They Call It 'The Veil Thing'!!!

Ive been wearing niqaab for three years now and wear it to uni. It took a very long while to feel comfortable in my boots but alhamdulillah i finally realised that it was not my problem if people didnt like it; i was doing nothing wrong. If people didnt like it, it was their downfall for being narrow minded or what not.

Like the sister above said, its so important to pass hellos, ask fellow coursemates how they are, hold doors open for people, thank at zebra- crossings, thank when getting off the bus, basically go out of your way to speak to people and be friendly even if you're 'not up to it' simply for the sake of daawah.I think it just shows them an alternative picture to the one painted by the media and with Allahs permission they will think of this 'pretty average kinda person but does her prayers and covers her face' when the media suggests otherwise. Alhamdulillah as time has gone by people who didnt speak to me before, with the permission on Allah will say hello or pass a smile and i don't personally think you can seperate that from the fact that i'm wearing niqaab. Furthermore, like above i have observed so many other positive reactions the other day, for example, the invigilator in the exam said good luck after a query i had when he didnt really have to at all, i know its just a little thing but when your a niqaabi every bit of friendliness matters!

It can be tough also because you will observe negative reactions sometimes but you have to hold on tight, ask for Allahs help and look to other niqaabis for strength and nasiha. Also, many times its you're level of confidence thats the problem, if your not confident you'll think every tom, yahya and lisa walking past is staring at you when in reality they have much better things to do.

I think the important thing is to realise its a responsibility and (as is with any muslim who can be recognised as a muslim) you are representing Islam. Be confident, wear it simply for Allah and seek help with Him coz after all He is the best of helpers and this way, inshaAllah u'll enjoy wearing the veil too.

Remember this weak musalmaan (inshaAllah) in your duaas

wassalaamu alaykum warahmatullah

Alhamdulillah I've been wearing niqaab for about 9 years now. And I have to say that it becomes such a part of you that without it you just dont feel right. It does help that most of my close friends also wear it so we have our days where we compare our 'reactions to niqaab'. Yes, there are days when Allah سبحانه وتعالى tests you but at the end of the day we sometimes just end up laughing about some of the reactions we get. I find with most non-muslims that they can sometimes be more tolerant and accomodating of it than some muslims! Sometimes the bigger tests are when its your own family, my advice to you then is to stay steadfast. Insha Allah one day they will accept it. I love little girls reactions to it, "Mummy I want to wear that too!" And some 'try it on' and go around asking people "How do I look?" May Allahسبحانه وتعالى keep us all steadfast on His commandments, ameen.. In Jannah people will go to visit(see) Allahسبحانه وتعالى, but Allahسبحانه وتعالى himself will visit the woman who has observed purdah while in the dunya.

personally i have found family to be more testing then strangers, but then the thing thats always pulled me through is, that there is no reward without hardship, although i have to add that once i was comfortable in the veil everyone else around me was comfortable, it is best to draw a definite line to which you will not pass and stick to it firmly no matter what occasion or situation arises. Allah سبحانه وتعالى always makes things easy for those who have the intention of performing virtue.

Mashallah its really interesting to know of other's stories and experiences. Like the sister in the article, I myself have only started wearing it recently. I made myself have a 'build up' to it. Wore it on the street as a trial. Then down to the shops. To a family dinner, and now I'm a bit of a regular. I still don't think I'm as strong as I can be, and may Allah forgive me in my times of weakness, but I pray that my heart becomes stronger, and that I wear it for all the right reasons.

It's refreshing to read other's experiences, because although we all are doing it for the sake of Allah, it DOES give you a bit of a boost to know that other sisters are having the same trials and experiences. May Allah keep us steadfast in the face of adversity. Ameen

I have had a few encounters. One time I was in a clothes shop in my 'early days' I was very conscious. This little girl was going around the aisles and spotted me and stopped dead in her tracks and said 'aagh'!! I said 'hello', at which she wavered. She then went to her mum and pointed at me. Her mum just said' it's ok darling, the lady's just wearing that because she's pretty inside'!!! The mum picked her up and walked away, and the little girl looked over her shoulder and smiled!

By sharing our stories, I feel we can build a stronger bond inshallah.

Please remember this humble servant in your duas.

[Assalam,i am also thinking of wearing scarf & zubbah or even Niqab,But i endup doing nothig-Wich i really feel shame 4 myself.When ever i crossed with zubbah or niqab lady-ido pray 2 Allah swt 2 give me strenth(but then again there is nothing 2 strenth about),whenever i tell my doughter 2 wear scarf or use dupatta she advise me about me not wearing scarf,at that ponint i blame my self,& after few argument we back 2 sqair 1.My hair goes scarrfy after my dupatta keep coming off,(when i go out)i useally dont like to look at mirrors but when i c it i hate my self 4 not covering my hair propely,But again i wonder why i dont cover my hair,please pray 4 me & my 25 years old girl & others like me to start wearing atleast a scarf 2 begin with.zazacullah[/quote]

Salam sister.

