17  Hidden Benefits of Niqab

My story is neither every Muslim woman’s story nor do I consider myself  a benchmark against which to measure Muslim women. I am, however, someone who wears the face veil (niqab). And I wear it unflinchingly and unapologetically. There are many women who share my experience, who feel neither oppressed nor limited by the veil and consider it an integral part of their identity.

Most of us choose to wear niqab because we believe it is encouraged by our faith. Let me be clear: most of us do not consider it obligatory, and we certainly don’t denounce women who do not veil their faces as less pious or less modest. It is simply how we manage our own relationship with Allah.

As vociferously as the media shout that Muslim women who don the niqab do so out of fear of the men in their families and communities, I have seen the opposite. In my world, most women who have taken niqab adopted the custom while they were single, and many of them removed this contentious piece of clothing after marriage at their husbands’ request.

If anything, I would argue most Muslim men dislike for their wives, sisters and daughters to wear niqab. When a man asserts, “Women shouldn’t be allowed to cover their faces in public!” I hear this: “As a man, I have the right to tell you how to dress.” And to that I say, “It’s too bad you can’t see my ‘I don’t care about your opinion’ face.”

So no—we do not need to be saved or liberated, not by Muslim men and certainly not by the West. Suggesting that we do without knowing our story is an affront to our freedom to dress how we choose. It is precisely because of the assumptions made by everyone about the niqab and the women who don it, that I’d like to share just some of the reasons why I like wearing the niqab.

 

17  Hidden Benefits of Niqab:

  1. Because I conceal my face, people, particularly the opposite sex, only know me through my words, my behavior, talents, and my personality. They cannot use my body, hair or face to measure me. To put it another way, I have the privilege of living my life inside my words, not within my physical form.
  2. People might initially stare because they consider me an oddity, but they quickly move on and, as an introvert, I enjoy the invisibility of being visibly Muslim.
  3. I’ve noted that many people choose their words with particular care and seem especially conscientious when interacting to me. Maybe they find it disconcerting to carry a normal conversation with a person who  has no face! Maybe they feel insecure saying or doing anything inappropriate around a woman wearing a face veil (I sincerely hope it is not because they assume we are especially devout, because a single article of clothing doesn’t confer piety on a person). Or maybe they fear that a woman wearing a niqab will pull out the haram stick, lecturing them on everything that is forbidden! Regardless, if I walk into a group cracking a dirty joke, they sheepishly change the subject.
  4. Now I don’t encourage this of course, but eating in class is a major plus. When you’re famished and the professor’s lecture is never-ending, slip in some food from beneath your niqab and enjoy. Oh, and popcorn or spinach stuck in my teeth? Not an embarrassing problem. It can happily nest there until I go home and brush my teeth.
  5. OMG! Breakouts? No foundation or concealer needed. I look fierce nonetheless. Fiercely black.
  6. The niqab allows me the advantage of hiding my emotions. You can never tell if I’m anxious, afraid or confused–unless you got some mad eye reading skills! Interestingly, children seem able to figure out my invisible expressions through my eyes alone. A little smile behind the screen evokes grins from them, which, in turn, makes my smile even wider.
  7. Niqab is a terrific smell blocker and let’s agree that there are plenty of noxious odors a person might want to escape.
  8. Niqab also blocks germs, smoke and dust.
  9. We expect women to look a certain way: slender build, silky hair, large doe eyes, full lips and the list goes on. As if all women can be measured by this myopic definition of beauty! As someone who wears the niqab, I feel liberated from all the superficial expectations foisted upon my gender.
  10. I can eat freely. Though newbies might find it challenging to eat while wearing niqab, once you get the hang of it, trust me, you will relish your meal much more than everyone else. While others are trying to eat in a well-manner, sophisticated way, I gulp, slurp and munch to my heart’s content. So much so that I sometimes have to audibly whisper to myself, “Get it together, girl.”
  11. I can sleep in public with my mouth wide open, and rest assured that my little nap won’t go viral on YouTube.
  12. I can easily avoid someone I don’t want to see. Run into a high school bully at the local park? Spot your boss at the mall? Walk right on by.
  13. I can recite prayers and perform kind acts all while remaining anonymous, and this anonymity both preserves my humility and keeps me from doing good to impress others.
  14. Other women feel secure in my presence because my niqab makes clear that I’m not interested in attracting their man’s attention or interest.
  15. These days every dermatologist and skin care advertisement is promoting the benefits of wearing sunscreen. Well, my niqab acts as a natural additional barrier to the sun’s damaging UV rays, so fingers crossed that I’ll have fewer wrinkles, blemishes and sun spots down the road!
  16. My niqab automatically makes me an ambassador for Islam. This role can feel heavy at times, but it does keep me in check. I know that I have chosen to dress in a way that immediately identifies me as a Muslim, and with that decision comes a responsibility to set the best example of a Muslim woman that I possibly can in my everyday interactions.
  17. The best part is, I don’t carry apologies or excuses in my pocket. Sorry, I didn’t wear makeup. Sorry I didn’t blow-dry my hair. Most of all, sorry you can’t see my face. Sorry. Not sorry.

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Samina Farooq is the Co-founder of AYEINA (www.ayeina.com) and Co-creator of the #AlhamdulillahForSeries – A gratitude journal for Muslims. She has a degree in engineering and currently devotes her time to her family and studying the Qur’an and the Arabic language

 

Illustration Credit: AYEINA

105 Comments

  • Such a great article ..i am also wearing niqab Alhamdulillah now i release how beneficial it is …

    • Nuveria says:

      I am planning on wearing a niqab, but I was wondering is it necessary to wear a burka in a niqabi or can u wear an lonf dress?

    • King says:

      In other words just cuts off your humanity. Just a friggen shell of what a human should be. Shed your humanity in the name of a god that dont exist. You muslims do some fucked up sht in the name of Allah or whatever. Sht, if I piss off any of you guys enough you’ll probably try and come kill me. What kind of people do that, that supposedly come from holy land. Pretty much all your men dont deserve to have kids at all. In winter here I once watched a Muslim man MAKE his wife stand in line for free furniture for 2-3 hours while HE SAT IN HIS VEHICLE AND NOT ONCE OFFERED TO TEMRADE PLACES SO SHE CAN WARM UP.

  • Ayeina says:

    JazakAllah khair for your kind words.

  • IloveAllah says:

    Wear your face and teach others to respect what Allah gave you no matter how it is. Be honest, be true, be real! Don’t hide the expressions that makes you who you are. Your words are not more important than your smile. Be an embassador of Allah with your words, with your honesty, transparency of attitudes and kindness. Wear simple clothes but the ones that express who you are, not what others want you to be. Allah made you, the way you are and He is proud of his creation. Who would niqab a flower or a tree? Why men just don’t bother about wearing niqabs? Should we all hide ourselves to make Allah happy? Allah couldn’t care less for what you wear… that’s what unconditional perfect love is all about. Would clothes influence the love of a father? Than it would be not love…

    • What your saying to her is that how she looks is more important than her character. Clearly Allah wants us to conceal our beauty or else he would not have made hijab obligatory. There is nothing wrong with niqab because it is not bid’ah.

    • Judith Armatolos says:

      Firstly I am not a Muslim, but a lapsed Christian Agnostic so stop reading here if my opinion is not welcome or appropriate.
      Firstly it is pleasing to see a variety of opinions on the topic. I often wonder why men are not encouraged to cover up, hide their facial emotions and seek to prevent arousal in women. Double standards always leave me questioning. But in response to Samina, I am wondering if you have any thoughts on the fact that face covering is not always a choice for women. You are pleased with your own power to choose but perhaps I am a voice from “the West” when I express that I am still feeling unsatisfied by your extended explanation. I am questioning why you have omitted to comment on the fact that MANY women are forced by the political/religious leaders, who are predominantly men, to cover their faces. Of course the face covering alarms “westerners” and makes many suspect oppression of women because on a global scale face covering is part of the phenomena of female oppression. Maybe there can be some acknowledgement of the response as one coming from a place of concern for human rights. Your freedom to choose is secured by an ideology that tries to enshrine religious freedom but surely your commentary should include reference to the cases where what a woman wears or shows of herself is enforced under the guise of religious truth. Furthermore, in some such places you would not be free or safe in claiming that face covering is a neutral ethical choice devoid of Quranic backing. The men in power would sternly and brutally object to your notion. I am sorry, but you can’t just convey that this bit of cloth is not an issue of significance.

      • Yasmin Amatullah says:

        I am wondering if you, Judith, are concerned by the fact that uncovering the face, or even the hair, is not a choice by many women.

