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on 11-12-2002 23:37
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By Majida AmatAl-Quddus
I have worn niqaab and hijab for 16 of the 17 years I have been Muslim, and I pray ALLAH continues opening my heart to its blessings. I consider myself no better, nor less than my Muslim sisters. Though there seems much controversy about this matter, InshaAllah, we are all striving to attain jennah and we must embrace the commands ALLAH has specifically inspired us to do. His Guidance must be acknowledged with obedience.
My Guidance to hijab and niqab came shortly after becoming Muslim. I was so excited and happy to find the "truth" after searching most of my life-- all of my childhood and most of my adult life -- that the light of ISLAM found me humbly appreciative and thirsty for more.
Upon opening ALLAHS Most HOLY QURAN, one of the first ayahs I was drawn to:
"And say to the Believing women
that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty;
that they should not display their beauty and ornaments
except what appear thereof;
that they should draw their veils over their bosoms
and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands fathers, their sons, their husbands sons, their brothers or their brothers sons, or their sisters sons, or their women, or the slaves whom
their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs,
or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex;
and that they should not strike their feet
in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments.
And O ye Believers!
Turn ye all together towards ALLAH,
that ye may attain Bliss."
[HOLY QURAN 24:31]
Then ALLAH would bring me back, notably, again and again to that particular ayah using various avenues of Guidance that were undeniably so.
Then 33:59 reinforced 24:31:
"O Prophet! Tell Thy wives and daughters,
and the Believing women,
that they should cast their outer garments over their persons:
that is most convenient, that they should be known and not molested.
And ALLAH is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
[HOLY QURAN 33:59]
And so the seed was planted, and I made the change to hijab knowing full well ALLAH had made these ayahs "real" in my heart and I wanted to be obedient in every way.
For me, wearing niqab marked my entrance into a much closer relationship with our Lord. ALLAH certainly knows best and the command to hijab and veil was made very clear to me. I knew I must submit and in the submission free myself of any fears I had of any form of rejection. Acceptance by ALLAH through obedience was my only aim and with ALLAH on my side -- who else do I need?
I was and am so grateful to ALLAH for His Guidance and felt that this so-called "sacrifice" was little payment in return for finding the truth that is ISLAM. Little did I know -- this "sacrifice" was an immense blessing, the benefits of which I cannot begin to innumerate. So little by little, I began to see the wisdom of ALLAHS commands to cover.
Initially, I received the taunts and tests that accompany first hijab and then veiling. It was not easy, but it did make me focus more and more on ALLAH. The more I focused, the stronger I became, Alhamdulillah. At one point I felt a weariness at dispelling the ignorance to ALLAHS, Subhanwattallahs, Most HOLY QURAN. It was then I made dua to ALLAH:
"Ya, ALLAH. Please help people understand ISLAM so that others may share its joy and so that we will not be so abused and taunted." That was about the time "Malcolm X" the movie was made. Alhamdulillah!! The atmosphere changed from one of complete misunderstanding to an acceptable tolerance, if not respect for ISLAM -- only by the Grace of ALLAH.
A true transformation was also taking place inside of me. I had always felt the reaction to my appearance must only be the surface of what ALLAH intends when He says: "... draw your veils over your bosoms..." So I prayed that ALLAH would help me see the true beauty of hijab and niqab. From that point of prayer on, I could see ALLAHS help in relation to my "purdah" in day-to-day activities. I was opening myself more and more to ALLAHS Guidance and He, Mercifully, was showing me the way. I then realized that there must have been an element of me that was fighting this "purdah" if I was not seeing the real beauty of it. I finally surrendered myself completely.
This is when ALLAH opened my eyes more to the peaceful nature of hijab and niqab. Without hijab and niqab -- there are no barriers between me and
the physical world, and my attention, therefore, is diverted to the physical and cannot be as well focused on serving ALLAH. With hijab and niqab --because there is less accessibility to the outside world, I can choose to be in constant prayer/communion with our Creator, insha ALLAH; therefore, more accessible to His Guidance.
When ALLAH speaks to us through His Most Holy Quran -- He takes us as far as we are willing to go. We set our own limits when faced with the commands of ALLAH in the Holy Quran. ALLAH is certainly Most Gracious and Patient with us.
If there is doubt to the meaning of specific ayahs of ALLAHS Quran, I believe it is better to show ALLAH the benefit of the doubt and err on the
side of right than wrong.
There is no compulsion in this beautiful ISLAM of ours. Once we become Muslim, Insha ALLAH, we must realize that in order to become closer to ALLAH we must demand from ourselves beyond limitation -- obedience -- to that which ALLAH has been Merciful enough to reveal to us through His Most Glorious Quran. Once we have read an ayah of Quran and we digest its meaning in our souls -- we have no choice but to try to adhere to what ALLAH has placed so deeply within our being. There is no turning back. Nothing else in this life matters. Our purpose is to serve ALLAH.
I was recently asked by a non-Muslim whether or not I fear the reactions of others to my covering. My only fear is the reaction of ALLAH to me denying something He has placed in my heart to do. I fear ALLAH.
My veiling was one way ALLAH used to give me the opportunity to come closer to Him in a way I could have never imagined. He opened the door to the beauty of wrapping myself in ISLAM and in the wrapping I found protection, freedom, peace, and most of all a closer relationship with our Lord. I am most grateful ALLAH, Subhanwatallah, saw past my shortcomings and allowed me the vision to see that veiling opened my eyes that I may better behold His rope.
"O ye Children of Adam!
We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover your shame, as well as to be an adornment to you.
But the raiment of righteousness -- that is the best.
Such are among the Signs of ALLAH, that they may receive admonition!"
[HOLY QURAN 7:26]
Last update : 11-12-2002 23:37
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