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Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
Hajreee
11/07/01 at 13:24:28
Salaams!! inshaAllah all is well with you all sisters, or brothers who might be peeking in! :) but i had a q...well actually more than ONE...for those who know me, i tend to ask many q's within one subject- that isn't that good of a thing... i'm working on that! but anyway... when did you all start hijab? how old were you? why did you start? *i know why we should wear it, but i'm asking like did your parents force it? do you have older siblings who started before you? did you have a dream? near death experience? did you hear something that hit you right in the heart? what was the ultimate force?* and for sisters who don't wear hijab? what is the pulling you back?! *my tone is NOT in a rude, btw!* just to clarify that, but i'm just asking what is pulling you back, what are you scared of? :) okee, i hope NO ONE found my questions offensive, because i wasn't trying to invoke any offensive thoughts or anything...and if you don't feel comfortable answering, then don't... but if you wanna just tell me personally or something, you can IM me, no one sends me any messages!  *sniff sniff* LOL :D okee dokee Take Careeee! Wa Salaams

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
Mahmoodah
11/07/01 at 14:10:43
salam [quote]when did you all start hijab?[/quote] before da right age! [quote]how old were you?[/quote] 11 [quote]why did you start?[/quote] because my heart told me2 wear1:) i felt like wearin it, n i thought it was right:) plus... i had just done hajj wen i wore it, so ....:) Y would ne1 b offended??? wa-salam

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
kareema
11/07/01 at 14:51:43
I started full-time around 9 or 10.I started because I thought it made me more mature and grownup.And my parents encouraged me to wear it, but I wouldn't say they forced me, not at that age anyways.I had 5 older sisters who wore it before me, so it wasn't any problem at all.

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
kiwi25
11/07/01 at 15:01:20
salam, mashallah sister, you started soo young, thats wonderful, i started in 10th grade when i was 14.  i think it was just that i felt i was ready, plus there were soo many hijabis in my school so it made it easy for me not to be the first (props to the first one though:) wasalam, nouha:)

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
Merimda
11/07/01 at 19:33:09
I went to Islamic school from SK to Grade 5. We were required to wear the head scarf at school..it was not forced upon us if we didn't want to wear it..but most of us chose to..It's not hard wearing a scarf in a totally Muslim environment. So I can't really remember at what age I started wearing it full time.. However, I started public school in grade 6. I remember first day of school I was worried what ppl would think of me..I was embarassed to go to school with my head scarf..So I had a plan. That day my dad was dropping me off at school and I knew that if I slipped my scarf back to reveal most of my hair my dad would tell me to take it off if I did not have it on properly..My plan worked..I took off my scarf and went to school without it..I tell you I felt so naked with out it..it was a very awkward experience. I put on my scarf again when I got home bc I didn't want my mom to know..(my Mom would have never approved of me taking off my scarf)only to find out that my dad had got into a car accident on his way to work.. after he had dropped me off to school..So I saw this as a sign.. I was extremely guilt ridden.. I felt that this accident was mainly my fault. Alhamdillah it was not very serious and he recovered.. Anyway after that day I never took off my scarf again...

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
Adi28
11/07/01 at 22:40:39
Salaams WHEN DID YOU START HIJAB  5th grade..but well (thats when my parents thought i started hijab)  my story is almost exactly like Meri's except for my dad didn't get into accident HOW OLD WERE YOU?   12 WHY DID YOU START?  well my parents kinda said that as long as im under their roof i have to wear hijab so i obliged and it dosen't bother me becasue im ok with it.   Salaams       Adilah

hijabs..
princess
11/08/01 at 00:11:17
walikumas'salaam warahmatullah ;-D [quote]when did you all start hijab?[/quote] april 9th 1996 ;-D i started when i was a junior in high school..(11th grade) [quote]how old were you? [/quote] i actually started pretty late in comparison to everyone else that's posted here..i was 17..a week or so, before my 18th birthday..not on purpose..it just kinda happened that way..:) [quote]why did you start?[/quote] i'd actually been to a conference like the weekend before i started..there was a speaker, who asked the girls in the audience, for those of us who didn't wear hijab, why we didn't..and he asked, "if u can give me 1 good reason as to why u don't, i'll leave it @ that.." i couldn't think of any reason really..so i started wearin it that following week..:) [quote]did your parents force it? [/quote] i actually didn't tell my parents i had started wearin hijab..they saw me @ breakfast when my dad had to take me to school..he was like, "r u wearing that to school?" i said, "yes.." and that was that :) [quote]do you have older siblings who started before you?[/quote] no 1 in my family wears hijab..(my immediate family @ least :)) ok, there..there's some of my highly intellectual writing posted :) be happy plz ;-D have a nice day all, inshAllah ;-D

