HIP Hijab

[Veiled Princess 1]

Hip HIJAB

Head-covering scarf is a symbol of faith

BY PATRICIA MONTEMURRI

October 21, 2006

photo

Sarah Hekmati, a mental health and substance abuse therapist who lives in Pontiac, shops for her hijabs at Mekkah Inc. in Dearborn. (J. KYLE KEENER)

More American women who follow the Muslim faith are wearing a hijab, the head-covering scarf that publicly identifies them as a follower of Islam. The hijab can be just a square of cloth, folded in half and pinned under a woman's chin. Or some hijabs are custom-made, lightweight gear in which a premade opening is fashioned to snuggly frame the woman's face and cover her hair, neck and shoulders. The hijab is a symbol of a Muslim woman's faith and modesty. Thousands of Muslim women in Michigan wear a hijab (pronounced hee-JAHB) in public. Hijabs vary in color, cut and fabric, and women can treat them as fashion accessories to coordinate with their outfits. This week, Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which will mark the end of the Ramadan fast. The Eid festivities bring together families and communities for celebration, and it's not unusual to buy outfits and matching hijabs for the get-togethers. While some non-Muslims may consider the hijab a symbol of female oppression and second-class status, Muslim women say it was a choice they made to renew their relationship with God, and identify with their faith rather than stereotypes. Hijabis -- as women who cover their hair call themselves -- say they aim to strengthen their faith and challenge stereotypes about Muslims reignited in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A 2003 University of Michigan survey of Detroit-area Muslim Arabs found that 42% felt their religion was not respected by mainstream society, with Muslim women more likely than men to share that view. Muslim women -- who come from various ethnic backgrounds -- aim to command respect for their faith by wearing the hijab, says professor Rabab Abdulhadi, director of the Center for Arab American Studies at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. "The majority of the women who have chosen to wear the hijab chose it by themselves. They didn't grow up with it," the professor says. "It is an assertion of identity ... a sign of distinction and definition, and sometimes a sign of defiance."

Sarah Hekmati

Who she is: 25, of Pontiac, is married and a mental health and substance abuse therapist for Oakland Family Services.

Why she wears the hijab: As a youngster growing up in Arizona and Nebraska, Sarah did not have regular contact with a larger Muslim community. When her family moved to Michigan, they encountered a thriving Muslim community. Here, says Sarah, "I felt like I had some identity and I wanted to portray that identity by wearing the hijab."

The reaction: Sarah began wearing it in ninth grade. Her parents thought it was teenage rebellion. Her family is from Iran, where women are forced to cover themselves. Relatives thought she was embracing what some consider a veil of oppression. Her mother and sister, who do not wear hijabs, feared she would draw negative attention. "Once they were able to see I could maintain friends who were Muslims and non-Muslims, they felt more comfortable."

After the 9/11 attacks, some of Sarah's college classmates removed their hijabs because they feared a backlash. Now, she says, more Muslim women "are standing up to portray their identity even more and counter the negative."

The impact: Sarah's stylish outfits shape her clients' impressions of her. The head-covering scarf may have them wondering if she's a conservative prude or has some sense of modern culture, she says. Her chic dress and hip hijab shows she's "observant of my values and my beliefs, but on the same note, I am American just like you are, and I go shopping at the same places you do," she says.

Mimo Debryn

Who she is: 42, of West Bloomfield, an office manager for a gastroenterologist, mother of three.

Why she wears the hijab: When she married, her husband converted to Islam, and the loss of a newborn led Mimo to refocus. "Tragedy leads you back to where you need to be," says Mimo, who was born in Beirut and immigrated to the United States in 1974.

The day she put on a hijab: Mimo and two friends promised to put on the hijab together but kept putting off the day. Then 12 years ago, her friend called and said she'd covered her head. Mimo and her other friend drove over and donned hijabs, too. Then, "we all picked up our kids from school, and we all looked different than we had that morning," Mimo recalls. "I had been blessed with two children. I remember thinking God has been so generous to me. The least I can do is fulfill my commitment. Now I don't remember my life without it."

What she gained from it: "It's a commitment. It's a personal choice. It's very liberating. It's very satisfying."

Antonietta Abuzeid

Who she is: 46, of Bloomfield Hills, a mother of two and a former private school teacher. Born in Italy and raised Catholic, she married an Egyptian-born doctor 28 years ago, converted to Islam in 1986, and put on the hijab when she was 40.

Why she wears the hijab: "It lets me express me, my modesty, my character, my respectability. It hopefully lets people look beyond what they see at first -- a body, clothing or other things. It lets me be judged by my actions and convictions."