The fact that you are feeling ashamed, shows that you have it in your heart to do the right thing.Inshallah Allah will give you hidaayah and the strentgh to do the right thing. It seems thatyou are in a community where people are wearing islamic clothes, and inshallah You will be one of them too. Start slowly, and dont be too hard on yourself. How about just trying to wear the scarf to the shop, or just try it bu having a little walk,Allah works in the most amazing of ways, and inshallh you will get stronger.

Do it slowly, and step by step. One thing at a time. And let me tell you, there are many wys of keeping the scarf on your head!! i know, and have tried many things! How about tying it with a safety pin under your chin? Or wear a small bandanna underneath to stop it falling off? How about a little trial today, being the blessed Friday?

My duas are with you, and may Allah make it easy for you.

Wassallam

Wassallam

Then i told myself i will only wear it for two weeks and if i change my mind i'll just take it off, but you know what the two weeks past and the years have gone by and the thought of taking it off has never crossed my mind. Alhamdulillah.

May Allah reward you.
Thats what i mean by small steps. I think that sometimes if we set our selves very high goals they dont seem achievable.

But we do this dont we? And then we get worried when we fail. By doing it slowly, we get used to it, and somehow, Allah puts that feeling in our hearts, and makes us WANT to do more. He somehow gives us the feeling that we want to please him, and inside we feel a bit happy knowing that we are pleasing our Creator.

Some people DO change very suddenly, and if it works for them, then Alhamdulillah i really do value their decisions. But i have seen sisters who changed really quickly, only to revert back to their old ways in a period of time. May allah give them hidaaya.

Subhanallah, the Greatness of Allah never ceases to amaze,and i really do admire all those sisters, who have taken it upon themselves to do this, whilst battling with their inner self.

Duas requested

wassallam

when i first started, i was the only one in my mums side, dads side and i was the 2nd one in my in-laws side. boy, i found it hard to take in comments from these folks. especially my own parents. and i was very closely brought up with my cousin brothers as well as my cousin sisters. so i found it incredibily akward when i first decided to don the veil.

Alhamdulillah, everyone is used to it. (its been 5 years) infact, in my fathers side of the family there are now another 4 more ladies/girls who cover.

but i definitley do go out of my way to say 'thank you' to non-muslims when giving way to me (on the road) or anything of the like.

Another reason for families being frosty towards it is they feel wearing niqaab will make it hard for you to practice deen as there's a lot of islamophobia about nowadays so they just thinking about you really not being harassed. This is the wrong thinking obviously so its down to the wearers to prove this group wrong. Show them that by having faith (and putting that faith into practice) in the commands of Allah SWT and sunnah of Aap SAW Allah will give us strength mentally, morally and physically - this is were our downfall or success will be decided by Allah SWT. Yes people may mock and jeer you when wearing it whilst walking down the street but this should not put someone off practicing any part of deen - its part and parcel of it as when any part of deen it adopted halaats (tests) will come. Some pass the tests and carry on practicing that particular part of deen others fail and give up. This thinking kinda also plays along with the Asian thinking of "what will people/community say ?(if you practice a certain part of deen that is not common to be practiced by that certain community)" - to which our response should be "what will Allah say?". Abdul Mutalib, Aap SAW's beloved yes beloved uncle, died without iman because of this very thought "What will people say if they heard that accepted the deen of my nephew on my death bed"

Another further reason is that some people/communities/families have a modernistic interpretation of deen so feel effy/embarrased when someone from their family sports a niqaab/beard and lives with them or walks with them down the street - they think you becoming radicalised

Another reason is sometime other feel a sense of jealousy towards other for practicing more then them. This is not the normally type jealously which is good as you should be jealous of those with more deen then you but this type is mixed with malice with makes it a totally different type of jealousy. A lot of types family/friends member you have this feeling will try put you down in terms on dunya and deen just to show you up in front of others that "look at this person who thinks they are following deen with the niqaab/beard look how wrong they were on such and such an issue"

although i dont watch tv anymore, it can be hard when going to someones house where the tv is on and to avoid looking in the direction. i always say, just because one wears a veil, it doest not mean she is better or religous than you. only Allha سبحانه وتعالى knows. some people, without realising it may don the veil or grow the beard for show and abstinence. May Allah سبحانه وتعالى grant us all a clean heart.