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
SomairaAltaf
11/08/01 at 06:57:29
Assalamualaikummm =) It's really early in the morning for me, I've been up since fajr, I have an exam later on today and of courseee I'm online lol, inshaAllah I'll do alright, EVERYONE MAKE DUA FOR ME THO. acha, onto better and sweeter things...Hijaab ;). I started wearing hijaab in the summer of my sophomore year in highschool (ahh that seems so long ago!!) Why did I start? well, I'd been contemplating it for a while...but keeping my thoughts quiet. I hadn't mentioned it to anyone, but I felt a lil weak coming back from conferences etc, seeing all the sisters in hijaab, and knowing that the only thing that was keeping me from wearing hijaab was the reaction I was anticipating from those around me at that time. I was dreading having to explain to others why I hadn't been wearing hijaab from beforehand, etc etc. I was scared of the "looks" I'd get at the mall etc. I enjoyed sort of blending in with everyone else in my community. (I live in a pretty homogonous comm..went to hs *alone*, no other Muslims with me). That's not to say that I didn't pray, and practice Islam otherwise. I was just lacking in hijaab... Anywaysss so the summer of my sophomore year, I took part in a summer program at UConn, where once again I "blended in". Yet, during that summer, two weeks into that program actually I realized something. I realized that many were mistaking me for not being a Muslim, I'd be asked to do things that were totally 110% *unislamic*. It made me sorta sad that it I wasn't recognized as a Muslim. When the talent show was being planned, I was asked by some hindu girls to participate with them in a dance up on the good ol' stage in front of all those non-mehrams. Little things just began to pile up. I realized that there were two paths I could follow, one that would take me closer to Allah swt, one that would take me far, far, farrr away... I ended up starting to wear hijaab during that program. I started randomly one Saturday afternoon...I was out with some other Muslim friends at an amusement park. That morning I put on my hijaab, and walked down into the garage like everything was normal. My mom was quite shocked to say the least but very supportive ;). The reaction I got from others was interesting. People I had grown up wtih asked me if "I were going to wear that at school too..", "why are you wearing the scarf..", "will you wear it at home in front of your bro and everyone too?" The most basic concepts were being questioned. It was sort of sad...Some people began to think I was becoming "too religious". Ironically many of the non-muslims were far more accepting of my decision than some of the Muslims in my community. NO ONE ever questioned my decision to wear hijaab, people respected my decision in school and elsewhere. Alhumd., Alhumd, I haven't been harassed or anything. acha! I think my post is getting a little long, let me end my story with a little side note. While my parents NEVER forced me to wear hijaab, my mom soon after I started to wear hijaab began to as well!! :o) ok..so that's the story of hijab for me... Hope it wasnt too too boring, take care everyone. ws wrt wbk Somaira

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
Sabr
11/08/01 at 09:20:49
Assalamu 'alaikum! I started wearing hijab 6 months ago, Alhamdulillah!  hmmm...and I suppose I was only 8 months old when I started ;) The more I understood about Islam and the more knowledgeable I became, the more I realized that I was not following the commands of God.  I literally woke up one day and "felt wrong" without a scarf on. So I prayed Istikharah...and received a neon sign :) I had gone shopping specifically for modest clothing (baggy pants/skirt..long sleeves, etc).  When I returned home, I found my GST return check in the mail,...and the amount was more than what I had spent on the clothes!  Subhan'Allah! Wa alaikum as salaam wa fee aman'Allah ~Sabr

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
Ziggy
11/08/01 at 10:58:12
slm i started wearin the hijab when i was in yr 4...err...how old was i...oh yeah, i was about 10 yrs old then. i started wearing it cuz i had a mate who wore it...but about a year after i started wearing it, she took it off :( i dunno why... b4 that i used to wear the hijab only on occassions...but then i felt weird, i was kinda like a 'part time muhajibah', so i decided to wear one for life... :) oh yeah, and my older sister used to wear one (still duz ;) ), that was part of the reason i guess... anyways, got plenty of homework to last me a lifetime..so i'm off...:) wassalaam zakira :-)

