My eyes scan the neatly rolled up balls of fabric and I settle on an apricot-hued modal headscarf. After a quick spray of wrinkle releaser, I iron out the soft cloth. I comb my hair and twist it into a bun at the nape of my neck. With one quick motion, I wrap the headscarf around my face.
Every time I have left my house for the last nine years, this has been my routine. Over time, the styles have changed and I even went through a print phase, donning florals and animal prints. Now, I prefer solid colors.
The hijab has become more mainstream — “Grey’s Anatomy” featured a hijab character, Barbie made the first doll with a hijab based on Olympic medallist Ibtihaj Muhammad and Nike now sells a breathable hijab perfect for sweaty workouts.
Yet, the misconceptions persist and Muslim women bear the brunt of Islamophobia. A study from UC Berkeley in 2021 found that 76.7% of Muslim women suffer from Islamophobia compared to 58.6% of Muslim men. Yesterday, Feb. 1, was World Hijab Day and in light of that, I want to answer some of the common questions and misconceptions I hear all the time:
What is a hijab? Can I use hijab and headscarf interchangeably?
Hijab in Islam is the principle of modesty and it extends beyond just the headcover. In the Qur’an, believers are commanded to guard their modesty. Wearing a headscarf is just one way I honor this verse.
Why do only Muslim women observe the hijab?
The concept of hijab extends to men too. The Qur’an espouses the idea of self-restraint to both men and women. A Qur’anic verse commands men to lower their gaze, which is how they often participate in modesty.
Are you very religious because you wear the hijab?
A headscarf is not a measure of religiosity as everyone has varying degrees of faith. I would be lying if I said I haven’t thought about taking off mine. In fact, I did take it off for a few months when I was younger. Worship can look different for different people and, for me, one of the ways is the headscarf. A Muslim woman who chooses not to wear the scarf could have a higher degree of faith than me but may choose to worship differently.
Were you forced to wear the hijab?
No, I wasn’t. My parents did encourage me to wear it when I was younger and I did for most of high school and college. Then, it was easier for me because I lived in the United Arab Emirates, a predominantly Muslim country. I went through a phase where I didn’t wear the headscarf and when I did put it back on, it was my choice.
Do you feel hot in the hijab? Do you wear it at home too?
Because I have worn it for so long, I do not feel hot in it. It also helps that there are great businesses that make breathable, lightweight headscarves.
I do not wear it at home around my immediate family. If we are having male guests over, then I put one on. I do not wear it around my female friends.
I have seen some women wear a turban. Is that a hijab too?
Muslim women are not a monolith. We come from Asia, the Middle East, Africa, South America, North America and Australia. In fact, the country with the largest Muslim population is Indonesia. Because we are so diverse, everyone has a different headscarf style. Some women wear the turban style, the Khaleeji Arabs have a distinct style and the Levant Arabs wear it a different way while Bohra Muslims wear a head covering with a matching skirt called the rida.
Has the hijab hindered your career?
No, I have had the opportunity to work with some Fortune 500 companies in America and worked with some leading organizations in Dubai. I am also surrounded by incredible role models like Tahera Rahman (broadcast newscaster who wears a hijab), Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir (award-winning basketball star), Nadiya Hussein (pro-baker), Stephanie Kurlow (pro-ballerina), Halima Aden (model who has walked international runways) and Mariah Idrissi (fronting campaigns for H&M).
I hope these answers may help dispel some of the misconceptions people have about the headscarf, which is a personal, yet very public, demonstration of faith for some Muslim women.