In another modern world, Amina wakes up early in the morning, before dawn, do the ablution, offer the Fajr prayer and then read few Quranic verses and then move downwards to the kitchen to prepare the breakfast for herself before she can go to school.
On the other hand, Zoha, Amina’s sister, wakes up a tad bit late doesn’t offer the prayers regularly and doesn’t have a care in the world what her parents might think of her habits while both sisters are pole opposites of each other.
“Amina wears a headscarf!” the father says impatiently to his youngest daughter who is about to turn
seventeen this week.
“That’s her choice not mine”, Zoha retorts make her father go silent at the breakfast table.
“What sin did we do to get a daughter like you, with so admonishing behavior”, her father mumbles loud enough for both sisters to hear making Zoha stomp out of the house without completing the breakfast.
“I started doing hijab during my Umrah journey, father, don’t scold her for something that is not in her control” Amina slowly began trying to make her father understand.
What does Hijab Represent?
In society let it be a Muslim family or a non-Muslim, people have different opinions on wearing a headscarf. Is it just a piece of cloth on the head? If so, then why give such importance to it?
It’s not only the Muslims families that show rendered importance to headscarves but non-Muslims are shown to have a stronger reaction to someone wearing a hijab.
Why is it so? Are they afraid of what it might represent? Or is it Islamophobia?
Yes, it is related to being a part of religion for a Muslim woman. Especially during Hajj and Umrah, they are bound to cover their heads and their bodies in the simplest manner (non-attractive) and worship the Almighty through different rituals of prayers and such. But outside of performing spiritual guidance, its importance varies from country to country and from person to person.
The stark difference in Wearing Hijab
If you look onto Muslim women in different countries, the concept varies drastically. Some believe that parents pressurize their daughters into wearing Hijab, adhering to the religious schools where old school teachings are verbalized more than the modern approach. While some believe conservative societies influence the wardrobe styling of certain women.
Well, looking it from both directions there are those families who openly focus on religion regardless of what country they reside in whereas eve in Islamic states women are not bound to use headscarf, their societies are more welcoming and hence doesn’t adhere to the not using of any headscarf of sorts as a negative influence.
Like in Saudi Arabia its compulsory to do hijab, it is considered to be a modest and respectful way for some women when in public, but if you compare the styling to current USA’s system, often women are seen wearing hijab and the modern clothing (but yet modest enough) and happily roam the streets.
But it is also observed in certain non-Muslim countries that women wearing hijab face backlash more respectively to those who chose not to wear it altogether. It creates a sense of standing out in public. As if the hijab creates a neon sign over the heads.
Bullying for Unique Looks
Some countries banned Hijab. Except for going on Hajj and Umrah women couldn’t focus on their religious duties as hijab is considered to be part of the Islamic way of dressing up.
In France, Turkey, Germany spoke out on the ban of headscarf. Even the all-time famous brand, Zara, had to face the criticism from its loyal Muslim customers when it refused to sell any of their products to those wearing headscarf. Bullying comes in many forms, government putting a penalty on wearing a headscarf is the as biased decision as it can be. Brands refusing to sell products for a specific niche only adds fuel to the fire.
Is Headscarf Only in Islam?
We have assumed that covering the head is only relatable to the Muslims but there have been times again and again when we have seen famous personalities from all corners of the world perusing a familiar fashion statement concerning their status quo.
Like Princess Diana did on some other outdoor but formal occasions, Grace Kelly after her marriage, Jackie Kennedy on certain public forums and even in the past days on a two-day tour to Ireland, Meliana Trump featured looks similar to Jackie Kennedy.
Where indeed, the headscarf does not only represent Islam, it is related to the fashion statements as well. It’s a way of accessorizing with your wardrobe style as well (it’s a wonder no one thought of that before).
Due to uncertain political conditions, traumatizing and targeting Muslim women is not the answer you need. Terrorizing someone for the way they dress up and for whatever religious sect they follow is not how things should be.