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
mujaahid
11/08/01 at 12:09:59
Assalaamu-alaikum Hajree (is that your real name? Or is it short for something else?) "when did you all start hijab?" Well i havnt started yet, although the thought had crossed my mind a few times ;) "why did you start?" I havnt. Although if i do, it will probably be sometime next year. "and if you don't feel comfortable answering, then don't" NO. I think all sisters should be brave and tell thier hijab stopries, whether or not they wear one. Even if they dont, and feel they might be looked at negatively, they should still mention why they dont wear one as it will make it easier for us bro's and sisters to understand why you dont wear one rather then just assuming its not a very "moral" reason. Things we often assume are the sis is into fashion, or wants to attract men etc, when in fact reasons could be things such as family pressure, culture, fear of racist backlash etc which may be holding women back. So as the BT adds say, its good to talk :) Mahmooda "Y would ne1 b offended" Well they might be a dodgy sis who dont wear hijab and so dont like to be questioned over it!

I love my hijab!
Ahlam
11/08/01 at 12:26:32
Assalamu Alaikum Sisters, Well to answer the questions..... I started to wear hijab only about 6 months ago and I was 20 years old.  I found out about Islam a year before that, but 6 months ago I was drawn to change my life for the better.  None of my family is muslim so they actually opposed my wearing it.  Since I have started wearing it I have not missed one of the five prayers everyday and I feel that my life is headed in the right direction.  I fell safe and have a strong sense of freedom!  It was definitaly a change and I am still struggling with changes, but I would never give it up!

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
eleanor
11/08/01 at 12:40:00
slm well, I didn't feel comfortable posting because not wearing hijab is certainly not something to be proud of. However Br. Mujahid's post gave me the strength to share with you why I don't wear hijab. Well, when I start to wear hijab, I never want to stop. I think it is a beautiful thing and will Insha Allah make me stronger in my deen. I am in deep admiration of people like Ahlam and Tom who straight from their reversion, want to do things right and have the courage to pray at the workplace, wear hijab and basically jump in with both feet. For me it has been five years of dipping my toe in to see how cold/warm the water was. Alhamdulillah when I dipped my toe into the Madinat I felt lovely warm water and so I got in up to about my waist. Now the thing is, I still have to tell my family and friends that I am now a Muslim and reject the Catholic faith. I would like to do this in person so I can see their reaction and not have to guess it, as I would if I wrote or phoned them. My mother was always pretty much afraid of Islam. She had seen films like "not without my daughter" and her sister had had a bad experience with a boyfriend who claimed to be Muslim (although he drank regularly and lived a very wild lifestyle). The last thing I want to do is arrive home for a holiday and walk into the arrivals department with a hijab on. My mother would be shocked and upset. She is really the only one that I care deeply about, and don't want to hurt. My siblings and friends can live with my decisions. Well they'll have to won't they? It's looking positive though. Only a few weeks ago my mother told me on the phone that the Sunday Tribune newspaper in Ireland had carried a big story on a 19 year old Dublin girl who had converted to Islam. It had a big picture of her wearing a hijab and she had married her husband in the mosque. She is yet to be civilly married. My mother brought up this story herself and told me how it said that the girl's parents weren't happy initially with her conversion but they had since accepted it. Also, the girl was careful to stress that she had chosen herself to wear hijab and it was on no account through coersion or force of her husband. She said it was her own personal decision and one that she is glad she made. Alhamdulillah, what fantastic dawah. Unfortunately the Sunday Tribune is not online. So you see this kind of softened things up for my mother. I think she realises that I am Muslim now because I can speak fairly knowledgeably about Islam and have refused to eat pork in the past. But I still need to have a one to one discussion with her, in person, and prepare her for the fact that I will start wearing the hijab Inshallah soon. well there you have it. I hope you will realise that it's not through vanity or loose morals that I don't wear hijab, and Insha Allah make dua for me that I will start to wear it soon. thanks for listening and being so understanding wasalaam eleanor