        You are pleased with your own power to choose but perhaps I am a voice from “the East” when I express that I am still feeling unsatisfied by your extended explanation, Judy.

        I am questioning why you have omitted to comment on MANY women are forced by the political/secular leaders, who are predominantly men, to uncover their faces and even hair. Of course the face and hair uncovering alarms devout Muslims and other people of consciousness, and makes many suspect oppression of minorities and repression and state interference of religious interprstation by the West onto its migrants and even some of their native populations who are merely observing their religion.

        Maybe there can be some acknowledgement of the response as one coming from a place of concern for human dignity. Your pathetic attempts at forcing all religious expressions into the private realm is secured by an ideology (secularism) that claims to protect religious freedom but fails since it is based solely on Christian ethos and forcing immigrants to strictly adopt their new country’s moral, ethical, and religious standards. Surely your comment should include reference to the cases where what a woman wears or shows of herself is enforced under the guise of secular freedom or “security.” But I suspect you are only concerned with hypocrisy when it’s done by brown men and not the white patriarchs in your own “West”.

        Furthermore, in some such places in the “West” you yourself would not be free or safe in wearing that face covering. The men in power would sternly and brutally object to your notion by arresting, fining, and possibly even imprison you. You would immediately discover how insulting and demeaning your white patriarchs can be when you’re a woman who dresses “wrong”. Meanwhile if you go to Saudi Arabia as a non Muslim, you won’t even be required to cover your hair much less your face. You’d only have to wear long robes over your secular uniform of jeans and tee shirt.

        I am sorry, but you can’t just convey that removing this bit of cloth is not an issue of significance.

        • Hope says:

          You did not answer Judith’s questions. Poor job of you!

          By the way, I am Muslima. I am living in Saudi Arabia. I am wearing Abaya, Hijab and sometimes Niqab.
          Not because I want but because my husband wants me too. I hate wearing it but I have no other choice than obeying him.
          A few years ago, religious police wanted to throw me out of a mall because I wasn‘t wearing niqab. They were bluffing with police. I was scared!

          You are the one who is pathetic not Judith!

          • Fr says:

            You claim to be Muslim but you don’t really seem like it. I’m not saying that your not muslim if you don’t wear a scarf but how can you pray without a scarf on. I don’t want to assume that your not praying but if you didn’t wear a scarf wouldn’t that be the case? Also it seems you have a misconception between Islam and Muslims. Allah (swt) has given Muslim women the right to choose what to wear after telling them what is better to wear(hijab). You can choose to be arrogant and claim you know better than your creator and take off your scarf or you may choose to follow the words of your creator and his prophets and wear a scarf. The reply to Judith did answer his question because it mentions that the answer to his question is the same excuse white people would come up with when doing wrong. Allah(swt) gave free will/choice to all human beings, islam does not support taking this away but many Muslims (many hypocrites or lost Muslims) try to take away rights of Muslim women and men. If you’re husband forced you to do things because he wants the better for you, you have the right to divorce in Islam and America if you are displeased. If you want to claim that a Muslim is doing something wrong, do so. Muslims are human too, they sin, they can get arrogant/lost, but not in the name of their creator. If you want to insult/question Islam look at how the prophet acted or the Quran and you will see there is nothing to insult/question. You cannot defame islam by insulting a Muslim because not every Muslim represents Islamic ideologies, this being said if you want to find someone who represents Islamic ideologies look at the prophet, try to be like him and tell your husband to Try to be like him too. It’s just so stupid when non Muslims or people try to examine Islamic ideologies through sinners/uneducated Muslims. It’s like going to a criminal and using their actions that caused them to go to jail to find out what is permissible. Why would you use a sinners actions to define/see what is permissible Islamic law if you wouldn’t use a criminals action to define/see what is permissible in the country’s law?? And if you still haven’t got the point just understand that true Muslims wouldn’t force anything religious on a person Because iman cannot be made by a person, the prophet only warned the sinners, he didn’t force them into Islam even if he wanted them to revert because he loved them(his uncle who never reverted to Islam but never insulted the prophet for example). And because it isn’t something the prophet did and isn’t something in sharia law, any Muslim that forced rules on people will be hated by not only the “west” but also the educate/good Muslims.

      • Fahiema says:

        Aslm without my niqaab I feel incomple as a Muslim woman . Have been wearing it for more than 5 years. Hubby do not agree on why I must cover my face. Still very optimistic that he will change his minset one day

    • Saima says:

      Some of the best women on earth wore the vmface veil , in fact Aisha, ra, said when the wives of the prophet Pbuh shared the revelation about women with them, they tore the sides of their aprons and covered thier faces …

  • zayeneesha says:

    By choosing to fall into the ‘minority’ category (those who wear face veil), we are teaching people to respect their own and other’s right of free will.

    I’m neither a flower nor a lollipop
    I’m not a pearl and certainly not a tree
    I’m simply a human being with choices
    And none can’t liberate the free ❤

    Alhamdulillah

    JazakAllah khair for reaching out 🙂

  • nour says:

    hi there. thanks for your sharing. actually i actually am planning to wear one. after reading your article, i think wearing a niqab is not really a big thing and hard to do. it just some determination. in sha Allah, i will wear it.

    • zayeneesha says:

      Jazakillah khair Nour for such warm comment 🙂 like all other decisions in life, you may take time to settle into this one as well. May Allah help you through it ❤

  • Nadia Azhar says:

    Allahuakbar…you really inspired me…pls pray for me to wear a niqab too..♥♥

  • zayeneesha says:

    Jazakillah khair for your kind words nadia 🙂 may Allah help you through this process…if your heart is set to ithe, your mind will follow in shaa Allah ❤

  • Susette says:

    I am stunned by the benefits you cite for the niqab. Most are selfish or deceitful – hiding emotions, covering breakouts, eating in class, slurping food, sleeping with your mouth open, avoiding others, blocking smells, germs, sun, hiding a bad hair day. The niqab-clad woman in western societies is a frightening sight, especially to young children who consider it a Halloween costume and often ask about the person (because is it a man or a woman?) dressed in this scary costume in June. You have reduced yourself to an “it”. You have no identity. You don’t freely associate as is customary in the West. Your holier-than-thou attitude conveyed via the niqab is despicable. You are depriving your body of Vitamin D – so enjoy your wrinkle free old age, you will suffer from extreme calcium deficiency. Yes, you are an ambassador of Islam, but one that perpetuates centuries-old Islamic beliefs that women are to be silenced and hidden for they are defective to men, and disgraceful to humanity. Take your niqab and wear it “freely” in an Islamic sharia law country. We don’t want this spectacle roaming around in our free societies.

    • Nic says:

      That was kinda rude and unnecessary. If you don’t like it, don’t read it, close the tab, move along and go back to doing something else…works for most people

      • Susette says:

        Perhaps it was unnecessary to restate what she cites as “benefits” of niqab. But rude to voice an opinion with which you don’t agree? I think not! When you see a masked white man with a white cone-shaped hat, do you immediately think it is a reprehensible symbol of racism? Well, to me and many others in Western societies, a niqab, burka, hijab is a reprehensible symbol of misogyny, hatred for non-muslims, and a “religious” political ideology that is destructive to humanity. Eight out of the top ten violators of human rights are Muslim-majority countries, most with laws that force women to veil. Compare that with the top 10 countries with the best human rights records: NONE, ZERO are Muslim-majority countries…all are Western democracies. Think about that…

        • Laura says:

          Is a nun’s habit a repressive symbol?

          Where do you get off writing to this woman with such disrespect and distain?

          As a non-Muslim westerner, I’d like to make clear that we don’t all feel this way! (I hope everyone knows that already)

          I’ve been uncomfortable with niqab (definitely not with hijab!) and this article made me understand it more. Thank you!

          • I can’t say why this sister personally chooses niqab but it is probably for the same reason I do. I wear niqab because I know it is what Allah wants for me. The same with women who wear hijab. We are both pleasing Allah but he has set out different paths for us. For many niqabis it strengthens our connection with Allah and that is all that matters. Get to know us we are pretty nice people.

          • Susette says:

            Laura, a woman makes a choice to become a nun, and she accepts that the habit is part of that vow. A moslem female is born into islam and has no choice in staying or leaving that religion. She has to accept every command that comes from the islamic patriarchy, or risk death, dishonor, disownment if she fails to. In moslem-majority countries, veiling is forced once they reach puberty. Nowadays, most nuns don’t wear habits and casted them aside rather quickly when told by the Catholic patriarchy that they could free themselves of the oppressive coverings. However, one would not accuse 20th/21st century nuns of immodesty or being less close to God because they shed their habits.

