by Maryam Alizadeh

Created on: May 13, 2010

 Why I wear Hijab?

I can start giving sourah and Hadith to back up what I do and others can bring different reason to deny it. I started Thinking about my Hijab when we came to Canada. In my country everyone used to wear Hijab. It was an habit or a part of culture but I had to find out why I want to continue wearing it where no one wears it.

After searching and looking for answer I realized Hijab has two parts or aspects to it. One aspect is that women need to cover their attractions from men in order to be treated equally in the society. The other part is the scarf on the head which I think has another reason to it and that is for Muslim women to be recognized from others .I think God gave Muslim women the honour of being his messenger. A woman with Scarf is distinguished as a Muslim while men do not have any specific symbol to be recognized.

Hijab or more specifically scarf is a symbol. It is a symbol of honour.I wears it because I am honoured to be Muslim. I wear it to be distinguished. I want to be recognized as a Muslim. No one need to know me closely to find out I am Muslim at work, at park, in the mall, every ever. People can guess my religion, the moment they see me. With the scarf comes obligations; I have the duty to be nice, to be kind. I have to be successful; I have to be intellectual, because I am creating an image of a Muslim for anyone who sees me.

I believe we have a duty which is to show the world how great is our religion. Nowadays “Muslim” and “terrorism” are two words coming after each other. We have the obligation to correct this definition. I want the world to see that not all Muslims are terrorist or violent. Terrorist is not a Muslim. We have the most intellectual and spiritual religion. The least we can do is defending it. 

When I wear Hijab I am conscious about what I do and how I act because I am not only an individual. I am also a representative; the representative of Islam. To be honest with you I thought of taking it out sometimes imagining my self without it makes me empty. I no longer am the representative. I miss one of my most important aspects of my life. Without it I won't be “me”. I will be only an individual. Like anybody else.

 Having Hijab is not easy, it need lots of courage, self steam and faith. My Hijab never stopped me in life. I work and I study and I enjoy life the way I want to enjoy it. I encourage people to wear it only and only if they find it meaning full for them. Having a Hijab without any believes and based on habit and culture is the hollow and worthless.

Learn more about this author, Maryam Alizadeh.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.