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
Hajreee
11/08/01 at 13:24:35
Salaams!! oh gosh, such touching stories! really, subhanAllah.. and elanor, woops, i think i spelled that wrong, sorry, don't worry- inshaAllah everything will work out fine for you! :) the reason i asked this question is because you guys have no idea how much these stories benefit others, including myself, more importantly!! i didn't mean to invoke any personal.. eh... i don't know how to word myself... lol... the whole point is that i wasn't trying to be nosy or just throw myself into anyone's personal business... that's what i mean :) anyway, the only reaction i got out of reading this post was.... :) :) :) okee dokee, take care all!! and hmm, i'm confused about mujaahid being a bro or a sis? and i see two mujaahids on the board? i'm confused... at the end of mujaahid's post here it said mahmoodah, which is a girl's name, isn't it?! but then in another post, i saw two reply's by a mujaahid and it was spelt the same but different number of postings? can anyone help me? and bro/sis mujaahid- hajreee isn't my real name.. it's a.. i guess you could say, 'pet name' of my real name :) okee Wa Salaams All!! and sisters, share more hijab stories, if you don't mind that is :)

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
mujaahid
11/08/01 at 13:38:17
Salaam Hajree! Me, i'm all man! A brother. The Hijab thing, well you know what they say? Dont try and intepret hadiths yourself unless qualified ;) I guess i better leave the interpretation to someone with a better understanding, or else i may end up in a hijab! Their are to Mujaahids, inshallah their will be many more. I'm mujaahid with a small m. The other Mujaahid is with an uppercase M! Now i hope your unconfused :) About your name, well my little sisters name is Hajra, and if i wanna annoy her i call her hajree, which she dont like! So i assumed you must be called Hajra also. Am i right or wrong? Eleanor i didnt know you converted to Islaam. I thought you were Pakistani? Now i'm confused. Are you a different eleanor?

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
eleanor
11/08/01 at 14:02:05
slm :-) Brother, I am married to a Pakistani but I come from Ireland. And am living in Germany. There's only one eleanor that I know of on this board ;-D and that's me ;-D I "officially" converted to Islam last March after getting some great responses to the searching questions I always had. Alhamdulillah. :) well, take care Insha Allah eleanor

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
Lisha
11/09/01 at 06:07:09
as-salaam alaikum, these stories are soo good, mash'allah:):):) and for the sisters who dont wear a hijab, insh'allah you will in your own time (please dont take this offensively, i dont mean to offend ne1) any ways i started wearing a hijab when i was 11, when i went on hajj (even though i didnt know the meaning off it) but alhamdulillah i understood the meaning of a hijab whilst i was at hajj:) and i wasnt forced to wear one, but i think i was more encouraged to wear one because all three of us sisters wore a hijab together therefore we had the support of each other and our family!  my mum wore a hijab a few years b4 us!!! thats pretty much it take care

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
eleanor
11/09/01 at 10:27:40
slm Lisha, Mahmoodah and all other sisters who have a Muslim family, you are so so lucky! Don't forget to thank Allah for giving you a Muslim family who supports you in wearing hijab and for helping you and encouraging you and your Iman! :) Just wanted to say that :) wasalaam eleanor

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
Lisha
11/09/01 at 14:12:59
[quote]Lisha, Mahmoodah and all other sisters who have a Muslim family, you are so so lucky! Don't forget to thank Allah for giving you a Muslim family who supports you in wearing hijab and for helping you and encouraging you and your Iman! :) Just wanted to say that :)[/quote]as-salaam alaikum, i know sister, alhamdulillah we r all v. lucky:):):) just felt like sayin that too;)

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
ayeshah
12/11/01 at 21:36:35
assalm-o-alikoum i don't wear hijab either. only becoz i feel that i look ugly in it! that's a pretty pathetic reason for me not to wear it, but that's what's holding me back. maybe it's just a phase that i'm going through but i want to get over it soon! n-e-wayz inshallah i'll wear it soon! make dua for me! allah hafiz

Re: hijabs..
nehar
12/12/01 at 07:35:23
[quote] when did you all start hijab? [/quote] :-)2nd April 97, i wanted 2 wear one b4 that, but neva had the courage.  Anyways i went on hajj that year and thought y not!!! [quote] how old were you? [/quote] :-)i was 15, a total budhdhi, shud have wore 1 from b4, but i suppose betta late than neva [quote] why did you start? [/quote] :-)I 1st wanted to wear 1 wen i was 11 but because my parents told me 2, i decided to rebel and ignore them , also i didnt have the guts.  i regret rebelling but im glad i got it outta da way. I remeber the 1st day i wore it to school, most of my teachers and friends didnt recognise me [quote] did your parents force it? [/quote] :-)well they tried 2 explain to me but neva made sense 2 me.  They werent successful and i only started wearing 1 wen they stopped lecturing me!!! yeah i know, mega jahil!! [quote] do you have older siblings who started before you? [/quote] :-)im the oldest, but ma younger sisters started around the same time. [wlm] :-):-):-)Nehar:-):-):-)