          • Again you are showing how ignorant you are. I am a muslim revert, meaning I was not born into a muslim family but became muslim. Secondly, muslims (not moeslims) believe in free will. We can choose to follow the commands of Allah. By the way there are plenty of muslim women who choose not to veil themselves. I follow the commands of God not any patriarchal society. I also, have met many nuns who wear the habbit. When ignorant people who live in a bubble free of diversity speak it really shows. If I were you I would be embarrassed by the amount of ignorance you have just speweed.

    • Women have many different reasons for wearing niqab. Her benefits is that the more she conceals the more freedom she has to be herself.

      • Carol Ynwyn says:

        Actually, the more freedom she has NOT to develop and be honestly assessed by others. She admits she’s an INTROVERT. This is fine but perhaps she needs to challenge herself and not take the lazy way out – both in grooming/hygiene and in social honesty. It shows respect for those around you to meet them on equal ground and not be lurking behind some camouflage.

        • Being an introvert does not mean she hides and chooses not to participate in society.I am an introvert who has just started wearing niqab and I still participate in society. Everyone chooses how they present themselves to the world including you. If you get to choose how you present yourself to the world why does she not have the same privilege? Please don’t come here talking about being on equal footing when you would choose to restrict how others dress. Also, muslims are some of the most hygienic people on the planet from being obligated to perform wudu/ghusl and practising hygiene before and after meals. Wearing niqab does not indicate laziness in anyway especially when you consider the flack we get from others.Lastly, someone’s face is not indicative of honesty. Someone can lie to your face without ever showing any sign of it.

      • abeerhafiz says:

        Exactly.same here😊😊

      • JustMe says:

        If who you are makes you feel the need to conceal yourself just to feel like you are “free” to be yourself, maybe you need a more in depth self-evaluation. I understand being an introvert, as I am as well. I also get the benefits of anonymity on making one feel more free to be themselves. But, what I do not understand is the need to conceal ones identity. It makes you seem secretive, like you have something to hide. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that a woman covering her face does not have to worry as much about men harassing them as a woman wearing a tube top and make up, but what are you hiding? The main issue outside the Muslim world is that identities matter, especially when there are threats hiding around every corner. I am glad you do not feel your being a Muslim makes you better than anyone else, as I don’t tolerate anyone whom acts that way, regardless of their faith. The most pious can often be the most despicable.

      • tmitch says:

        Just because islam says you have free will doesn’t mean the authorities that govern you give you that freedom. What islam says and what people live is very different. Please recognize that. Also, why would a person get to know a niqabi? The entire outfit is designed to repel people. It is known that 80% or more of communication is non-verbal. There is no “getting to know” a person with no face. If that person steals from you, how do you report who they were. How do you protect you children from a person with no face? How do you trust a person with no face? You can’t. Not comfortably. It’s an unbalance relationship in which one person is open and the other is not.

    • Yasmin Amatullah says:

      Yeah how dare you choose an expression of freedom that goes against what Susette wants????

      And if you are going to become vitamin D deficient then you can’t get there by wearing niqab. You MUST get deficient the same way half of Americans get deficient – by living a sedentary, primarily indoors life and eating junk instead of a balanced meal. For secularism’s sake if you want to avoid skin cancer and wrinkles, you MUST wear a sunblock and not use a physical sunscreen as that’s just not American!

      Finally, you MUST express your self-serving tendencies like Kim Kardashian – publicly and through using your body as leverage for admiration. You are not allowed to see yourself as an intellect first and your body as merely a tool. If you don’t ooze sex appeal up until you reach an age when you get soooooo wrinkled that even botox and face lifts can’t help you, at which point you lose all validity and importance and should immediately go hide in an old age home until you die.

      Is that better, Susette? More in line with your thinking?

    • Saima says:

      Interesting comment… but when we wear niqab we are not reduced to an it ..we are elevated to Queen. In reality… but you would have to be in our position as women who choose to veil the face, in order to know what that means

  • Kareema Abdul-Khabir says:

    Trumpettes strike back…because they have nothing good to say about what Trump is doing!

    Way to punch down, how about doing something useful in your community?

  • Mara Sand says:

    Oddities. After all, any and every habit can be justified. No big deal.
    Nice to be able to enjoy the free world. Isn’t it ?

    • AYEINA says:

      Grateful for a world full of free choices 🙂

      • Susette says:

        “Grateful for a world of free choices”??? Tell that to your sisters in Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Nigeria, and most moslem-majority countries. They have NO/FEW choices. And not just in the wearing the infantile-looking hijab, or oppressive niqab/burka, but in who they marry, if they can get an education, leave the house alone, drive, keep their children after a divorce, whether to have sex or not, if they can change their religion. The list goes on.,..how can you help those sisters be “grateful for a world of free choices”???

        • You clearly have no idea of what you are talking about. There are many women in those countries that work and go to college. There are also plenty of women in those countries who fight for their rights when they are violated. But you don’t know about that because you have eaten the story the mainstream media is feeding everybody. Niqabi women are intelligent, capable, and free to make their own choices. Not only does Islam give us these rights but we make sure to fight for them ourselves. Don’t speak on topics you are ignorant of. I can almost guarantee you know 0.00 muslim women from these countries.

          • Susette says:

            You are mistaken. I am not ignorant of this subject at all. We live in a global society that enables us to see each other’s stories. I don’t watch much mainstream media. I read a lot (scholarly, historical, the koran and otherwise), I watch documentaries produced (sometimes in secret) in these very countries. Stories about FGM (no choice), honor killings (no choice), acid attacks (no choice), child brides forced into marriage (no choice), young girls killed/injured for getting an education (no choice). In fact, Malala Yousafzai is one of my heroes. She is speaking out against the very patriarchy you so pitifully try to defend, saying the commands come from God. Well, it was a MAN who received those “commands”, ergo patriarchy.
            Obviously, many moslem women are intelligent and capable, but many are restricted to what degree they can express their capabilities. Again, Niqabi women in the West are free to make thier own choices. Countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and taken retrograde steps in women’s rights. Saudi Arabia, a “kingdom” of dubious provenance, has always oppressed women. At one point, they considered having the women cover one eye because the eye make-up was too tantalizing. As a niqabi, would you do that? It sounds like patriarchy to me, not a command from God. And how do you know spefically that “Clearly Allah wants us to conceal our beauty or else he would not have made hijab obligatory.” Eve roamed around the Garden of Eden NAKED…clearly God did not command that she conceal her beauty. So why hasn’t God “commanded” this of all women throughout the ages?
            You have been contradicting yourself in your posts. “We can choose to follow the commands of Allah. By the way there are plenty of muslim women who choose not to veil themselves. I follow the commands of God not any patriarchal society.” So are they commands or choices??? Instead of calling me “ignorant” why don’t you specifically address/refute any of the statements I have put forth.

          • The women I know from these countries refute the blanket statements you have made here. Decades these women have been speaking about their experiences but any positive ones you and people like you have chosen to ignore or downgrade. There are plenty of universities women attend in these countries. Muslim women are actually some of the most educated women in the west and within our own countries. Please tell these engineers and doctors they are repressed and they will laugh to your face. From an historical perspective muslim women have been the most liberated. Two muslim women started the first university and we have a long history in science and math fields. When Islam came women became allowed to work, control their own money, seek an education, obtain a divorce, choose when and who they marry, and have rights over their children (yes even after divorce). That sound patriarchal to you? To me Allah sounds pretty great for giving us these rights women in the west like the both of us have just started to recieve within the last 100 years.

            It’s silly and sexist of you to believe that since Allah’s prophets were male that their message is patriarchal and untrue. Allah also spoke to many women Maryam mother of Isa being one of them. You are indeed very ignorant. You are most ignorant of which commands come from society and which come from Allah and his religion Islam. There is a big difference. The opinion of women only revealing one eye comes from certain scholars and women can choose to follow those scholars if they believe their education makes them credible (an example of free will). I choose to follow the niqab described in the quran and sunnah. If women believe they should cover more I see no issue in it.

            I know allah wants women to conceal our beauty because he has revealed it in all of his divine texts. Islam is a complete way of life an he has given us tools to lead a happy and healthy life. Through hijab and niqab I experienced a freedom few western women enjoy. In the U.S I was sexually harassed, sexually assaulted four times, and society as a whole based my worth on if they deemed me beautiful enough. That seems patriarcal to me. The fact that a preteen girl who has developed early cannot walk down the street without being hit on by men. If you think that western society is not sexist, misogynistic, and patriarchal, then you are ignoring a long history that kickstarted feminism. You are also ignoring a society that still makes it necessary.

