Opposite to the widespread misconception that the Muslim women’s headscarf is a symbol of oppression, Itidal Hashif, 17, and other veiled Muslim youth show how faith can enhance one’s character over physical beauty, according to Hattiesburg American.
"It's a huge responsibility," said Hashif, a student who attends the Noor-UI-Iman school in South Brunswick, N.J.
Hashif’s family is from Palestine.
Many Non-Muslims regard Hijab, or the Islamic headscarf, as a symbol of oppression, embodiment of a political worldview that rejects secularism and even, for some, embraces 'Islamic extremism'.
Contrary to this view, "Hijab", which has become synonymous with "headscarf" in Western countries, is an act of obedience to Allah and to his prophet (Peace Be upon Him), requiring Muslim women to cover the entire of their bodies from head to toe, except the face and the hands, and according to some scholars, the foot, to preserve their modesty. Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an.
“It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His messenger have decreed a matter that they should have an option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has indeed strayed in a plain error.” (Qur’an 33:36).
Allah also said:
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc) and not to show off their adornment except what must (ordinarily) appear thereof, that they should draw their veils over their Juyubihinna.” (Qur’an24:31).
Juyubihinna: Scholars differed whether the veil must include the hands and face or not.
Allah also said:
“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) over their bodies (when outdoors). That is most convenient that they should be known and not molested.” (Qur’an 33:59).
Hashif suggests that today with scarves produced in different designs, shapes and sizes, and with multiple creative wrapping techniques, hijab has become, together with being a religious commitment, also an accessory.
"You have to match the headscarf with everything you're wearing," said Hashif, adding that scarves had become part of every Muslim woman's outfit.
"Wearing Hijab becomes like putting on your shoes," Hashif said.
"It feels so normal."
Also Kholoud Shaheen, 18, another American Muslim student originally from Egypt who decided to put on the veil six years ago, says:
"Some people buy outfits to match their scarves because they have so many,"
"Wearing the hijab really becomes part of your routine."
Shaheen says she buys most of her headscarves online. But sometimes she gets them from friends and relatives who travel abroad.
Finding good headscarves to wear used to be difficult in the United States, says Abir Catovic, one of the girls' teachers who began wearing the hijab in college about 20 years ago.
Muslim women’s commitment to wear the Hijab prompted companies, like Ikea, produce creative headscarves for working Muslim women.
Last year, Ikea introduced a blue and yellow hijab with the Ikea logo for employees in its Edmonton, England, store.
Also Nike is now working with the United Nations to produce athletic Hijabs.
"Last year, solid colored two-pieces were in," said Enas Fahmy, explaining the latest trends in Hijab.
Many Muslim women now started mixing two different colored scarves which makes their Hijab look unique and creative.
"When some people think of Hijab, they think of a long black robe," said Afnaan, Fahmy's oldest daughter.
"But it's not like that."
"It's a huge responsibility," said Hashif, a student who attends the Noor-UI-Iman school in South Brunswick, N.J.
Hashif’s family is from Palestine.
Many Non-Muslims regard Hijab, or the Islamic headscarf, as a symbol of oppression, embodiment of a political worldview that rejects secularism and even, for some, embraces 'Islamic extremism'.
Contrary to this view, "Hijab", which has become synonymous with "headscarf" in Western countries, is an act of obedience to Allah and to his prophet (Peace Be upon Him), requiring Muslim women to cover the entire of their bodies from head to toe, except the face and the hands, and according to some scholars, the foot, to preserve their modesty. Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an.
“It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His messenger have decreed a matter that they should have an option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has indeed strayed in a plain error.” (Qur’an 33:36).
Allah also said:
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc) and not to show off their adornment except what must (ordinarily) appear thereof, that they should draw their veils over their Juyubihinna.” (Qur’an24:31).
Juyubihinna: Scholars differed whether the veil must include the hands and face or not.
Allah also said:
“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) over their bodies (when outdoors). That is most convenient that they should be known and not molested.” (Qur’an 33:59).
Hashif suggests that today with scarves produced in different designs, shapes and sizes, and with multiple creative wrapping techniques, hijab has become, together with being a religious commitment, also an accessory.
"You have to match the headscarf with everything you're wearing," said Hashif, adding that scarves had become part of every Muslim woman's outfit.
"Wearing Hijab becomes like putting on your shoes," Hashif said.
"It feels so normal."
Also Kholoud Shaheen, 18, another American Muslim student originally from Egypt who decided to put on the veil six years ago, says:
"Some people buy outfits to match their scarves because they have so many,"
"Wearing the hijab really becomes part of your routine."
Shaheen says she buys most of her headscarves online. But sometimes she gets them from friends and relatives who travel abroad.
Finding good headscarves to wear used to be difficult in the United States, says Abir Catovic, one of the girls' teachers who began wearing the hijab in college about 20 years ago.
Muslim women’s commitment to wear the Hijab prompted companies, like Ikea, produce creative headscarves for working Muslim women.
Last year, Ikea introduced a blue and yellow hijab with the Ikea logo for employees in its Edmonton, England, store.
Also Nike is now working with the United Nations to produce athletic Hijabs.
"Last year, solid colored two-pieces were in," said Enas Fahmy, explaining the latest trends in Hijab.
Many Muslim women now started mixing two different colored scarves which makes their Hijab look unique and creative.
"When some people think of Hijab, they think of a long black robe," said Afnaan, Fahmy's oldest daughter.
"But it's not like that."