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
explorer
12/12/01 at 12:02:52
[quote] i don't wear hijab either. only becoz i feel that i look ugly in it! [/quote] [slm] Don't be nutz! ;-D :) Hijab can never make someone look ugly. Women wearing hijab look soooo elegant and respectful, far better than those without. It could be that the colours you tried didn't match you. Maybe play around with a few other colours, designs and patterns and see how they look? Say, cream, white.....i dunno... And theres so many different styles you can try and see which one suits your face most. Personally I think hijabs with the bandana at the front look wicked! :) Ask your family, friends for their opinion. Then again I'm not really an expert on hijab :D [wlm]

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
Saleema
12/12/01 at 20:29:54
[slm] Explorer giving hijab advise...hmm... :) Wicked? bandanas? :) if u say so. Never seen ones like that Any other brothers up for hijab advise? That would be interesting to read. Come on be brave! How about bhaloo? I bet mama's boy bhaloo would have great adivse on hijab styling. heheh.. :) Sorry Arshad, don't take it personal. All right, back to studying. Pray for me. :) I think I will raise my gpa from 3.1 to a 3.9 or even 4.0! :) 4.0 would be cool. It's always the math class that brings me down. :( [wlm]

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
nehar
12/12/01 at 21:33:41
[quote] i don't wear hijab either. only becoz i feel that i look ugly in it! [/quote] [slm] At times i felt like that 2, but now i feeel i hav gained respect by wearing it. look at it this way, atleast no guy is gettin cheap thrills outta u!!! [wlm]

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
se7en
12/13/01 at 01:45:39
as salaamu alaykum, [quote]Personally I think hijabs with the bandana at the front look wicked! :) [/quote] Hahahaha.. :)  I know a sister who does that.. and I know a sister who wears timberlands with jilbabs :) You're right though, it's all about finding the style you're comfortable with.  I hate it when people make hijab out to be a uniform - where everyone has to wear the same jilbabs in the same four drab colors, or make it seem that wearing hijab = dressing like an Arab. It's not true, man.  What I love about hijab is what I love about Islam - it has a solid, but flexible structure.  There are rules, legislation, but there is room for you to apply these things to your time, society, and your personality. Like a sister said before.. if you can rock it, wear it :-)   Hijab is a big step, and it's hard at first, but it's just like praying Fajr.. the first couple times you wake up it's rough.. but after a while, it's a smoooooth ride :) [quote] i don't wear hijab either. only becoz i feel that i look ugly in it! [/quote] There's a hadeeth that says.. "Allah is beautiful, and loves beauty."  He Who loves beauty would only ask us to do things that make us beautiful.   We had an *amazing* session here for Islam Awareness Week.. a panel of convert brothers and sisters talking about their stories and experiences.  And one brother mentioned that one of the things that always fascinated him about Islam was the way that the women dressed.  He said that he saw these *beautiful* women dressed in a way that covered them, but still maintained their femininity and beauty.  He said, it was amazing because it forced you to deal with them on a different level, where the physical does not play a part in the communication and it's really an intellectual, spiritual interaction. Lemme tell you that all the sisters in the room looked like this: :-) (*big* smiles:))   take care :) wasalaamu alaykum wa rahmatAllah.

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
Hania
12/13/01 at 04:59:57
[quote] And one brother mentioned that one of the things that always fascinated him about Islam was the way that the women dressed.  He said that he saw these *beautiful* women dressed in a way that covered them, but still maintained their femininity and beauty.  He said, it was amazing because it forced you to deal with them on a different level, where the physical does not play a part in the communication and it's really an intellectual, spiritual interaction. [/quote] One thing I found once I wore hijab was that men treat you with more respect. More polite, open doors for you, more please and thank you's are used. At school I see some girls with tight clothes that prevent breathing, excess makeup that need knives to scrape off and the guys talk about them like meat. 'I don't respect the girl and would never marry her but she's fit and good for the short term, look at her, what a good pound of flesh etc' and the way they ogle the girls is really sickening and scarey, I don't understand how the girls can stand, being judged on their looks rather than who they are. But with a hijab girl they'll say 'she's clever, shes really nice, really funny' and when they see the hijab girl they usually look at her with shy eyes rather then penetrating ogle eyes.

