s the difference? It has become quite obvious and very loudly pronounced. And no, I am not just talking about the style of scarf, I am talking about the mannerisms which have been lost in terms of hyaa, or modesty. Tongues hanging out, extreme form fitting “fits” with a seductive walk or questionable sitting position have all littered our explorer page. The acceleration this is going at is quickly taking our younger Muslimahs with it. There has recently been an increase severe body dysmorphia, especially that in young women, and it has trickled into the lives of young Muslim youth. 1 Have we sisters embraced everything the hijab stands for and is against? Everything we as women have fought for (to not be sexualized or victims of incels drooling over us). Nor am I arguing that clothes or hijab is the sole thing that stops these types of harassments. However, are we adding to the problem? 

Is this what Allah azaa wa jaal meant for us when He ordered the believing women, “O Prophet, enjoin your wives and your daughters and the believing women, to draw a part of their outer coverings around them.¹¹⁰ It is likelier that they will be recognised and not molested.¹¹¹ Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Quran 33:59). 2 We roll our eyes at cheap imitations and knockoffs of bags and clothing, but what have we become in terms of imitating today’s “beauty standards” and lying to ourselves that we are still “covered”? We can plainly see the signs of The Day of Judgement are coming at a pace similar to, “…pearls fastened by a string. Once the string is cut, they fall one after the other”. 3 One of these signs are “women who are dressed yet naked”. 4 It couldn’t be any more clear.

So who benefits from this the most? Those actively working against the deen of Islam. There is an African proverb that comes to mind: “When you educate a man, you educate an individual, when you educate a woman you educate a nation”. That is it sisters, that is your answer. They cannot start to sow the seeds of their deception unless it starts with us. We’re extremely important, if not the most important aspect of their deceit. But while they plan, Allah knows.

Going back to the title of this article: If they can turn hijab into more of a cultural practice as opposed to a religious practice, it allows them to manipulate the hijab to their liking and minimize its significance and importance. We need to take back the narrative that they are writing for us. The ink of the pen is mightier than the blood of a sword. Let’s get writing sisters.

Thoughts, comments, suggestions or corrections? Let us know below.

1. Rising dysmorphia among adolescents : A cause for concern Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7114025/
2. Surah Ahzab Ayah 59 Retrieved from https://www.islamicstudies.info/tafheem.php?sura=33&verse=59
3. “The Signs of Qiyamah are like strings of pearls “ Retrieved from https://hadithanswers.com/the-signs-of-qiyamah-are-like-a-string-of-pearls/
4. The Book of Clothes and Adornment Retrieved from https://sunnah.com/muslim:2128