Interview
2 - Azra Caluk, 25, from Bosnia & Herzegovina
I
started doing hijab this year (at the age of 25). I call it a miracle
of Ramadan...It was during Ramadan and I was already practising Islam.
But suddenly I started feeling naked without hijab. I would go out to
buy something and I felt as if everyone was staring at me (which of
course did not happen). I remember doing Eid shopping with my
sister-in-law and I was all uncomfortable and uneasy and she kept
asking me what's the matter with me. I simply replied ''I got so used
to the hijab that I miss it so much now.'' That very evening I made a
decision. Hijab! Alhamdulillah for that choice.
It was funny in the beginning. Phone kept ringing. Everyone was
inquiring if I'm actually OK. I would like to mention that I'm the only
practising Muslim in my family, so they were as much shocked as
everyone. But I felt the change at once. I reached inner peace,
calmness ... And the change in the way the environment started treating me
was evident from Day 1. You probably know the beauty of saying selaam
to someone, and the benefit one gets from it. It was funny in the
beginning: small kids passing by and saying selaam to ME. It was a
totally new experience. Men don't stare at me anymore. They approach me
with respect now. I haven't heard an offensive comment ever since I
started doing hijab.
I can freely say that I have never been happier, Alhamdulillah. I feel
pure now. I feel seen for who I am - a human being, not just meat. It's
an amazing feeling really, to know that people talk to you because of
YOU.
To read more from Azra, click
here.
Interview 3
Q:
Have you always worn a hijab?
A:
No
I started wearing it about 2 weeks after I did my Shahada [the declaration that there is
no god but God and Muhammad is His prophet].
Q:Do you wear a niqab? If so, how do you feel
wearing a niqab?
A:
I
do wear it sometimes....But I hope that one day I'm strong enough to do it all the time as I
feel much more free wearing it.
Q: How do you feel wearing your hijab?
A:
I
LOVE my hijab, I feel naked without it. Even when I have to take out
the trash 2 metres from my doorstep on the top floor in my building
with only 1 other apartment I have to wear my hijab from top to toe.
And I
love it because it makes me feel more feminine.
Q: Is it your own choice to wear your hijab?
A:
All
my choice - got it on before I got married.
Interview 4
I guess my story is quite a bit different
from most
because of the historical perspective and the times that I lived
through. I converted to Islam in the fall of 1980. This was the time of
the hostage crisis in Iran and things were very uneasy and even violent
here in Baton Rouge in and around LSU. I had always dressed very
modestly anyway as that was my character, being a country girl raised
by a good hardworking Christian family, and even though I had always
questioned my family's religion, I could never fault the values of love
of God, family, and fellow beings, modesty, humility, honesty, and
charity, honor, and personal responsibility that they instilled in me
and that are the same in Islam. In the hostile atmosphere generated by
the hostage crisis, I took on the hijab, wearing very loose pants, long
tunics, and scarves.
I worked in the Student Union where I had no problems but walking to
and from campus, going to make shopping, riding the city bus, I was put
at great risk. I had eggs and rocks and even pieces of glass thrown at
me; people cursed me and shook their fists at me; one man even revved
his engine as I walked across a Burger King parking lot one day and
said "Go home, you F****** foreigner!" I guess I scared him when I
whirled around and went right up to his window and told him to his
face, "I was born here, you idiot. In the land of free speech, in the
land of the free and the home of the brave. When you said the pledge of
allegiance every morning in school when we were kids, what part of
'...with liberty and justice for ALL' did you NOT understand?" God
forgive me, but I had taken as much abuse as I could. I also developed
rashes in my scalp as my hair is so very thick, that wearing the
scarves allowed no air to my scalp at all, even when I cut my hair very
short and I developed bad sores.
I guess that I should also mention that I am quite a tall and
physically imposing woman, and men seem intimidated by me no matter
what I'm wearing, so maybe that was part of it. But I gave up wearing
the hijab then because I feared for my life. I still dress modestly,
and as society has seen the influx of more and more muslims and
conversions in the United States, I feel more comfortable wearing
dresses I've bought in Jordan and Indian pantsuits with loose tunics
and loose scarves. But I don't cover fully and I do not feel that I am
less of a Muslimah because of that. And I married in 1990 and my
husband understands. And my beloved inlaws in Jordan treat me with
great love and no disrespect whatsoever. I do not believe that Islam
intends to force the hijab on women...and I do not believe that modest
women are less for wearing their own interpretation of hijab. Our
relationship with God is, after all in the end, very personal.