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
nehar
12/13/01 at 06:04:31
[quote] One thing I found once I wore hijab was that men treat you with more respect. More polite, open doors for you, more please and thank you's are used. [/quote] [slm] I totally agree, i found that when i was at school, guys wud b respectful, but there were many hijabis in my school so there was just a bit of respect, but not for all. But once i was in college, it was gr8, i was the only hijabi and i got loads of respect, ppl (mainly guys) always opened the door and salamed wen they went past.  Sum ppl even offered 2 carry ma bags there. It was heaven!!!:-)  I miss college!!! [wlm] Nehar

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
Denise
12/13/01 at 08:07:18
[quote]Salaams!! inshaAllah all is well with you all sisters, or brothers who might be peeking in! :) but i had a q...well actually more than ONE...for those who know me, i tend to ask many q's within one subject- that isn't that good of a thing... i'm working on that! but anyway... when did you all start hijab? how old were you? why did you start? *i know why we should wear it, but i'm asking like did your parents force it? do you have older siblings who started before you? did you have a dream? near death experience? did you hear something that hit you right in the heart? what was the ultimate force?* and for sisters who don't wear hijab? what is the pulling you back?! *my tone is NOT in a rude, btw!* just to clarify that, but i'm just asking what is pulling you back, what are you scared of? :) okee, i hope NO ONE found my questions offensive, because i wasn't trying to invoke any offensive thoughts or anything...and if you don't feel comfortable answering, then don't... but if you wanna just tell me personally or something, you can IM me, no one sends me any messages!  *sniff sniff* LOL :D okee dokee Take Careeee! Wa Salaams [/quote] I am 36 and had made long thouoght-out decision to start wearing full hijab continuously on my first day at a new job 8/27/01..  Ironically that's my birthday...   I have been covering my hair since age 22, but jumped in and out of full hijab for a while... I made a conscious decision to wear the full hijab, because it was growing on me to please Allah even more so. The reason why I just wore a hair covering for so long was a mixture of reasons... Like one sister said, I felt ugly... Always had a low sense of self, and am praying on changing that still...   I only have one sister who is Muslim, who was the one who encouraged me to read Qur'an at age 16, when I was feeling low...  She has since stepped back, only Allah knows why... I will make dua for her...     But, how do I feel now about hijab?  Before I'd watch some sisters who could just wear a whole outfit and look so cool, and others who didn't... I looked to the positive ones, and the thought of pleasing or dis pleasing Allah came to mind...   I am still struggling with it, but the full hijab is still on my head when I am out and at work.. . Sister Eleanor, I don't have much support either in my family, despite the fact we all grew up with the knowledge of Islam since childhood and birth... My parents were in the Nation of Islam at first, but my father moved over to the true Islam when I was five...  All Praise is Due to Allah... :D     My family is not against me, just they live their own lives... I'm an individual, and like another sister said... Playing around with the hijabs has made me feel better... I love black, it's hard to find black cotton gauze oblong hijabs around here... (LOL) (I like the oblong style) I know where to buy some on line, just a matter of money... But, I also am proud to be an individual American, so my dress is my own style... I love the looooooooong very over sized  dress shirts that practically come close down to my ankles (actually tailored dress shirt that comes close down to my ankles I'm 5'5) and tapered black slacks, and funky black granny or feminine combat or hiking boots...   I say my style is funky sporty casual... I feel  cool. :D   I have always had low sense of self and I'm a loner type,(you know... Not of the in crowd)  But this has also worked to my advantage to... I have and am becoming tired feeling like or being an out sider or hiding... . I love Allah, I love Islam I think the Islamic way of dress can be and is beautiful and I love the followers of the True Islam...  So I have become quietly defiant...  If I get a wondering or hateful look, it seems to make me build more confidence...   I am still struggling as mentioned... I have had business men who looked hateful smile and tell me, you look very nice I love the way you dress!   It like... Huh?!!!   All Praise is Due to Allah....   I sometimes have fear of rejection from the public/ certain business men, so I have visions of not wearing my hijab when I do business... But two nights ago, I had to take my car in for repairs, got some looks but didn't really feel all that uncomfortable at all in my full hijab... I thought about another sister who is strong about wearing hijab who is a public and private school teacher, how she feels the hijab is like her normal hair, and she feels more confident in it, this kept me feeling like I can do this...  All Praise is Due to Allah...   This is what I pray for, more confidence and love for myself and hijab...   I do think it's how you wear it and the other clothes that are in accordance with Islamic law...    There are so may ways we can dress differently, and still be within accordance....   I hope this made sense... I am good for babbling on.... Salaam... Sr. Denise... ;)

