Beautiful Modesty

Beautiful!

Niqab's and Job's

I know plenty of Niqabi Muslimah's that work. A veil cannot stop you from making a living and a job only sees a person that can provide them with the service of working so, yes Niqabi's have no problem working! Niqab should not alienate you from living life but it reminds you and society about modesty.

My Niqab

The biggest misconception about the Muslimah Niqabi is that she is wearing her veil because men have ordered her to do so. I wish to share with you my personal story about how I, an American born Muslim, came to understand and practice the act of veiling.

I was unmarried and 17 years old. At the time I began to read more about my religion as I was not for the first time in my life occupied with school and friends. I was nearly secluded in a small town around a small number of Muslims and I began to wonder and become curious about the religion my parents had raised me in. I started reading and changing my normal habits. The most obvious transformation on my journey to renew myself and faith was my change of dress. I started wearing abayah ( a cloak, covering or over-garment that covers the entire lower body/ a long dress) and a khimar (a headscarf that covers ears,neck and chest). Previously, jeans, long shirts and a simple khimar decorated with earrings and pretty necklaces was my every day attire. So now my entire body was covered except my face and hands. You would think the next step would be to cover my face but I was not ready at the time and I frankly thought women were going over-board or being extreme in their choice of veiling. I too thought in the back of my head "is her husband making her do this?!"

One day I went to a local halal meat market. Looking around at the various books, prayer rugs and hijab a soft jet black fabric with black threaded designs caught my eye. I picked it up and it was a simple veil. I held it up and examined every piece of it. The band, the tie-backs, the screen, the eye slit etc. I frowned at it thinking "how do they breath" but through all of that I purchased it! I was very eager to try it on when I reached my home. Something about the veil was very confining yet abstruse which made me even more curious. But first I wanted to see how I looked in it. lol.I remember feeling extremely modest and obscured when I first put it on. I modeled it in the mirror and thought what would the public think in this little ol town. Would I frightened them or would they belittle me? I stood in that mirror gazing at my reflection and thinking about my self worth. I started weighing out my life. I liked the feeling of redemption and the confidence I felt with my little black veil. I felt like I was on another level of faith within myself not compared to any one else. No one else mattered in this. This was something sacred between myself and my Lord. It was something that would bring me closer to Him and a refuge for me. This was mines to own, my niqab. I fell in love with my veil. Not the simple piece of square fabric but the concept of it all and what it represented to me. After all, isn't that the rationale you give yourself when you do something that is purposeful to you?