Interview
5
I am an
Iranian Muslimah. I was born in a Muslim family so I wore hijab
from my childhood. I feel happy wearing it. Of course it is
compulsory in my country to have it on. But I really like it too
and I am already accustomed to it. I wear scarf and no niqab.
I don't feel free with niqab in Iran; a few people wear it
indeed. I think covering head is not the whole meaning of hijab.
Hijab includes every part of your body should be covered and most
important of all is your heart. I have many Muslim friends who
never wear hijab because of their country conditions and restrictions
but they are still Muslims. Hijab brings women respect and
equality with men. I think dressing modestly is the base of
Islamic hijab. Women shouldn't beautify themselves for stranger
men. Having hijab alone is not a guarantee one woman is a true
Muslimah. Islam should penetrate in hearts and not only in
appearance!
Interview 6
I must say that the hijab is like a part of me, even if at school I
don't wear it except during Ramadan because it's a very blessed month
and I feel like I'd be naked without the hijab during Ramadan. Then
except for school I always wear it - for example, when I go to the
supermarket or to do the shopping, I feel so happy with it because I
know that being covered there are angels with me, so for me nothing
really wrong can happen. By the way, the other reason why I wear it is
because of men or boys looking at me, don't they have something else to
do ?
Q: Do you wear niqab?
A:
Well the niqab I will wear after being married, for me it
will be a proof for my husband; I'll show him that I will always
be with him, that I belong to him and that no other man except my
father and brother will see my face.
Q: How do you feel wearing your hijab?
A: As
I said wearing hijab brings a huge happiness to me. I know that
Allah is completely happy with me and it's also a way for me to show my
submission to my Lord who knows why he asked women to cover herself.
He does love us . *smile*
Q: Is it your own choice to wear your hijab?
A:
Well before it was Mom who used to shout or even yell at me to
wear hijab especially during Ramadan. I was like, "Will she one day stop
screaming at me? I am doing nothing wrong..." Then I read
some books about Islam because even being a Muslim you need to learn
again and again and then I realized why Mom always asked or even forced
me to wear it, and I would like to thank her very much.
I just want to add that I wish all women who claim that they are muslim
[should] practice the religion and learn more about it. It's by
learning more that we know why we are asked to do this or that, or
to wear this and not that.
Interview 7
Q: Have you always worn hijab?
A: I started wearing hijab from the age of 7.
Q: Do you wear a niqab? If so, how do you feel wearing a niqab?
A: Yea now at times I do...I feel more comfortable and I love wearing it.
Q: How do you feel wearing your hijab?
A: The best! I am more beautiful and peaceful wearing my hijab.
Q: Is it your own choice to wear your hijab?
A: Yea, my family never forced me to wear it because I myself started wearing it - because I love it.
Interview 8
Q:
Have you always worn a hijab?
A:
No
, I did my Shahada in 2004. I then wore it for 6 months but
took it off due to psoriasis behind the ears. I
recently started wearing it again just before I got married, al
hamdullilah.
Q: How did you feel when you started to wear one?
A:
I
felt a bit uncomfortable and still do - it can be awkward, but I feel a
goodness and respect towards me from men. I got dirty looks from
hijabis on the street. Some Muslim women resent converts greatly. I'm
experiencing some hair loss this time.
Q: Is it your own choice to wear your hijab?
A:
Absolutely.
Hijab
is not
only wearing of the veil. It's of the eyes, ears, mouth and heart. So
if a Muslim woman does not feel good in wearing one, who are we to
judge? Maybe their Imaan [faith] is more than someone with a hijab on
her head? Only Allah knows.
Interview 9 - Aisha, 21
I began to wear
hijab in my second year of high school in the middle of the year...
Yikes you can imagine!
I
was concerned with other high schoolers thinking I was
bald-headed. But , I felt empowered, confident, and closer to Allah.
But at that time, I began to have less in common with my peers and I
didn't connect with them anymore. I was in a small southern town where
Muslims were rare, and covering Muslim women were even more rare.
Q: How do you
feel wearing your hijab?
A: I
feel that I am noticed and watched by others because of their
curiosity. I do feel under pressure to represent the Muslim faith
because of the negative reporting done on Islam by News Reports; I have
accepted that responsibility. I just feel under scrunity, good and bad.