            Once I started veiling myself I received a level of respect I had never had before. No longer was my body for public consumption. Men saw that I set up a boundary and showed me respect as a person. Perhaps this is why Allah in his Infinite knowledge made the veil obligatory. If you think it is repressive speak to women from the muslim countries you listed and muslim countries outside of the middle east (I don’t know why you have only chosen to focus on the middle east) and an overwhelming majority will tell you of the choices they have. If you don’t believe me o to fb and join a niqab sisters group. There are women from all over the world and they will tell you that they have chosen niqab.

          • tmitch says:

            i noticed you said many, and plenty but NOT ALL! The commenter never said there were NO women who had freedoms. What they said is “Tell that to your sisters [in the listed countries who have] no/few choices”. Do you deny that some women DO NOT have freedom of choice to do whatever they like in these countries?

          • Hope says:

            Don’t talk about women like me! You clearly don’t know how it really is.

            I am living in an islamic country.
            For everything I want to do I have to ask my husband. I am a grown up woman. Why do I need to ask my husband if I want to go out or meet my friends or even buy something???
            I literally can’t do anything without his consent.
            Many things he will not allow me to do.

            You are really trying to conceal the truth! Shame on you!
            Everything Susette said is right

        • I think it’s comical how you believe catholic women choose to be catholic but muslim women don’t choose to be muslim. You make it sound bad to be born into a muslim family and equate it to not having choices but don’t do the same for other religions. That is a personal bias of your own. Just because someone is born into a religious family does not mean they are not allowed to choose their own. I was born into a christian family but choose Islam because I know it to be true. Muslims (male and female) can choose if they will follow the commands of Allah (also known as free will). There are undoubtedly women who are forced to veil themselves and are oppressed but to say that all or most women in the middle east (because you only named muslim countries in the middle east) have this experience is ridiculous. You take away the voices and experiences of the women who are not oppressed. Before you vilify an entire religion I would suggest you learn about that religion. Because oppression, killing women for being raped, forcing a certain veil, or denying women the right to work or go to school are all forbidden in Islam.

          • Susette says:

            Clearly, islam and the niqab are providing you with a connection to your God, and good for you that you live in a country that permits niqab attire as a choice and not compulsory. Your assertion that “allah wants women to conceal our beauty because he has revealed it in all of his divine texts” is not based in fact. What other religion has made the female veil compulsory? Why would any God wants women to conceal their beauty? His creation, including women, is to be appreciated in its splendor, and gives the heart great delight. Does God niqab a flower, or a peacock, or the mountains, or the stars and sun? He has not created beauty only for man to shroud it. That is a patriarchal construct.

            For some religions, the veil represents the limited understanding of our relationship with God. It was Jesus that specifically said “do not worry…what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear.” His message is to let our light fully shine. So, some would believe that you are dimming your light by donning the niqab.

            I am not a religious person. I do not beleive in any sky God that is punishing towards his creation, either in this life and beyond. I was raised Catholic, but don’t embrace Jesus as a savior. I see him as a Master Teacher, whose message is Love. That cannot be said about Mohammed’s sword verses. The quran verses about love are more toward who God loves and who God does not love. God IS love. God loves us no matter what choices we make. He gave us free will, and loves us even if we make a choice that is not from our highest and best self.

            Islam is so very prescriptive…how to clean your body, defecate, when and with whom to have sex, what to eat, etc. etc. I personally don’t think that God cares about any of that. To me, eastern philosophies are much more in line with what I beleive our Creator is…that we all have a spark of Divinity and our obligations are to love one another. If we could all live by the Golden Rule, the world would be a happier place. Through the ages, religion, while a comfort for many individuals, has been, and continues to be, a destructive force for humankind.

            We are on very different paths. Your beliefs are quite different from mine. I cannot be convinced that islamic ideology is, or ever has been, an ideal for humankind in any way, shape or form. That reality is reflected in the our world’s current events and the poor human rights status of moslem-majority countries around the world. God gave us inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Liberty and the pursuit of happiness is severely restricted by islamic idelogy in many places around the world.

          • Even though some texts have been altered to fit the changing times, both the Torah and the Gospel have a written dress code for women that is modest not not far from hijab. There is a reason that in any representation of Maryam mother of Isa (Jesus) you see her in hijab the only difference is that her veil is not drawn over her chest. Even in the bible women are forbidden from praying without their hair covered and there has been a small revival among christian women to cover their hair and some are putting on hijab. But don’t take my word for it research these texts yourself and you will find the same information I did. Christianity (and all it’s subsections) and Judaism has a required dress code. Just because modern jews and christians have chosen to forgo this (like they have many other parts of their religion) does not mean it doesn’t exist. Just research it.
            Allah wants women to conceal our beauty so that we can be apart of society without fear of molestation. Women who veil will tell you that being able to move in public spaces free of the male gaze or cat calling is indeed freeing. Women are not peacocks or flowers. We are people. When was the last time you heard of a man flirting with or cat calling a peacock or flower? No man has shrouded me (there you go again insisting that my veil is forced on me by man). I and other women who veil ourselves do so because Allah has given us instructions to do so.
            You personally believe that niqab diminishes who I am as a person. You have chosen to believe this despite what I and other niqabis say. That is your choice. The bible has been altered many times (you can research this too) and some of the sayings of Isa has been altered. No prophet of Allah (including Isa) would tell Allah’s creation to basically do whatever they want. Drinking what you want causes drunk driving accidents and alcoholism, eating pork can negatively affect your health which is why Judaism and Christianity forbids it as well , and dressing immodestly leads to women feeling unsafe in spaces they have equal right to be in and men and women being diminished to sexual objects in our society.
            Allah wrote “I am as my slave perceives me”. You perceive Allah to be a tyrant because there are consequences for our actions. Everyone one of our actions has a reaction, weather that be good or bad. There is nothing that Allah has forbidden that is something good for all of society. It is selfish of humans to expect to do whatever they want and still get paradise and face no repercussions for their actions. Humans are short sighted and many times think that their behavior only affects them when in reality our choices affect the rest of the world. Since becoming muslim I have become more selfless because I choose to examine all of the consequences of my actions, not only for myself but for others as well.
            I love how you have bought into the lies of Prophet Muhammad who never killed anyone unless they attacked him or innocents, who lived with and traded with people of other religions, who fed the poor, and taught men to respect women as humans and not objects. This shows me you have filled yourself with propaganda and have no bases for any of your arguments. Do you suppose that because Prophet Muhammad fought against those who transgressed that he was a mad man? Well you must feel that way about a lot of Prophets. If I were you I would be weary of following the Isa depicted in the bible. Isa was indeed loving but in the bible Matthew 10:34 he says “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Does that not contradict all that you said about Isa? If Isa was against the sword why would he bring it instead of a message of peace? Seems a little confusing.
            Islam is a complete way of life that gives us tools to lead a happy and healthy life in this world and reach Paradise in the next. It teaches us how to remain healthy and lead a peaceful existence. I won’t entertain your suggestion that Islam brings about oppression. In fact most of the people in the world that oppress others know nothing about Islam.
            You say the teachings of Isa encourage you to be loving but I don’t think they do. You have shown nothing but disdain and disgust for myself and other muslims. You have fooled yourself into believing that muslim women are oppressed (you remain silent of the rights we were granted before non muslim women). You have personally decided to take away the voices of every muslim women because you see violations of women in a few countries that are against Islam. By telling me how to dress and telling me that my personality has diminished because of my veil you are no different than men who force women to veil. Two sides to the same coin. You have your own bias and you are welcome to them but just know that you aren’t any different. Im pretty sure if it was up to you no woman would be allowed to veil herself as made clear by the venom you spewed towards this sister. Take a note from Isa and learn to be a little more loving.

          • Susette says:

            Mary did indeed wear a loose scarf over her head as was customary several millennia ago. She did not wear a hijab or niqab, as that was never a requirement. As a young person, I was required to wear a hat or small doily-like lacey covering bobby-pinned to the top of my head. In the 1970’s the Catholic church deemed that female head coverings were scarcely more than a disciplinary practice of minor importance and were not a matter of faith, therefore they were no longer required. Your suggestion that Catholics “chose to forgo” this practice is patently false.