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
Rehana
12/13/01 at 09:15:41
[slm] let's see...i wore a scarf to school one day in Ramadhaan (High School).  This was in the old days of the apartheid Goverment.  Needless to say, the deputy pricipal was not impressed at all and demanded we remove it.  Well, school children will be children af ter all...and so we rebelled! All was forgotten, after a while everyone went to the 'old' ways...no scarf to school. Then I started work.  At the workplace i wore the scarf on the occasional "big nights /days" kind thing...and of course in Ramadhaan. (seems so foolish now!) Anyway, after the birth of my daughter, I realised that if she is to grow up in the corrcet Islamic way, I should be her first example.  The very first day I went back to work, I donned a scarf.  Did I have trouble!!!!!!!! Total rejection from people that I didn't work with, but who carried a lot of clout.  That put a stop to THAT! Then the goverment changed and apartheid was no longer the LAW....and I tried again.  No one could say anything this time of course...because I now had the constitution on my side :-) However, it didn't stop people from being nasty to me for no apparent reason...but Alhumdulillah although I still face the ANGRY looks from the very colonial clan here, I make Duah that I have the courage to continue to face their adversity head-on.  It's been about 6 years now I think...and as one sister has said...I'd feel quiet naked without a scarf on my head! There is still a long way to go here....I am now trying to get support for reading Salaah at the work place....make Duah for me please :-) So...in comparison to most of you I started late in life to realise the beauty that Islam bestows upon a women....but....InsahAllah, it's just the start to new beginnings for me!!! [wlm] :-)

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
tq
12/13/01 at 09:33:58
Assalamo elikuim " ...my daughter, I realised that if she is to grow up in the corrcet Islamic way, I should be her first example.  The very first day I went back to work, I donned a scarf...  " This was one of the reason why i started to wear hijab(on my wedding anniversary :)).And you know what, I only have sons !! Wasalam tq

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
Barr
12/13/01 at 10:40:53
Assalamu'alaikum :) [quote] i don't wear hijab either. only becoz i feel that i look ugly in it! [/quote] Just wanna share a story about Adam's (peace be upon him) creation. I'm sorry, for repetition, for I've shared smt about this in this [url=http://www.jannah.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl/YaBB.pl?board=madrasa&action=display&num=5137] "Iblis" [/url] thread. When man is created, it is not his jasad (body) that is made of different types of soil that makes him to what he is now. But it is the point when ALlah blew his ruh (spirit/soul) into the jasad of Nabi Adam, that the soil-shaped being, with the smell, texture and sight of the inferior soil, becomes the best of creations. It is the soul that beautifies a person... For what is beautiful internally will manifest externally, inshaAllah. And it is this soul who will return back to our Creator, the Most Beautiful, whereas our body disintegrated back to its original state. It is this soul that Allah will will look at... for Allah do not look at our bodies, but level of taqwa. It is this soul, when filled with the light of Allah, not only will illuminify herself, but others around her. We do not choose what we look like; our hair, eyes, height, body shape, skin colour etc... some of us are born beutiful and some are not. But what is more important is what we do to the amanah (trust) that Allah has given us to our body.... and what we do to our body depends on the state of our souls. In what condition do we want to return to Allah, who loans us this body, giving us guidance to beautify, purify and elevate our selves? Let our souls be the one that beautifies us with the light of Allah... and let us not be "tainted" and polluted by the "dirt and soil" of our jasad. This world can be very tough for women, when what is emphasized is the beauty that will fade, instead of a more everlasting and impactful beauty, beyond the apparent. Be it in fashion magazines, advertisements and even potential marriage partners. I can understand how tough it is, for, I went through a roller coaster of finding out abt true beauty and being comfortable and grateful to what Allah has given me... and I am still learning and finding out more. I'm sorry for a long post, but I shall end with... [quote]There's a hadeeth that says.. "Allah is beautiful, and loves beauty."  He Who loves beauty would only ask us to do things that make us beautiful.[/quote] And beauty is in the eye of the beholder ... who can be the best beholder but Allah? Allah said when Adam (a.s) and Hawa (a.s) were sent down to earth from Jannah... [color=blue]"There shall, nonetheless, most certainly come unto you guidance from Me: those who follow My guidance need have no fear and neither shall they grieve" Surah AlBaqarah: 37 [/color] So, sisters, don't worry.. we have Allah behind us... and that is the Greatest help that we can get. :-) Take care everyone :-) And Allah knows best

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
ayeshah
12/13/01 at 16:10:14
assalam-o-alikoum someone said try wearing different types of hijab. i only one way which is the triangle kind and you pin it underneath your chin. i always thought that that was the only way to wear it. so can you tell me the other ways to wear the hijab????????? The reason why i hold back from hijab is becoz i have thick manly eyebrows, glasses and a lot of facial hair! pls ans me soon i seriously would like to know the different styles to wear hijab jazakallah khair

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
explorer
12/13/01 at 20:59:09
[slm] sis Ayeshah, you will find plently of information here about different styles of hijab. There is no better place than jannah.org for such information and there have been many discussions on this subject. Just sit back, relax and go through the thread titles selecting the ones about styles etc. Or maybe someone can be kind enough to post up the all links here :) [url=http://www.jannah.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl/YaBB.pl?board=sisters&action=display&num=1359&start=0]Heres[/url] one link I actually do know a fair bit about styles ;) but won't go into it because if I did, some sisters here (no names mentioned!) would tease and hound me endlessly ;-D [wlm]

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
ayeshah
12/14/01 at 16:17:56
assalam-ol-alikoum dear sister explorer please do tell me the diff styles!!!!!!!! i really want to kno the  styles to wear hijab! and guess what?.......................................................................................................................................i started wearing hijab two days ago! first time in my life! it's awkward at first and i wanted to take it off but i knew i couldn't so i just kept it on, but now i feel so comfortable in it! so happy!! but i would like to know the different styles on how to wear hijab so i can vary it from time to time. plz help me out! walaikoum assalam

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
Hajreee
12/14/01 at 17:34:39
Salaams!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS SIS!!!! :) :) :) WOW, mashaAllah, i am sooooooooo happy for you!!! May Allah make it easy for you and reward you for efforts, Ameen! awwwww, i hope inshaAllah it goes A OK!!! :) i'm going to ask my sisters for hijab styles and an explanation to send to you, inshaAllah...i'm sure many people here can help you out with it :) congratulations once again!!! :)

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
explorer
12/14/01 at 18:40:05
[quote]assalam-ol-alikoum dear sister explorer please do tell me the diff styles!!!!!!!! i really want to kno the  styles to wear hijab! and guess what?.......................................................................................................................................i started wearing hijab two days ago! first time in my life! it's awkward at first and i wanted to take it off but i knew i couldn't so i just kept it on, but now i feel so comfortable in it! so happy!! but i would like to know the different styles on how to wear hijab so i can vary it from time to time. plz help me out! walaikoum assalam[/quote] [slm] Mashallah sister that is great news :D :) ;-D And what a great time to start hijab, the last 10 days of Ramadan. May Allah reward you and help you further. The first step is always the hardest but if you do happen to take it off, a good way to get back into the habit would be to visit the mosque as often as possible. There you will never feel uncomfortable or be looked at oddly. Rest assured you are not alone and will always find help and support here at jannah.org whenever you need it. Inshallah the sisters here will give you lots of tips on different styles. Some are well into the fashion thingy and know their stuff :) Oh bum, I forgot to mention.....I'm not a sis, but a bro! :) I think I've been hanging out in the sisters cafe for too long.....;-D [wlm]

Re: Sooo Sisters...Plz Respond :)
se7en
12/21/01 at 02:41:11
as salaamu alaykum, Ayesha, that's awesome to hear :) :-) [url=http://www.jannah.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl/YaBB.pl?board=sisters&action=display&num=454]Here[/url] is an older thread about silly things people have been asked about hijab.  You might have to deal with these soon ;) Also [url=http://www.jannah.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl/YaBB.pl?board=sisters&action=display&num=1359]here[/url] is a thread on different hijab styles. take care :) wasalaamu alaykum wa rahmatAllah.
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