But
overall, the most positive aspect is that my hijab is like the ultimate
expression of who I am. It's like the most ultimate right a country can
give to a Muslim woman. I love America for that.
The
right to cover myself to please Allah is a great blessing and I am
thankful every time I walk out the door in long sleeves and a head
covering.
It
was my choice [to wear hijab], in fact, I am the youngest of three
other sisters, but I began to wear my hijab first. No one told me - I
was just reading the Quran when I read the passages, "Draw your head
covering over your chest." "Headcovering" spoke to me.
And
I knew another Muslim family who covered and I decided to take my
devotion to Allah to the next level.
Interview 10
Q:
How did you feel when you started to wear hijab?
A:
I felt liberated for the first time! And [I feel]
so happy God knows I am doing it for his sake to protect my self.
Q:
Is it your own choice to wear your hijab?
A:
Yes, it has to be. God gives us all the rules but it is
always
our own choice to follow through as he gave us free choice in order to
judge us on our own actions.
Q:
Do you have any other comments?
A: A
nun is considered a religious woman wearing a veil and full clothing,
but why is a Muslimah considered oppressed for wearing the same thing?
We both have the same intentions for wearing it to keep men away from
looking at us sexually. We should only be sexy for our husbands. Good men
don't go for looks, only the bad boys.
Interview 11
I
am an American Muslim woman who wears both hijab and niqab. I started
wearing the hijab before I was Muslim. I wanted to know about Islam and
if I could fulfill some of the basic requirements of being a Muslim.
Q: How did you feel
when you started wearing a hijab?
A: I felt free to be
myself. Before I started wearing the hijab I felt very vulnerable
whenever I went outside. Afterwards I felt secure and I had the
emotional freedom to be myself.
I have been wearing the
niqab now for more than twelve years. I feel good about myself. I feel
that I am being true to myself- true to my conscience.
The hijab consists of
covering all of the body with the exception of the face and hands. The
hijab is mandatory for all Muslim women. Any muslim woman who doesn't
wear hijab is making a sin everytime she leaves her home. The niqab is
not mandatory, but optional. There are some Muslims who think that it
is mandatory. There is a clear hadith (saying of Prophet Muhammad)
which is sahih which says that women should cover everything except
this and this, he showed his hands and pointed to his face. This hadith
is indeed, sahih.
It was my choice to wear
hijab. I started wearing hijab before I became Muslim and it is also my
choice to wear niqab.
Interview 12
I'm
19 years old from the UK. I started to wear the hijab in March
2006. Before, I used to understand why women had to wear it, but
I guess I chose to ignore out of ignorance (may Allah swt forgive me
inshalllah). When I started wearing one I felt completed; I was
quite nervous of what people were going to think (as they never
imagined me to turn religious). However I prayed sincerely to Allah to
give me the courage and Allah helped and protected me all the way! I
had many comments made even from the Muslims! Comments like 'why have
you got the hijab on?'. I was completely shocked but I just
replied because Allah has asked us. A believing woman must act upon
what Allah has set out. The hijab has set me free -- I've
realised the true person within me.
It's
been over a month since I've worn the niqaab. The niqaab was a
totally different issue as even my family told me to take it off! (as I
am the only practising one so it was a huge shock to them). I
remember the first day I wore it and came down the stairs to say good
bye to my mum (as i was going out) -- I was actually scared thinking of
what she was going to say. But I made prayer to Allah to help me
and to give me courage. Alhamdulliah Allah did protect me. I love
wearing the niqaab!! Without it I wouldn't be me!
With my hijab feel complete, I feel much closer to Allah, and
found much inner peace within me! I really do feel like a believing
Muslimah! And I know Allah is happy with me for obeying him.
It is 100% my own choice, no one ever has forced it upon me, I just wish I had realised earlier!!
Just
remember why we Muslims cover up, for our Submission to Allah and for
our modesty! If any one puts you down, just remember you are doing it
soley for the sake of Allah and that will help you (it did to me).
The hijab
is the scarf which Muslim women wear to cover their hair.
They come in a variety of styles and can be worn in many
ways.
In some Islamic cultures, the women cover their hair
completely,
but in others, women may leave a bit of hair showing at the top.
A niqab
is a face veil. While not required according to the majority
of
Islamic schools of thought, some women choose to wear it in addition to
the hijab. These too can come in a variety of styles.