            Again, you espouse “Allah wants women to conceal our beauty so that we can be a part of society without fear of molestation.” Sexual assault is a crime of violence, power and control and all studies have shown it has nothing to do with the manner in which a woman is dressed. Only 18% of sexual assaults are committed by strangers. Therefore a woman in the USA has a .04% chance of being assaulted by a stranger. You– in your niqab – protects you no more from assault than a woman in a miniskirt, because it isn’t about provocation. Contributing factors to sexual assault are societal norms supportive of male superiority and sexual entitlement, which are a world-wide endemic. Moslem-majority countries embrace this male superiority and entitlement more so through sharia law, where men have belief systems that women cannot refuse sexual advances (even from husbands). Just look at the rise in sexual assaults throughout Europe perpetrated by moslem immigrants. Organizations that are working to reduce sexual assault never suggest that females cover up more. They are focused on educating males about gender equality. Cat calls and unsolicited flirting are obnoxious forms of sexual harassment. I prefer to handle these situations by telling the man directly that they are unwanted. Societies that empower females to educate men about appropriate behavior and gender equality, advance these objectives. Wearing a niqab does not.

            It is laughable that you state “Eating pork can negatively affect your health.” Maybe millennia ago, but that certainly has not been the case for centuries. Christians were never forbidden to eat pork. Pork is as safe to eat as lamb, beef and goat. No one dies from eating bacon or the traditional Easter ham. Alcohol has certainly caused many societal woes, but it is excessive alcohol intake, not mild or moderate, that is damaging. It’s rather curious that mohammed describes wine as a reward in “paradise.” I am a wine aficionado and enjoy not only the health benefits of wine, but the sublime experience that this nectar of the gods provides for the senses. If it’s good enough for” paradise”, it’s good enough for me!

            You state Matthew 10:34 says “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” contradicts Jesus’s message of peace. Let me explain…many Christians believe that Jesus is encouraging us to embrace our true Oneness with God instead of accepting old beliefs of separation, guilt, shame and suffering. Undoubtedly we will need to defend (the sword) our newfound spiritual empowerment against those that feel threatened by it and our old thoughts that will strive to maintain their control over us (bring peace). Hope that helps.

            I view the hijab as a symbol of misogyny and oppression because far too many women don’t have a choice to wear it, even in America. When ALL women can choose, then perhaps I will view it as a garment akin to a woman choosing to wear a miniskirt, nail polish, army boots and pants. I firmly believe the niqab and burka should be banned in free and open societies. It conceals one’s identity and should be no more permissible than men walking around in broad daylight in KKK costumes.

            Yes, it seems that islam granted women’s rights before non-islamic females. Unfortunately, islam has stalled in perpetuating the rights of women globally, and in many countries, remains locked in 7th century mentality. Judaisim, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddism and most world religions do not engender the skepticism and negativity that islam does. I have not seen islam universally represented as a religion of peace and love. Moslems must fix this, pronto. They have wasted far too much time in the past 15 years portraying themselves as victims, as you have in your recent post.

            Please try to understand that my disagreeing with Islamic ideology does not equate to “spewing venom” towards you. Nor have I shown “nothing but disdain and disgust for [you] and other muslims.” I have not insulted you personally in any way. I have questioned and criticized Islamic ideology, not you. I have questioned and criticized other ideologies on other venues. I’m not singling you out. You just happen to be the most vocal on this venue.

          • Regina says:

            The only difference in Maryam’s veil and that of hijab was that her veil did not cover her chest but was left open. That is literally the only difference. You made a very important point here. The Catholic church deemed it unnecessary, not Allah. How following the whims of man is not upsetting for you I do not know. But I cant put stock in any religion that can be altered by man. Only Allah can deem something unnecessary. Also, many catholic women in this country and around the world still observe this. There are also christian women around the globe who observe hijab and there are yemeni jewish women who wear niqab. For someone who thinks she knows what the veil is and what it represents im surprised you dont know this. (This is for Susette)

            I find it funny how people buy into the idea that sexual attraction has no link to catcalling and sexual molestation. There have been many studies to suggest that this is untrue but many feminist reject this because it doesn’t support their argument that sexual assault and sexual molestation are purely social. All of the times I was sexually assaulted/cat called came from strangers, not people I knew. So I don’t know where you are getting that estimate from but it does not match my experience. You know how many men have hit on me in niqab? 0.00% so clearly attraction plays apart. I almost laughed when you said that I simply inform men that I don’t want their attention because I have and then had to buy mace when they threatened me for turning them down. This is in a country that isn’t a majority muslim country. Also, I have never been treated like this by a muslim man. If they follow Islam they would not allow themselves to mistreat women.

            You know nothing of shariah law to speak on it. If you did you would know that no part of shariah law supports making women second class citizens. Also, no European leader that has taken in muslim immigrants actually report a spike in sexual crimes. You sound like someone from jihadwatch.com. Knowing nothing but passing assumptions off as facts. You also need to simply ask any health professional on the side affects of pork and they will tell you that it is the most dangerous meat for human consumption. Perhaps you should do a little more research because there are many studies and health professionals that agree with what I said and many non muslims are no longer eating pork. You should also revisit your bible. Ask yourself, would there be alcoholism without alcohol? Drug addiction without mood altering drugs? It is a part of human nature to over consume things that make us feel good which is why society has problems with obesity, alcoholism, and a multitude of other addictions.

            Ohh I see Isa didn’t mean what he said in Matthew 10;34, it was a metaphor! Silliness,your explanation of it doesn’t even make sense.

            You view the veil as a symbol of oppression because you don’t like it. I wonder how did you find out so many women even in the U.S are forced to veil? Was there a survey? Perhaps a poll? Or maybe that is your own assumption that has no basis in reality. You don’t want women to be forced to veil but you would force a certain group of women to unveil themselves. Makes total sense to me. Remember when I said you are no different than people who force women to veil? Well, thanks for proving that. How you can equate an actual symbol of oppression and fear such as the kkk to a religious veil is beyond me.

            “Yes, it seems that islam granted women’s rights before non-islamic females. Unfortunately, islam has stalled in perpetuating the rights of women globally, and in many countries, remains locked in 7th century mentality.”

            Which one is it? Islam gave women rights or it didn’t? Also,how can Islam give global rights to women when most people are not muslim? I love how you cant discount the many rights muslim women have that is granted by Islam. For something that is stuck in the 7th century it sure is progressive. So progressive that muslim women have enjoyed rights that non muslims denied to women until recently.How can something that granted rights to women oppress them? How did you convince yourself of this?

            So you think Islam is bad because from what you have seen it is not peace and love? Well perhaps you judge every religion based on the actions of some who claim to follow it. Perhaps you think all priest rape nuns (been a silent epidemic for a long time) and little boys? Maybe you think all christians are like the westboro baptist church or the many kkk members that see themselves as christians. Not only does your inability to separate the religion from some of it’s followers indicate to me that your judgement is biased but it also shows me that you don’t know any muslims. Also, your earlier remarks show your disdain. Just because you deny the histories of genocides against muslims around the world and people like you who want to take away our rights show you are not just voicing your opinion but deny that many have victimized us and you would want to continue that.

            I have no more words to waste on you. Someone who thinks that because I veil myself I am oppressed and would wish to actually oppress me by taking away my choice to veil myself is too intolerant and closed minded to see the blatant hypocrisy. All I ask is that you learn about the religion and not base your judgement on what you perceive muslims as. As for me, im going to keep living happily as a muslimah and remain fabulous in niqab. You have a nice life full of hypocrisy and unfounded stereotypes.

          • Yasmin Amatullah says:

            Actually God does niqab a peacock. Pretty much all birds are created so that it is the male who has colourful plumage and the female much more dowdy and muted. This is to the advantage of the female as she is less of a target for carnivores and for other male birds as well. In fact, birds are much more monogamous than humans. They generally stick to one mate for life. So yes God does dictate what is better for us. Women running around scantily clad too society apart. Look at America. Family has really degraded. There is no shame anymore. You all as a society do whatever you want and try to stop anything wholesome and pure because you’re so corrupted you think corruption is natural. No thank you. I’ll take my dowdy colours and my muted plumage any day along with my morally intact society. You can keep your Kim Kardashian lifestyle.

        • abeerhafiz says:

          You said that many women are forced to wear veil that’s why you think it should be banned in open societies .so what will happen with those in open society who choose to wear it.you will ‘oppress ‘ them by enforcing law of ban on veil.is not that opression?

          • It’s pointless to explain it to her, sis. People like this wont see the blatant hypocrisy in their thinking.

          • Susette says:

            It seems you have misunderstood my comment. I said about hijab “When ALL women can choose, then perhaps I will view it as a garment akin to a woman choosing to wear a miniskirt, nail polish, army boots and pants.” I did not say it should be banned. At this moment in time, I personally view hijab as a sign of misogyny and oppression, because far too many moslem women that don’t veil are acid-attacked, honor-killed, publicly-flogged or disgraced…and, strikingly, always by moslem men, not by secular, westernized or men of other religions. If the day ever comes when ALL moslem women can make the free choice NOT to wear a hijab without physical or verbal assault by moslem men, then I may no longer view it as misogynistic and oppressive.
            Yes, I did say the niqab and burqa should be banned in free societies and I cited concealing one’s identity as the reason. Every person in the public sphere always should be identifiable for safety and security reasons, and that can only be done by showing one’s face.

