by Summayyah Sadiq-Ojibara

Created on: March 03, 2008

The issue of the Hijab; women's covering in Islaam, continues to annoy some, amaze many, mystify and in many cases exemplify the backwardness' and barbarism' of Islam.

It also represents for many, the repression and oppression of the female gender in Islam. Perhaps, the Hijab could mean all these and more if viewed from a perspective of distorted information, outright stereotyping and deliberate propaganda against the goodness contained within.

If however a moment is taken to look behind the veil as it were, through the eyes of a woman in Hijab, who truly submits to this requirement of Islam for its female adherents, with knowledge, understanding and conviction, it opens a completely different world of possibilities in the soft walls of the Hijab.

The purpose of the Hijab is to build a wall of protection around the woman from within and without. Thus the outer physical Hijab takes attention away from her feminity and directs acknowledgement of her individuality as well as her humanity.

The inner Hijab on the other hand is personal to each wearer, as it enables a self-awareness towards striving between right and wrong.

It also awakens a consciousness of the woman's wholesome feminity which become compelling and truly esteemed under the Hijab. Hence it is preserved for only the truly deserving instead of putting it before every Tom, Dick and Harry to do with it as they wish!

Does the Hijab make me less beautiful? Absolutely not!

At the risk of letting out valued secrets; suffice it to say that the beauty of a submissive soul which sacrifices and strives in the face of overwhelming challenges shines through to give a special glow women in Hijab have.

Wearing the Hijab, does not take away a woman's feminity; but rather enhances it. This is because; the woman can wear anything underneath the cover, seen only by her husband, father, brothers, uncles and other females.

The Hijab is the most effective beauty therapy there is, it remains undiscovered by many until they are privileged to live behind the veil themselves, only then will true understanding of how beautiful a woman in Islam can be.

In the Hijab, a woman can get away with having the best of worlds; beauty and brains.

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