The impact: The hijab opens doors for good discussions among people, which relieves fear about people supposedly different from others.

Hijab style: "I get compliments from people on how pretty my hijab is. I wear my hijab in my own way. I like to make my hijab match my other loose clothing. My hijab is my tie, elegant and respectable, adding the final touch to a suit. I usually won't buy a suit or outfit unless I find the right hijab to fit the suit."

Twist

[melly 0]

It occured to me, after reading this article, that most of us sisters would say that one of the reasons we like wearing hijab is because it lets people focus on who we are, not what our bodies/hair looks like.

Now, to me, wearing hijab is going to grab people's attention, at least where I live, but what I was thinking was, here are all these women saying they think hijab makes them so free, yet they're worried about matching hijab to the rest of what they're wearing, or making sure they have a bazillion different styles and colors. Sounds alot like what most non-Muslim women go through when picking out clothes - and about pleasing others.

I could be wrong of course, it's just a thought I had and only my opinion.

I have not started wearing hijab full time myself. I find it so peculiar that people use it as some form of measurement for how good a Muslim you are, when they may know nothing else of you, like if you pray 5 times a day, etc.

[Henia 11]

nice post VP...thanks

[Mrs. Forgetful 2]

This is a good article. THis is one subject I have been struggling with for a while. Thanks!

Edited November 2, 2006 by Mrs. Forgetful

[morocco4ever 63]

It occured to me, after reading this article, that most of us sisters would say that one of the reasons we like wearing hijab is because it lets people focus on who we are, not what our bodies/hair looks like.

Now, to me, wearing hijab is going to grab people's attention, at least where I live, but what I was thinking was, here are all these women saying they think hijab makes them so free, yet they're worried about matching hijab to the rest of what they're wearing, or making sure they have a bazillion different styles and colors. Sounds alot like what most non-Muslim women go through when picking out clothes - and about pleasing others.

I could be wrong of course, it's just a thought I had and only my opinion.

I have not started wearing hijab full time myself. I find it so peculiar that people use it as some form of measurement for how good a Muslim you are, when they may know nothing else of you, like if you pray 5 times a day, etc.

Sadly this is true. When I was in Morocco there was a couple of women in hijab that were pointing and laughing at me. I may not know much about Islam, but I do know that this behavior is not acceptable to a practicing muslim, so wearing the hijab certainly doesn't show to me that they are a good muslim.

I find it strange that there are women in Morocco that do this. I am not by any means out of ordinary here in the States so as to attract a lot of negative attention. I am of average height, and weight. fairly attractive, and I dress pretty normal by US standards. My husband was furious...lol

Maybe I am crazy here, but any religion is in our hearts, and no clothing or anything else material is going to have favor in Allah if they aren't practicing correctly. I see the same type of attitude here in the US though, just put up the appearance of following your religion.

As far as picking out your hijab, I have to admit, I would want a variety of colors and options. Not for anyone else, just so I can appease my mood for the day, and to please my husband as well. He wishes I would wear it...lol

Some women look absolutely fabulous in them, I am not one of them...

[ya falaha! 0]

Great article!

I will say that IMO wearing higab does not define how religious or pious one is. I feel religion is better defined in the actions of the individual. I used to wear higab full time and I don't feel I was any more pious or religious than I am now. If one chooses to wear higab..super! If you choose not too that doesn't mean you are less of a Muslim..IMO. I have known some not so great Muslimahs who wore full higab and I've known some really respectable and pious Muslimahs who do not wear higab. I def. wear it while I'm in Egypt because #1 I wear it out of respect for my husband and family and #2 I "blend" in better and don't get harrassed or stared at (the opposite of here in the states). From talking with Egyptian friends and family I've heard that it's becoming "fashionable" in Egypt to wear higab. Women aren't wearing it to be religious they're wearing it to be in fashion. Women there will wear tight tops and jeans and then wear an elaborate higab on top. What's the point?

[Bosco 1]

Women aren't wearing it to be religious they're wearing it to be in fashion. Women there will wear tight tops and jeans and then wear an elaborate higab on top. What's the point?

It has also a ideological\political statement, especially in light of the hijab bans and restrictions going on.

A few recent articles about hijab,veil in Egypt Egyptian women mull options

and another about some actresses choosing the hijab.

The first article mentions briefly how it is the Islamic revival of the last 30 or so years has created a hijab comeback, which is the case around the Muslim world.

[Veiled Princess 1]

That first article makes it sound like veiling is something horrible that we should all be liberated from anyway I found this last sentance amusing...

Also popular is the veiled doll, Fulla - the Islamic world's answer to Barbie, banned by Saudi police as a "Jewish doll" ostensibly sporting the scandalous clothing of a perverted West.