          • You said that you would ban niqab/burqa which is oppressive and takes away a woman’s rights to choose those garments.Someone not concealing their face doesn’t mean you are safe. That is just silly. Also saying that hijab is a sign of misogyny and oppression is basically saying that no woman really has a choice which is very untrue. Also, secular, westernized men abuse and kill women all the time. All of the bad experiences I had with men were not with muslim men. I haven’t met any muslim man that has disrespected me. You are still confusing the actions of some muslim men with Islam which actually forbids the oppression you described and any oppression. But since you have a personal bias against Islam you probably wont research that. To your earlier response. The only difference in Maryam’s veil and that of hijab was that her veil did not cover her chest but was left open. That is literally the only difference. You made a very important point here. The Catholic church deemed it unnecessary, not Allah. How following the whims of man is not upsetting for you I do not know. But I cant put stock in any religion that can be altered by man. Only Allah can deem something unnecessary. Also, many catholic women in this country and around the world still observe this. There are also christian women around the globe who observe hijab and there are yemeni jewish women who wear niqab. For someone who thinks she knows what the veil is and what it represents im surprised you dont know this. I also have a jewish classmate who plans on veiling herself after marriage.

            I find it funny how people buy into the idea that sexual attraction has no link to catcalling and sexual molestation. There have been many studies to suggest that this is untrue but many feminist reject this because it doesn’t support their argument that sexual assault and sexual molestation are purely social. All of the times I was sexually assaulted/cat called came from strangers, not people I knew. So I don’t know where you are getting that estimate from but it does not match my experience. You know how many men have hit on me in niqab? 0.00% so clearly attraction plays apart. I almost laughed when you said that I simply inform men that I don’t want their attention because I have and then had to buy mace when they threatened me for turning them down. This is in a country that isn’t a majority muslim country. Also, I have never been treated like this by a muslim man. If they follow Islam they would not allow themselves to mistreat women.

            You know nothing of shariah law to speak on it. If you did you would know that no part of shariah law supports making women second class citizens. Also, no European leader that has taken in muslim immigrants actually report a spike in sexual crimes. You sound like someone from jihadwatch.com. Knowing nothing but passing assumptions off as facts. You also need to simply ask any health professional on the side affects of pork and they will tell you that it is the most dangerous meat for human consumption. Perhaps you should do a little more research because there are many studies and health professionals that agree with what I said and many non muslims are no longer eating pork. You should also revisit your bible. Ask yourself, would there be alcoholism without alcohol? Drug addiction without mood altering drugs? It is a part of human nature to over consume things that make us feel good which is why society has problems with obesity, alcoholism, and a multitude of other addictions.

            Ohh I see Isa didn’t mean what he said in Matthew 10;34, it was a metaphor! Silliness,your explanation of it doesn’t even make sense.

            You view the veil as a symbol of oppression because you don’t like it. I wonder how did you find out so many women even in the U.S are forced to veil? Was there a survey? Perhaps a poll? Or maybe that is your own assumption that has no basis in reality. You don’t want women to be forced to veil but you would force a certain group of women to unveil themselves. Makes total sense to me. Remember when I said you are no different than people who force women to veil? Well, thanks for proving that. How you can equate an actual symbol of oppression and fear such as the kkk to a religious veil is beyond me.

            “Yes, it seems that islam granted women’s rights before non-islamic females. Unfortunately, islam has stalled in perpetuating the rights of women globally, and in many countries, remains locked in 7th century mentality.”

            Which one is it? Islam gave women rights or it didn’t? Also,how can Islam give global rights to women when most people are not muslim? I love how you cant discount the many rights muslim women have that is granted by Islam. For something that is stuck in the 7th century it sure is progressive. So progressive that muslim women have enjoyed rights that non muslims denied to women until recently.How can something that granted rights to women oppress them? How did you convince yourself of this?

            So you think Islam is bad because from what you have seen it is not peace and love? Well perhaps you judge every religion based on the actions of some who claim to follow it. Perhaps you think all priest rape nuns (been a silent epidemic for a long time) and little boys? Maybe you think all christians are like the westboro baptist church or the many kkk members that see themselves as christians. Not only does your inability to separate the religion from some of it’s followers indicate to me that your judgement is biased but it also shows me that you don’t know any muslims. Also, your earlier remarks show your disdain. Just because you deny the histories of genocides against muslims around the world and people like you who want to take away our rights show you are not just voicing your opinion but deny that many have victimized us and you would want to continue that.

            I have no more words to waste on you. Someone who thinks that because I veil myself I am oppressed and would wish to actually oppress me by taking away my choice to veil myself is too intolerant and closed minded to see the blatant hypocrisy. All I ask is that you learn about the religion and not base your judgement on what you perceive muslims as. As for me, im going to keep living happily as a muslimah and remain fabulous in niqab. You have a nice life full of hypocrisy and unfounded stereotypes.

          • Susette says:

            I am not judging moslems…carry on happily in your fabulous niqab. I am judging islam. And, like any religion, islam is a man-made construct that controls the behavior of its followers through the threat of a sky God and an afterlife. Everyone thinks their religion is the best and final. In the 1800’s an angel also directed the “prophet” Joseph Smith to a buried book written on golden plates, and now we have Mormonism. Maybe that’s really the one, true, final religion. Who to believe??? The “prophet” Joseph Smith and his golden plates or the “prophet” muhammed who received visions in a cave?

            So keep drinking the koolaid…. your reward of a glass of luscious wine awaits you in Jannah.

        • Saima says:

          You should probably visit the places you listed and speak with the women , in islam there is no place for second babd information. W are a people of clear cut facts . .. I feel this post touched a soft spot within your hard heart…Allah is working on you

  • I love Your Articles I am also the one who is also Typing and Working on a Blogs and was tying for hijab, burqa, naqab & pardah, It’s very nice

  • Nic says:

    I have absolutely no idea how I stumbled upon this…good read, though.
    I like the bit where you absolutely don’t apologise for any of it, I really can’t understand why your personal life choices are the business of anyone else anyway.

    Anyway…those things listed all sound good to me..if I could get away with wearing something similar without appearing, as a white male, to be doing it primarily to cause offence, insult, mock blah blah etc I totally would…I’ll just stick to my own masks, just a shame they still use my own face :p

    ..and yes, children are exceptionally good at picking up on emotions and what not, rather remarkable, equally so that we lose that ability. Can’t help but think the world might be a little nicer a place if people retained a child’s level of empathy.

    • AYEINA says:

      You stumbled upon it to let people know that there are genuinely good pepole on planet earth with a great level of understanding and tolerance 🙂

    • tmitch says:

      Her personal choices are the business of people because she went and put her personal choices on the internet on a page where people can comment. Are you NOT on here sharing YOUR personal view of what she said? “I like the bit where you absolutely don’t apologize for any of it, I really can’t understand ..” — look at you … giving your opinion LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!

  • Glad I found this article, don’t worry about the haters they may think you are not free but really it is they who wish to enslave you. The best way to do that is by taking your choice away, namely the choice to wear what you choose. Society expects women, even hijabis to be eye candy. We can choose to be who we want and how we look and if niqab helps to achieve that then so be it.

    • AYEINA says:

      Thas ambassadors of #AlhamdulillahForSeries , I can’t help but see the positive side of it 😀 Alhamdulillah❤

    • tmitch says:

      Last I checked only other muslims care what you wear. American’s just don’t want to deal or see you. Wear whatever you want just go somewhere else, which would be better for you because you don’t even want to participate in things with kufr. That’s what I don’t understand. If islam is perfect and right than living in a muslim country should be where you go. Is it the hijabis that think they should be eye candy. Piling on makeup and constantly quoting that they “slay or rock” and should be participating in the fashion or makeup blogger industries. Now what “society” is forcing them to do this???

      • Saima says:

        Muslims were here before the european colonizers… read some history … just becuase our presence is unsettling to you , doesnt mean we will up and move , especially from a country we know and love. I personally live a happy islamic life in the USA , even though the bigots talk a lot of nonsense over my niqab… it’s no different from when they were calling me nigger lol.. now I’m a nigger in a niqab… watch out lol

  • Mara Sand says:

    People’s face it’s their identity.

