Four Young Women Discuss Their Thoughts and Feelings About The Hijab!

It's empowering! It's feminist! It's my way of challenging stereotypes of beauty!

Many of us consider ‘Hijab’ as the headpiece worn by Muslim women to cover their bodies. However, there’s so much more to it. Hijab, which is Arabic for ‘cover’, refers to a dress code required for Muslim females who have reached puberty in the presence of males who are not part of their immediate family. It is associated with protection, modesty and privacy. It therefore goes beyond just wearing a veil, it’s a combination of ethics and behaviour, which if fully aligned with the teachings of Islam, define the kind of life a Muslim woman should live.

While some women wear Hijab because of religious reasons, others do because of feminism. It’s their source of empowerment and assertion of choice. We interface with many such women who are challenging stereotypes; chasing their dreams and doing jobs you wouldn’t expect them to, and while at it, they never lose their Hijab.

The fashion and beauty industry, which we are most passionate about, is slowly catching up, as now, more than ever, we are seeing women in Hijab on covers of glossy magazines, in advertising campaigns and on the runway. There’s still so much to do though, because there are still many misconceptions surrounding the Hijab. That, it is a sign of oppression, that some women are forced by men to wear it, and many more.

To understand this better, and also because we are in the holy month of Ramathan, we sat down with four young women to help us understand what it means to wear Hijab. As you will see, they are all still and unwavering in their choice to do so.

Nayebare shamirah

I’m a student pursuing a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Industrial Design at Kyambogo University. I’m also a fashion model.

Why do you wear Hijab?

I wear hijab because my body feels protected under it. This gives me comfort to do whatever I want. I was influenced by my family, which is a strong Muslim family. My mother doing the most of it. Since it’s something I’ve grown around, It has never appeared as a challenge to be modest. Some of my friends were shocked to notice that I’m very consistent with my style choices, considering that we all love fashion and style. However, none of them has ever commented negatively about my Hijab. We get a long really well. I respect their style choices while they do the same for mine.

I’m always comfortable in my Muslimah outfits, I’ve never been treated differently because of them. What I receive is respect and a sense of protection because I’m covered up. That’s not the only reason though. Because I feel so humble wearing it, it makes me uninterested in flaunting my body. In a way, it protects me from lustful gazes of men who might get attracted to me because of the shape of my body. It’s empowering to know that no one has access go body, even by just sheer imagination. I’m always in control.

How do you feel when you strip it off?

Out in public, I honestly feel naked, like a part of me is gone. One Islamic teaching talks about the importance of decency. Without it I feel indecent and uncomfortable. I get the feeling that all eyes are on my body, especially from the opposite sex. Funny part is; at home, it’s a totally different story. I take it off and feel nothing.

Hijab-wearing women are getting huge representation on the fashion scene. How does that make you feel?

I feel proud! The idea that we are getting noticed. The idea that we exist. The idea that our way of life can be considered beautiful. It all excites me. Who knows? Maybe I’ll land a spread in Vogue Arabia as well some day. The ground has been levelled for us, that a Hijabi has a place in fashion. My favourite girl is Halimah Aden, the Hijabi model who grew up in a refugee camp in Kenya, before taking the global fashion industry by storm. She inspires me a lot.

Have you ever been treated differently because of your Hijab?

One day there was a beach party that my friends and I attended. Of course I picked out my Beach-appropriate Hijab. I left home feeling ‘yaaa’, this is it. When I got to the party all attention was on me. Everyone was looking at me with that funny face of ‘why is she all covered up at the beach?’ I was uncomfortable the whole time but that didn’t change my thoughts on my way of dressing.

Will you influence your daughters to dress the way you do? Will you let them make this decision on their own?

Like any other parent I guess I’ll make the best choices for them. I’ll encourage them to wear Hijab. Just the same way my mother did for me, I’ll be a good role model. You raise children with Islamic virtues and let them choose the life they want to live as adults.

Nawaal Libaan Abshir

I’m a student at Islamic Call University College (ICUC). I wear hijab as the Almighty ALLAH said in the Holy Quran. The purpose is to maintain my modesty and privacy from unwanted male gazes.

Without my Hijab I don’t feel safe. I feel complete and protected when covered up. Knowing that I’m doing what Allah wants me to do gives me even more confidence to move about with pride.
It pains me that Muslims get judged because of this hijab. They call us terrorists and that’s because evil people use the name of Islam to do terrible things dressed up like Muslims. So we have to fight for the name of the real hijab and its beauty.

Sometimes people say things I don’t like. I recently did some photoshoots featuring Islamic clothes, and my photos were all over social media. I got lots of annoying questions. Like why do I cover up yet I have a beautiful body. Why I torture my body wearing lots of clothing. I wish they would understand why I dress like this.

Yes, I will encourage my children to dress like this too. I’ll use every possible opportunity to show them the beauty that lies within being a modest woman. Not just to God, but also to the community we live in.

Juweria Said Awed

To me, dressing the way I do is a duty I should fulfil as a Muslim woman. Hijab is my identity. It gives me sense of joy and fullness when I’m completely covered. I’ve never been treated differently because of the way I dress, I’m very fortunate.

My daughters will have to adopt this lifestyle, although I don’t plan on forcing it on them. For example, I think it is best to start having conversations around dressing when she’s 10 years old. There she can be able to understand why.

Nalubega Jalira

I’m a second-year student pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Fashion & Design.

Why do you wear Hijab?

I wear Hijab because it’s the only dress code I know. It has been part of my life since I was a child. Also, people around me, be it men or women, have worked so hard to be living examples when it comes to Hijab. This made me embrace it, and make it a part of me. It’s also empowering to know that I’m different, that I’m unique, that I stand out from the crowd.

How do you feel when you strip it off?

It literally feels like a part of me is missing. I don’t feel complete!

How do you feel seeing fashion embracing Hijab-wearing women – featuring them in beauty, fashion and runway campaigns?

I’m overjoyed to see that fashion is starting to embrace diversity. I see a very bright future for Muslim women in this industry. Also, there is a ray of hope that many young ladies aren’t going to be pressured to look or dress a certain way just so they can have a place in the industry.

Have you ever been treated differently because of your Hijab?

I’m thankful to Allah that in Uganda we have few cases of Muslim women being treated negatively because of their dressing. However, generally the fashion industry hasn’t yet embraced us. I guess it’s still a mindset thing. I was once rejected by a model agency because of the way I dress. It hurt really badly!

The other bad thing is as a covering woman or “hijabee” people think I am perfect. That’s very wrong!

On a positive note, I’m always treated with utmost respect. People refer to me as ‘Hajjat’! I like that I never get catcalled like my friends.

Oww, another heartbreaking experience happened last year when I gathered courage to contest for Miss Uganda. It has always been my dream by the way. Unfortunately, I was denied the opportunity to even participate in the first stage of the screening. I remember a lady from the organising team telling me “honey this is not your place. We can’t take you beyond this stage because you cover your body. We want girls who are open to flaunt their bodies!” I braved a little more. However, shortly after another lady came up to me and asked. “Why is your head covered?” I tried to explain to her, why I was covered up, but she just yelled at me. “Just go.They asked you to leave already!”

I left! I didn’t even appear in the behind-the-scenes photos that were later shared on social media.

With your dresscode did you think you would land a spot in a beauty pageant?

To be honest I didn’t! I’ve never seen a Hijab-wearing woman participating in a pageant like Miss Uganda. However so much has changed now. That was 2019. Not 2009. Beauty is not one size fits all. I expected them to embrace the diversity that we all dress differently and look differently. It doesn’t make us less beautiful. My purpose was to prove to the world that anyone, regardless of their belief or form of dressing can rise up, challenge the status quo, and inspire other young girls in the process. I wanted to have an impact, mostly on other young girls who think they can’t go after dreams because they wear Hijab. For them to know that they are beautiful the way they are and they don’t have to change for anyone.

At that point, did you consider rolling your headwrap off to make that dream you had come true?

Not at all. I must admit though; as a young woman there comes a time in life when society, desires, life and other factors make you feel like “I wish at one point I would go without hijab because of some of these dreams we have. I could want to do a lifestyle or travel show on TV. Will I get my foot into the door with my layers of clothing? Such things.

But when Miss Uganda rejected me, I never felt like this is the point when I have to bow down to pressure and take off my Hijab. I just told myself “this is not who you are!” And I left the room with no heavy heart at all. At least I tried.

Will you influence your daughters to dress the way you do?

I will encourage my daughters to wear Hijabu because I have lived this life and know the perks that come with it. However, I wouldn’t force anyone to wear it, even if it were my daughter, because I wasn’t forced to as well. I guess it’s easier when you just live by example. I would want to be that woman she looks up to.