My daughter has a few of these dolls and she loves that her dolls cover like her and her mommy.... her favorite is the one that's dressed for prayer... she's wearing a full-lenght skirt and waiste-length khimar... her second favorite is the one that has a house dress (kaftan) and a jilbaab with ameera hijab to put on when she goes outside.... obviously a jew in perverted western attire

[ya falaha! 0]

I love how the Saudi's vilify Jews and use them as the example of the West. To make the West seem even more eeeeevil...muhahahaha.

[doodlebug 3]

I agree with you Melly. I would stick out like a sore thumb here were I to wear it which I truely believe goes against the whole reason for wearing it in the first place.

I wear very very conservative clothes. Most times at work i wear a long skirt that goes to my ankles with a longsleeved long shirt on top that is loose and not see through and buttoned up to the point that it's modest, but not so high that I lose circulation. If I have a shirt that I'm questioning in that regard (like a v-neck) I will throw a scarf on top of it. I also don't wear makeup so trust me with all that, if a man still has lewd thoughts in his mind all the power to him since there are a lot of women with miniskirts so high in this office that were they to bend over you can see all that God gave them and more!!!

[peezey 0]

That first article makes it sound like veiling is something horrible that we should all be liberated from anyway I found this last sentance amusing...

Also popular is the veiled doll, Fulla - the Islamic world's answer to Barbie, banned by Saudi police as a "Jewish doll" ostensibly sporting the scandalous clothing of a perverted West.

My daughter has a few of these dolls and she loves that her dolls cover like her and her mommy.... her favorite is the one that's dressed for prayer... she's wearing a full-lenght skirt and waiste-length khimar... her second favorite is the one that has a house dress (kaftan) and a jilbaab with ameera hijab to put on when she goes outside.... obviously a jew in perverted western attire

I thought the first article showed that a few scholars didn't like the move to cover but the rest of the country clearly doesn't care and is covering. Which part makes hijab sound horrible?

[Veiled Princess 1]

I thought the first article showed that a few scholars didn't like the move to cover but the rest of the country clearly doesn't care and is covering. Which part makes hijab sound horrible?

80 percent of Egyptians now wear the veil - the "most successful and the most troubling sign of Islamization," according to sociologist Mona Abaza.

#######? Troubling? Really???

Only young girls escape the veil - and not always.

Is it a prison that requires escape?

Gone are the days when women brazenly removed their head coverings - as prominent feminist Hoda Charaoui did, stirring furor on her return from a visit to Europe in 1923.

What a great role model... why aren't more girls disrobing like this today???

Among the conservative vanguards are former immigrants from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States, many of them village women, who have brought back a puritanical, segregationist lifestyle.

So it's only ignorant Saudi village women who would opt to wear the veil? Darn country bumpkins!

But female Islamist militants are also championing the veil as a religious obligation in universities - even as they advocate the role of women in a larger political battle against the Egyptian regime and the West.

Well that explains it! It's those darn terrorists!!!

Just a few lines that stuck out to me and gave me the impressions I mentioned.

[Bosco 1]

That first article makes it sound like veiling is something horrible that we should all be liberated from anyway I found this last sentance amusing...

Also popular is the veiled doll, Fulla - the Islamic world's answer to Barbie, banned by Saudi police as a "Jewish doll" ostensibly sporting the scandalous clothing of a perverted West.

My daughter has a few of these dolls and she loves that her dolls cover like her and her mommy.... her favorite is the one that's dressed for prayer... she's wearing a full-lenght skirt and waiste-length khimar... her second favorite is the one that has a house dress (kaftan) and a jilbaab with ameera hijab to put on when she goes outside.... obviously a jew in perverted western attire

I think it was the Mattel Barbie that they called the "Jewish toy". Pokemon was a Jewish conspiracy too and was banned back when Pokemon was popular. I think all female dolls and teddy bears have been banned since and are hot black market items.

[Veiled Princess 1]

I think it was the Mattel Barbie that they called the "Jewish toy". Pokemon was a Jewish conspiracy too and was banned back when Pokemon was popular. I think all female dolls and teddy bears have been banned since and are hot black market items.

I can see Barbie being banned in the kingdom.... she is pretty nude after all

But Fulla??? Come on!!!

Pokemon is banned in my kingdom as well.... but not because of the jooz

[UmmSqueakster 54]

I dunno, for a political science/religious studies major, I certainly don't analyze the hijab as much as one would think. I know why I wear it, as an act of worship (ibadah) for God, and that's good enough for me.

I do like talking about hijabi fashion

Edited November 2, 2006 by rahma