  • abeerhafiz says:

    Aoa.Sister,amazing to read .i missed my college days when we niqabis used to eat behind niqab😊.jazakIllah for enlightening the subject.lived in Saudis Arabia,Pakistan and now in USA .alhumdulIllah with niqab,though tough ,yet satisfying at the end of the day .

  • Ibn Jabal says:

    Be aware that the body requires vitamin D to be healthy. This can only be created when exposed to UV sun rays. Vitamin D deficiency can be the source of dangerous and painful conditions such as rickets (in children), osteoporosis and several types of cancer.
    When wearing a full covering outside, vitamin D cannot be synthesized.
    It is recommended to either supplement, use a sun bed or take in the sun in a private area. Otherwise, major health problems are likely to develop.

    One may wonder why this is so if the One demands this style of dress. But then, who are we to question this?

    http://journals.sfu.ca/ijmbs/index.php/ijmbs/article/download/553/1226

    • Yasmin Amatullah says:

      Niqab doesn’t cause vitamin D deficiency. Modern living does. If you go into traditional cultures there is always an outdoor, private space for women, such as a courtyard or a walled garden. I have one myself. The main issue causing vitamin D deficiency is urbanization coupled with cheap housing that does not fulfil the needs of the whole family.

  • RedRose says:

    Regarding point no.15.. I understand those advantages regarding the UV.. But how do you explain not receiving vitamin D? I know you may now say you can take supplements, but what about centuries ago and at Muhammad’s time? You couldn’t in those times. And I doubt there were supplements then (lol).

    • Ibn Jabal says:

      Most information about the life of the Prophet was compiled decades, if not centuries after the fact.
      There is no reliable information on clothing and fashion of the day.

  • Madeleine says:

    I am embarrassed for the author of this blog post. The benefits of donning your niqab are the ability to act deceitfully, sloppy, and lazy? And that somehow empowers you? I respect (but do not agree with) the choice to wear a niqab if you choose to do so for religious or cultural reasons. But many of your points make the choice sound selfish, frivolous, and superficial. Those are not values I normally associate with Islamic modesty.

    • Susette says:

      Amen, Madeleine. Moslems’ attempts to defend the indefensible when it comes to the cruel ideology set forth for women is, indeed embarrassing, and much, much more. The niqab and burqa, claiming to be islamic modesty, are mere examples of islamic extremism. Most women are modest. It’s not necessary to be shrouded and hidden to comport modesty.

      • Guest says:

        Good lord Susette, don’t you have a job? You have an unhealthy obsession with trolling the articles on this site. We come here to read its journalistic content, not listen to you whinge about Muslims and Islam incessantly like an annoying drone. Honestly you must be draining to live with. Madeleine made a thoughtful comment and you’re jumping on her bandwagon about Muslim extremists when she never referred to any such thing. We have tried to engage you, be polite and still you’ve remained incredibly unpleasant. We get it, you don’t like Muslims, oh sorry “Moslems”… now close this page and move along. TRANSLATION: Nobody on this site honestly cares about what you think or your peanut-gallery opinions that you try to pass off as intellectual thought. God Bless…and get a life for pete’s sake.

    • Guest says:

      I think the author meant for this article to be a light-hearted humorous piece so we could have a giggle. The topic of Niqab is often a serious one so I can understand her intention. It’s a bit harsh to use such strong adjectives like “deceitful” and “lazy” against the author when you don’t know her because in some way we all practice forms of deceit in our dress. You’re deceiving others if you wear “magic” jeans to hide a thick waist, makeup to transform an otherwise unremarkable face and if someone wears a pair of sunglasses and uses them to pretend they haven’t seen an acquaintance they don’t like – guess what its deceit too. Don’t condemn this woman because you personally expected something more angelic from her. Her intentions of her actions belong to her. At least be thankful you don’t need to see her mouth hanging open when she’s napping on the subway. Now that would be sloppy and lazy.

    • Guest says:

      I think the author meant for this article to be a light-hearted humorous piece so we could have a giggle. The topic of Niqab is often a serious one so I can understand her intention. It’s a bit harsh to use such strong adjectives like “deceitful” and “lazy” against the author when you don’t know her because in some way we all practice forms of deceit in our dress. You’re deceiving others if you wear “magic” jeans to hide a thick waist, makeup to transform an otherwise unremarkable face and if someone wears a pair of sunglasses and uses them to pretend they haven’t seen an acquaintance they don’t like – guess what its deceit too. Don’t condemn this woman because you personally expected something more angelic from her. Her intentions of her actions belong to her. At least be thankful you don’t need to see her mouth hanging open when she’s napping on the subway. Now that would be sloppy and lazy.

  • Susette says:

    I am a highly educated consultant who travels quite a bit, in America and internationally. I have a world view. I recognize when an ideology violates human rights, as islam does. I would never travel to a moslem-majority country because I don’t honor islamic tenets, and would never want to be FORCED to do so.

  • Lindsay says:

    What a nice article! Thanks for sharing 🙂

  • Jeanette says:

    I looked this up because after a month in Munich, I was curious why some women who are Muslim where the niqab and some do not. I would see a whole family of several women and among them, only one would have on the niqab. I think this article answered the question so thank you. We all have our opinions so I am glad to know what I saw in Munich, and in your case it is a personal decision. I must admit, I outright stared at women wearing them at breakfast. It was out of curiosity. No one wears them where I am from and I was intrigued at eating. I am messy and would be afraid of getting the inside dirty and then smelling food on it all day. I had lots of wonderful conversations with Muslim women in Munich. Honestly it was one of my favorite parts of the trip. But I never talked to anyone wearing the niqab because whether it is meant to or not, it does not invite interaction. I feel no animosity towards anyone wearing one. It would be nice not to be judged on appearance but as this article points out, we are judged. Even covered up. As humans, expression allows us to ascertain how to interact with another. Take away this ability, and we are left to assume the person covered does not want or is not allowed any interaction outside of their home community. I will say, most of the time had I not felt the barrier, I would have complimented the women on having great taste in shoes. I would think as you pointed out, that these were far more serious and godly women and then I would look down and see fantastically fun pink sparkly tennis shoes. That discovery would always make me smile.

  • Marie says:

    Some Muslim women are required to wear it because her parents or husbands asked them to do so, others choose to wear it or not. We can’t close our eyes to different realities women face in our world no matter what religion we follow. I have Muslim friends women and I adore them and respect them as human beings and professionals, a few of them told me sometimes it’s a choice and sometimes they have to because their fathers or their future husband told them they have to wear niqab if not they would not marry. But it depends of eveything, culture, traditions not only religion, not everybody is the same. To me say one thing is the only thing is wrong, we don’t know for sure, just the people living that situation know why they do what they do as a choice or by imposition. Free will. But yeah we can’t talk in general, here one size does not fit all. Not everybody is oppressed but we sure have oppression towards women and men and minorities around the world. What we can do is not take part of that opression and respect the choice of others and fight side by side with those who want to fight for their rights. But we cannot choose for them or state they are wrong when its their journey. Women empowering women not fighting against them just because we don’t share beliefs.

    • tmitch says:

      There comes a time when you may though. If you fight along side a person for their beliefs that you don’t share, you can be going against your own self. If other women think men should rule women, are you gonna support them? If other women want to fight against YOU’RE free will because it is apart if their belief and they are NOT simply feminist and for the advancement of women, are you gonna support them? Think about it.

  • MICHELLE says:

    So I have to say I enjoyed your article. I ended up here because my daughter had seen two Muslim women dressed in niqab and she asked mom why do they wear that and I stumbled at first because I couldn’t remember the name. So I researched it and found your article. So I explained to her that they are Muslim and then she had all these why questions I couldn’t answer because Im not Muslim so I was going to ask the ladies that past me but they were gone. I felt bad because I wanted to give her answers to her questions but I wanted to answer them with facts. So where would I be able to get accurate facts about the religion so I can properly educate her.

  • Zainab Dikko says:

    Dear highly educated consultant who travels quite a lot Susette, please, please, PLEASE do your research THOROUGHLY before you begin to discuss such issues. Nay, any issue. And my apologies to your gazillions of degrees but you sound unbelievably ignorant and misinformed! And my apologies too to your hundreds of passports, but you sound like you’ve never left the front of your tv. Dear dear supremely educated Susette, you need a refund from at least 5 of them 28 schools you must have attended. Do your homework!

    • Susette says:

      Zainab Dikko…your jealousy of my freedoms is showing despite your attempts to hide it with your niqab. It’s very funny that you cast doubt on my education, work and travel. Mere projection, as you are likely not permitted to do anything without your man’s approval. So sad…

  • Samah says:

    #7 smell blocker? no offense, but niqabis smell the most, and now I see why you can freely move about without caring…. you can’t smell your own smell. Honestly, out in the sun, wearing a black cloak, not to mention most abaya and niqab material isn’t exactly heat-friendly. I went to a Muslim festival in my city (happens every summer) and nearly gagged while shopping the outside bazaar. Please, for the love of Islam, stay clean.

