hijab

AISHAH!

Assalaam alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuhu siblings in the deen!
How are you all?
It's been so long have updated this book, am very sorry.  It was due to so many things like  much occupations and laziness too.

Am back to compensate you with the hijab journey of a Maa sha Allah sister in the deen. 

Her name is Aishah!  OMG,  this sister is really amazing, I met her by Allah knows, I cant just explain but I can see the beauty in every part of her lifestyle as she strives to be like our Mother, Aisha bint Abubakar (May Allah be pleased with her).
She's a writer, a doctor in the making and a striving muslimah!
Let's learn from her ocean of wisdom and knowledge by reading attentively, her hijab story!!!

Here comes the hijab story of Aishah (Umm Amatullah)

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*HIJAB* was only meant to be worn whenever I wanted to pray,  or so, I thought. Perhaps to be worn when I want to buy an item from the provision store down the street and sometimes when going to the market with Umm.
During Eid,  a wedding or whatever festive occasion I had to attend,  wearing proper hijab wasn't an option.  I mean,  come on!!!  I'm beautifully dressed,  it's only proper to finish it up with a matching veil, not caring how transparent,  super flashy or thin it is.  Why else did I take pains to put on lovely earrings and necklace,  wrist bangles and beautiful henna designs.  What's the point if I had to cover them all up???

Those were my very distorted thoughts several years back.  No amount of Alhamdulillah would show fully,  the extent of my gratitude to Allah for delivering me from such twisted and thwarted mindset.  All praise is to Allah Who Has blessed me with the true understanding of what a proper hijab entails and the courage to wear it proudly come what may.  May The Most Merciful of those who show mercy preserve all those wearing the hijab sincerely for His sake.  And for those who haven't done so yet,  May Ar -Rahman shower His mercy on you and make your affairs easy, Ameen....

My hijab journey was a gradual process,  took me few years. From wearing clothes and at the same time being undressed to covering but feet still revealed to wearing socks to not wearing flashy and attractive colours.... Alhamdulillah Allah spared my life till now,  I could have died disobeying Him!
I was born in a family that didn't observe the proper hijab and around the community where I grew up,  it was more of cultural than religious.  There was no orientation whatsoever on the requirements of hijab while growing,  we youngsters just kinda flowed with the crowd.
Where I first got my inspiration? I don't really know, all I knew was during Eid of a certain year,  I wasn't going to buy a matching veil,  I'll wear hijab instead.  It was difficult I must confess,  it was against our normal Eid dressing tradition and I didn't really know how my mum and sisters would react to it.  As days passed and Eid approached,  my resolve became even much stronger and my determination,  intense.  I finally summed up courage and told my mum.  She was already at that time wearing proper hijab  but imposed it on neither myself nor my sisters.  She just let us be, I was in my early teen years...

I didn't know what to expect,  and much to my delight,  she was extremely pleased with my decision.  And so for the first time,  I had my pioneer hijab for a festive occasion sewn which was a change from the norm in our house.  It was really a huge change in our lives,  myself and my sisters. 
How I felt??  I couldn't have been happier! There was this inner joy and I felt high.  From then onwards, it was hijab,  even during all festive occasions. Alhamdulillah ala kulli haal....

With regards to wearing socks....  The first time I gave it thought,  I literally saw the order directly from the Qur'an.  May Allah bless my aunt. She once said something to me. She might not have known but that single sentence later became the driving force behind my putting on socks some weeks later.  Alhamdulillah. 
I was at her house and she just asked me,
'why don't you cover your feet? '
'well... ' I replied 'is it mandatory?? It's going extra length isn't it? '
'where did you read that from? ' she said.
'Uhmmm, I don't really know,  that's just what I think' I answered.
She looked at me and asked me to follow her,  she picked up an English version of the Qur'an and opened suratun-nuur, verse 31. She pointed at the line which said 'except what must appear' and in the commentary it said face and hands (even that of face is debatable).  So I'm supposed to cover my feet,  I thought.
I pushed that aside for sometime,  it was scary thinking about dressing all covered up sincerely.  I felt frightened and tried to run away from it.  I wasn't just prepared,  the rebellious part of me didn't want to submit because if I started covering,  there was no going back....  I didn't know what prompted me to mention it to my sister on a particular day and as we'd have it,  she also had the same thought.  Alhamdulillah,  really now,  I can't fathom myself in a place of non mahrams without my socks on, it'll probably be super uncomfortable.

Plus I learnt you don't think things in our beautiful religion,  you get whatever thoughts you're having checked out in the right places.  No assumptions,  we have to take pains to learn our religion and how to properly worship our Creator and Master.  May Al-Aleem increase us in beneficial knowledge,  Ameen...

And as to not wearing those super flowery, flashy, catchy, attractive and attention drawing clothing... Well...  I always knew the criteria for proper hijab to be thick, loose fitting, not attractive,  doesn't show the shape or outline of any parts of the body whatsoever be it arms or legs. I recite it to myself but unfortunately the part saying not flashy didn't sink in until some time later.  Thus bright lousy colours like pink,  peach or yellow with lovely flowery prints and etc wouldn't suffice for our outer jilbab.  We can very well wear all those colors,  wear whatever skimpy stuff we want to behind closed doors with our husbands,  but going out that way??? That's a no no. May Allah protect us all.
Let me also point out that the color doesn't always dictate,  one can wear even black in an attractive way if you get my drift. I'm not a Sheikha and I'm in absolutely no position to give fatawa,  so you want to know exactly what is called hijab and it's requirements?  Ask the RIGHT people, with emphasis on 'right'. The ignorance among some of our today's Shuyookh is apalling, May Allah protect us. 

Conclusively,  my hijab journey was arduous and spanned over a period of time. It might look insurmountable,  too difficult or demanding,  or perhaps,  I totally can't do it.  But Wallahi sisters,  it's an injunction from Allah,  be sincere and pray earnestly that He makes it easy peasy for you.  We come from different places,  background and parts of the world,  the challenge is greater in some places than in others.  Notwithstanding,  Al-Adheem and Al-Muhaimin is always there,  He's watching and He'll never forsake any of His faithful servants.  In the end,  it's only Allah's opinion of us that matters.  Wear the hijab properly today, put your Trust in Ar -Rahman and watch Him take control of your entire affairs.

"If Allah helps you,  none can overcome you.  If He forsakes you,  who is there after that,  that can help you?? In Allah, then,  let the believers put their trust" Qur'an 3:160.

It looks extremely daunting at first but you CAN and WILL do it in sha Allah
"So lose not heart nor fall into despair,  for you must gain mastery if you're true in faith" Q3:139.
You're true in faith isn't it??  Make that resolve to do the right thing today.
If the entire world turns upside down,  the word of Allah wouldn't change,  the verses stating we should cover up,  or we should not drink wouldn't change overnight because of the prevalence of nudity and drunkenness. Do what's right even if you're alone....

"Say: not equal are things that are bad and things that are good even though the abundance of the bad may dazzle you: so fear Allah, o you that understand: that (so)  you may prosper" Q5:100

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Maa sha Allah yaa Umm Amatullah!
Jazaakumullahu khairan for sharing this with us.  I gained alot from this!
Do you also gain anything?  If yes, vote, comment and share!
Till next time, I remain Hamidah Abdulfattah!
Assalaam alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuhu.