I am not speaking for all Muslim women when I write this article because all Muslims, “hijabis or not”, have their own version of their hijab and their own way of seeing it. To me, the hijab goes far beyond just a cloth I wear on my head, just like in the Quran, where it shows, hijabgoes beyond the veil. Modesty rules are open to a wide range of interpretations. No one has the same interpretation of the hijab. When it comes to clothing, some woman chooses not to wear it, some choose to cover like me, and some choose to fully cover everything.In the Quran, the hijab can mean the way one should act or dress but the Islamic word for a veil talked about being worn in the Quran is called the khimar. In this article, I would like to talk about what the hijab means to me. In the hijab, I will refer to the scarf I wear as the hijab.

Hijab means freedom to me because of the freedom of religion I have in this country. The constitution says I have the right to practice my religion, leaving me “constitutionally covered”, in terms of my religious dress. I love having the freedom and right to practice the religion I want and to dress how I want. I chose to wear hijab and before I was even Muslim I always respected Muslim women and Nuns for wearing it, but I don’t only respect women who wear hijab. 

Hijab means empowerment and confidence to me. I sometimes think about taking off hijab because I am scared of being attacked but then I remember I wear it for God and myself. Hijab is a part of who I am but it does not define me.

Hijab to me means modesty, not just modest in how you look but how you act because there is more to hijab than how you are dressed. Personally, the hijab keeps me modest and humble on the inside and out. 

Hijab means vulnerability to me because you are fully devoting yourself to opening up your religion for anyone to see. When you wear a hijab, people first see that you are Muslim. As a hijabi Muslim, I say it is like I am wearing the religion on my head, but it is a heavyweight to carry at times. You are making yourself vulnerable to the public because hijabis are more likely to be attacked by an Islamophobe than a non-veiled Muslim or a Muslim man.

Hijab to me means dedication because of course, it would be easier to not wear hijab but I remind myself that I am wearing it for Allah. You have to be dedicated to wearing it because it is not an easy task like I stated before, you are easily targeted but also, when you wear hijab and you are visibly Muslim, mostly non-muslims(sometimes born Muslims) tend to ask you many questions about Islam and also ask you about hijab and why you wear it. Your hijab can help break stereotypes just by you speaking to a non-muslim in your hijab, it is walking dawah.