  • Mahdiya says:

    Assalamu-alaikum,

    I myself wear niqaab and all I can say after reading all the comments is wow…. people are so ignorant!

  • leejieyu says:

    Hey! I read this post while doing some research for my literature homework, and honestly I must say that I have enjoyed reading this article! I am not Muslim myself, but it was quite beautiful to read your opinions and to see the confidence in the way you carry yourself. Love that! <3

  • It is fine for you to make your choice but you should absolutely not live or visit a Western country and expect to wear niqab. It is very, very offensive and indeed represents the misogyny of conservative Muslim societies.

    • Human being says:

      Dear seemexicocity
      Just want to tell you that the your country is not only your property.
      People own there lands and they will live on it as they wish to.
      You can not stop them from living in their house,their city and their country.
      And you should not dicide how they should dress as they are also not deciding that how much skin you should show in public.
      And you should not judge them as they are also not judging you that how shallow your thoughts are and how disrespectful christian you are who does not follow the message of JESUS to love and respect others
      Learn to LIVE AND LET OTHERS LIVE PEACEFULLY

  • Thanks for a great blog post. It gives an idea what it’s like to wear the niqab as a choice – and those of us non-Musims who are interested in new knowledge can just listen and learn.
    I am writing a book about the experience of wearing the niqab – please could any niqabi sister who is interested in being interviewed for the book contact me at annapiela@gmail.com? Please also check out my blog/publications. Thanks.

  • Katerina says:

    I have been struggling to accept niqab as a European citizen, or to be more precise the freedom for women to wear whatever they want. That’s why i’m reading this article; to understand why you wear it. I was baptized (forcefully of course since it was at the age of one) as a Christian Orthodox but i choose long time ago to follow the path of science, defining myself as an atheist since i was 14 years old. I carefully read your reasons and i can say that if anything i am now completely convinced this cultural/religious thing should be banned from Europe. I honestly want you and any woman to have her freedom, as what to wear, how to behave etc., but choosing to wear this is just giving up the fight of women rights. If i don’t take in account the religious reasons you are just concerned about how other people perceive you so you choose to hide in plain view. The fun part is that i’m an introvert as well. Justifying wearing the niqab because you’re an introvert is extremely delusional. If you are at the point where you have to wear a niqab to survive the outside world, you most definitely are in need of a psycologist. This is not normal. What else is not normal is how puritan you are (not ok with dirty jokes? ) which i can only assume that comes from you belief in a religion. If i do take in account the religious reasons then all the points you made is to make it easier for yourself to accept that you have been conditioned since an early age to believe that wearing this actually has benefits. I don’t care what you believe (and let’s be clear when you are conditioned since an early age it is highly doubtful that is actually your choice) but i do care about progress. And this is most definitely not progress.

    The damage you are doing to people like me that are coming from a country that is in the transitional phase of women rights is inconceivable. I don’t care what religion you believe in, honestly. But since this is stopping the evolution of the human society you will find me in the opposite side. As a woman and as a human. It has been the case for the Orthodox country i live in, it will be the same for Islam.

  • Sara says:

    People can wear whatever they want, though to westerners and when I see it in my country, it’s the equivalent of if I were to put a grocery bag over my head and go out. If I can’t see your face, I don’t trust you.. Just like if I see a guy wearing a ski mask. It looks scary and when we can’t read facial expressions of each other and normal body language, as is the natural thing for all human beings and animals, we are forced to judge each other on actually a much more superficial level. You are just a walking blob. If I speak to you, you might be lying, because there’s a lot of information we display on our faces. These are just facts to consider if you choose to cover yourself. Where I come from, we wear masks on Halloween because losing your identity, becoming a character can be fun and plays a bit of a mind game with others. If you choose to do that every day, fine, but don’t be pissed when you’re treated differently. It’s just like someone who chooses to dress in goth every day. People might judge a little bit, or they assume things about you. EXCEPT that covering your whole face really sets you apart.

    Also, I don’t cover myself. But I’m also not the extreme of a Khardashian. There are plenty of women who don’t give a shit about the things you’ve highlighted.. we show all our expressions, don’t care if we have wrinkles or a breakout, don’t freak out if someone mentions we have food in our teeth. If a man looks at me a certain way, that’s life, but his action doesn’t restrict me or make me feel any shame. I’m not responsible at all for the lesser acts of others. And THAT is natural and free. Actually, can we talk about how the fact that I have to wear a shirt when it’s really hot out is kind of restricting me??? Even many western cultures have a ways to go I’d say…

  • Susette says:

    What a powerful statement by Katerina: “The damage you are doing to people like me that are coming from a country that is in the transitional phase of women rights is inconceivable. I don’t care what religion you believe in, honestly. But since this is stopping the evolution of the human society you will find me in the opposite side. As a woman and as a human. It has been the case for the Orthodox country i live in, it will be the same for Islam.”
    In the USA, since the Trump administration, women have been, once again, disrespected and our reproductive rights are under constant threat by white male Republicans that wish for women to harken back to the days of being uneducated, not employed and confined to the kitchen and bedroom without access to birth control. “Barefoot & Pregnant.” Nowadays, more and more women have college educations, fantastic jobs in medicine, law, corporate and science, and are seeking and winning positions of higher power in our government.
    When you come to this country in your niqab or hijab or chador, you dismiss what American women have fought so hard for so many years to gain. You send the message that “yes, women are to be silent, covered and obedient to men.” Keep your oppressive, misgoynistic garments in your islamic countries. Yours is just another patriarchal religious ideology that we don’t want in our country. Finally, the Catholic religion is being held accountable for the child sex abuse they perpetrated for years. The Christian Evangelicals are akin to Islam in that they purport God commands male dominance and the perpetration of hate and violence upon those that don’t hold thier views. They and Islam will be held accountable very soon.
    As much as I despise Trump with my entire being, and oppose everything he stands for, including the Muslim ban, I am pleased that since his election, there have been many, many less Muslim women wearing hijabs, niqabs and chadors. For that, I am grateful.

  • heynow says:

    14. Other women feel secure in my presence because my niqab makes clear that I’m not interested in attracting their man’s attention or interest.

    Three problems here^
    -If words and actions can become more powerful behind the cloth (No.1 on list), cannot a man fall in love or desire those qualities apart from physical features? Covering up will not change that. An insecure women will not feel relieved just because another woman’s face is covered.
    -The statement implies men are attracted only thru physicality.
    -This thinking turns the moral choice of a man into the woman’s futile obligation. Men who cheat will regardless. It shouldn’t be felt that women covering up is the power to thwart the ill-morals of a ‘monogamous’ cheating man, it’s an unfair burden to women. It is also an unfair burden on men, assuming they lack the capacity to control themselves or make healthy decisions.

    And wow! Very insightful comments from others.
    Let’s keep this conversation alive and open to all women and men.

  • Haneefah says:

    omg this was too funny 😀

  • Talha Sohail says:

    A woman in Niqab is like a pearl in its shielded oyster, Masha Allah!
    I always dream to have a woman as pious, veiled, religious, self-abnegating, and most importantly, a devout of chastity…
    I wish k Allah mujhe esi Parda daar aurat ata kre…
    Really inspired to hear your 17 quintessential narratives… Masha Allah

  • M Hammadurrahim says:

    Assalamualaikum!

    Ma Sha Allah!!
    Great Work!!
    May Allah bless you and your team members for helping you in writing this great article/post about Hijab/Niqab. It’z an appreciative work you’ve done for the sake of Allah. A great style for spreading the messages of Islam and Qur’an throughout the world. It’z the Dawah that Muslims should do in their fields and areas.

    Jazak Allah.
    Wassalam.

  • Jayant says:

    Although I am not muslim by faith but i supporting hijab and burkha for women.

  • Maty says:

    Masha Allah,I love the post!.

  • Gabi says:

    Hi, to be honest I’m polish girl considering converting to Islam and I have to admit that I don’t feel it is acceptable for me to wear hijab here. I know 3 Muslim girls here and all of them were phisically insulted cuz of hijab. One even went to hospital cuz a guy hit her so strong…. Wtf rly. So wearing hijab here is big deal let alone niqab. I wish I had the freedom to try but I don’t. Maybe it is legal to wear it but it is definitely not accepted by society and families.

  • Alim Live says:

    Mashallah good post . Keep it up.

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