Ali Dawah - June 17, 2020


REACTING TO HIJABI TAKING OFF HIJAB


Episode Stats

Length

5 minutes

Words per Minute

169.4864

Word Count

935

Sentence Count

57

Hate Speech Sentences

5


Summary

In this episode, we talk about the pressures of wearing the hijab and how to deal with them. The hijab is more than just a garment to cover our hair, it is a form of modesty that Islam demands from both men and women. Hijab symbolizes the true meaning of obeying Allah and encompasses modest character, behavior, and manners.


Transcript

00:00:00.000 Before you decide to take off your hijab, ask yourself this.
00:00:06.680 So another hijabi influencer removes her hijab and social media platforms go into a complete frenzy.
00:00:12.820 With people quickly jumping to take sides.
00:00:15.520 Some condemning, others supporting, and some just there for the comments.
00:00:19.960 And look, let me be the first to admit that wearing the hijab is not the easiest thing to pull off in 2020.
00:00:26.120 The hijab is a cape Muslim women wear publicly.
00:00:28.500 Day in and day out.
00:00:30.620 And it comes with a whole lot of hardships.
00:00:33.180 Be it not getting that job we really wanted, be it the racial slurs, or in my case, being called the letterbox.
00:00:39.640 Thanks Boris.
00:00:40.780 And this isn't even to mention the social pressures of trying to look our best in a world of glamorous photoshopped imagery of women.
00:00:48.580 As hijabis, we're constantly fighting this uphill battle of self-consciousness and doubt.
00:00:53.640 And we live with it daily.
00:00:55.160 But before we get too carried away in all the struggles, the real question we should be asking ourselves is,
00:01:01.120 have we lost the conviction as to why we are wearing the hijab in the first place?
00:01:05.940 In Islam, the hijab is more than just a garment to cover our hair.
00:01:10.040 It is a form of modesty that Islam demands from both men and women.
00:01:14.480 Hijab symbolizes the true meaning of obeying Allah and encompasses modest character, behavior, and manners.
00:01:21.100 Now, after understanding that the hijab is an obligation from God, we can see how this will be viewed as problematic in today's modern world.
00:01:29.660 A world that celebrates the liberation of the individual and the ego.
00:01:33.660 Me!
00:01:34.720 Me!
00:01:35.560 Me!
00:01:36.040 A world that teaches you to focus on yourself, to love yourself unconditionally, and to put yourself first.
00:01:44.740 And while self-care and self-love are no doubt important, we have to be very careful it doesn't turn into self-worship.
00:01:52.500 Whereby we no longer worship God, but rather our own egos.
00:01:56.100 And with the current ego-boosting social media platforms, one can easily lose the real meaning of the hijab.
00:02:03.320 Transforming it from being an avenue of obeying Allah to becoming just another trendy form of social expression that changes with the latest hashtag.
00:02:11.920 And this is exactly why we are seeing so many public figures who have a huge platform take off their hijab because they say they are speaking their truth.
00:02:20.660 So now, post-hijabis, coming out is a narrative welcomed with praise and admiration for being one's authentic self.
00:02:28.700 Such a phrase poses some dangerous implications, especially when your truth is at odds with Allah's truth.
00:02:35.780 As Allah says in the Quran,
00:02:37.460 It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and his messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision.
00:02:45.640 Another statement that is gaining traction online is the old phrase, only God can judge me.
00:02:52.160 And while no one is commenting on others' state of iman, it is important to point out that these influencers are in fact influencing many of our sisters today.
00:03:01.600 Even if these hijabi influencers never claim to be role models, having such a huge platform comes with great responsibility that we will be held accountable for.
00:03:11.500 So, where do we go from here?
00:03:13.660 As a fellow Muslim sister, I understand the struggle.
00:03:17.620 And honestly, we all need to help and support each other to get through today's challenges.
00:03:22.840 But if you do feel the pressure, here's a few things we should remember.
00:03:27.420 First and foremost, always surround yourself with a positive environment that fortifies your iman.
00:03:33.780 Surround yourself with sisters who elevate you and are there for you when you hit that iman low.
00:03:39.560 Make time to attend lessons at your local mosque.
00:03:41.940 And if there aren't any programs, take initiative.
00:03:45.620 Control your social media feed so you're not constantly subjected to content that makes you feel bad about yourself.
00:03:51.720 Learn the stories of the great women like Maryam, Asya, Khadija and Fatima.
00:03:57.080 Read the stories of the female companions of the Prophet ï·º to remind ourselves of what it really means to be close to Allah.
00:04:04.340 And remember, no one is immune to tribulations in their faith.
00:04:09.120 And that is why it is important that we constantly make dua to Allah to give us the strength and perseverance through all the challenges that come our way.
00:04:17.040 As the Prophet ï·º taught us,
00:04:20.200 O controller of the hearts, keep our hearts steadfast.
00:04:27.500 And if you do know anyone struggling, don't put them down.
00:04:31.120 Rather, lift them up and see how you can help them.
00:04:33.700 So for all our sisters out there at a crossroad, before you decide to take off your hijab, ask yourself this.
00:04:41.180 Are you praying your daily salah?
00:04:43.200 Is your environment cultivating your iman?
00:04:46.260 And how is your relationship with Allah ï·»?
00:04:48.860 We are all in this together.
00:04:51.920 And I pray that Allah gives us the strength to stay strong in our faith amidst all the struggles.
00:04:57.040 Allah bless you all.
00:04:58.780 The reality is, Islamophobia and negative portrayals of Muslims in the media is an industry that continues to thrive.
00:05:07.140 And there are so many around the world who still don't have access to genuine Islamic content.
00:05:12.100 So as much as we would love to celebrate our achievements, the reality is, we have so much more work to do.
00:05:18.960 By the grace of Allah ï·», we have had tremendous success.
00:05:22.520 And we cannot express how valuable the community's support has been in making all this happen.
00:05:26.460 We invite you to continue this journey with us.
00:05:29.120 One Path Network.
00:05:30.200 Everyone's invited.