Nazma Khan founded World Hijab Day in 2013. This day is celebrated internationally as a day when non Muslim and Muslim women are encouraged to wear the hijab. The intent is to promote understanding and awareness of a highly misunderstood aspect of the Islamic faith.
The hijab is an Arabic term that means ‘cover’. It symbolizes modesty and protection of one’s self, one of the foundational principles of the faith. However, in different parts of the world, each Muslim female perceives the significance of the hijab differently. Muslim scholars dispute whether it is a command that practicing women must adhere to, or an obligatory but not compulsory act of obedience to God.
Depending on cultural and social factors, women are pressured by either external authorities or internal conflict to wear or not wear the hijab. What was provided by the faith as a way to empower women through modesty has turned into a political movement to defy patriarchy or dictatorial societies, or suppress the female voice.
This day is a reminder of socio-political bias against hijab-wearing and non-hijab wearing Muslim females alike. It also points to the lack of conversation surrounding the discrimination within the Muslim female community. Countless number of times I and fellow Muslim women have been criticized for not wearing the hijab, wearing it “wrong”, or wearing it at all. Evidently, taking hijab out of the discussion leaves the pure fact that women must support other women in the decisions they make and check them when they’re wrong.
YUSRA ARUB 