World Hijab Day

hijab (hɪˈdʒæb; hɛˈdʒɑːb) or hejab

n

1. (Islam) a covering for the head, worn by Muslim women

It's the first of February and although it may seem like a normal (wet and windy if you're reading from the UK) day to you, for some it's a different day altogether. 

World Hijab Day was initiated by Nazma Khan, the student who faced countless days of bullying and discrimination due to the fabric on her head. She not only faced discrimination by fellow students throughout middle school and high school, but also from her high school teacher. She decided to turn the 1st of February into a 'World Hijab Day' - a day where women across the globe experience what it's like to wear the hijab. 

My own journey with wearing the hijab is not as troublesome as Nazma's. I decided to commit myself to fully wearing a hijab in 2012. At the age of 16, I began to realise how the hijab was not just a piece of material you wore on your head because your mosque teacher said you should. 

I saw it as the most simple thing it could be: a way of showing your devotion to God. 

I soon began to realise that the hijab was also a reminder of who I wanted to be and what I wanted from life as a young woman, beyond the stereotypical teenager activities. 

Since 2011, I have had struggles with the hijab and have even taken it off at times. However, I believe that each and every one of those struggles has taught me something about the many reasons I choose to wear it, consequently making me a stronger person. 

A teacher once told me that you never really stop learning until the day you die, and that's how I see the hijab. I learn something new about it everyday, and that's why it's so liberating to wear. 

I may not have had the same struggles Nazma Khan had, but I think that's what makes World Hijab Day so unique.

It doesn't have to be a day where we sympathize with those who have been victimized for wearing it. No. It doesn't even need to be a day where we 'empathise' with those who wear the hijab. 

It should be a day where we value all, regardless of whether you wear a hijab or not, for having the courage to persevere with something after countless criticisms from others and most commonly, yourself. 

As people continue to argue over whether World Hijab Day is a waste of time or not, what I will say is this: 

For me, World Hijab Day is not a day where we just celebrate a woman wearing some fabric on her head, but a day where we all celebrate our devotion, power and religious freedom as women, Muslim or non-Muslim. But the fact that women can choose to participate in something that gives a small insight into my daily experience as a Muslim woman, is beautiful. 
(P.S. I recommend reading this article by Vicky Beeching: http://faithinfeminism.com/reflections-on-world-hijab-day-2014/)

(Pictures from @WorldHijabDay & @vickybeeching)