Hijab: Whatsit to you?

Hijab. It's such a loaded word. A topic that can polarise dinner party guests as quickly as dropping the word "carbohydrates" in a diet/weight loss conversation. It is so many things to so many different people.

Here is what hijab is to different people:
1. A representation of Muslim identity, and hence a sense of community is formed
2. A protest to modern day female objectification
3. The highest form of modesty
4. The highest form of Iman (belief in Allah)
5. A form of protection from unwanted male attention and advances
6. A form of protection from would be rapists
7. A form of true beauty
8. A cover that allows you to be taken at the value of your inner self, and not for your looks

Those are the good things, the 'promises' that we've all been told at one time or another about hijab.

There are also bad things about hijab, the list continues:
9. A burden
10. An unconscious mind-numbing habit, devoid of spiritual value
11. A people-pleaser
12. An obstruction and oppression against women
13. An outward appearance that covers up a 'bad' superficial personality

There is more to add to the list. But these are the common ideas of hijab that I've come across.
Are these false ideas? Do those 'promises' automatically come true for those who start wearing hijab?

A woman decides to wear hijab out of obedience to Allah (swt) hoping for its benefits, and then finds that some of these promises are never delivered. The truth is that hijab sometimes attracts more men, more unwanted male attention and advances. People still judge you for the way you look - in hijab! If you were hoping that you'd find a place in the Muslim community when you wear it, you may have been hurt to find you were shunned for some other silly reason anyway. These were all things we were told to encourage us to wear hijab. Sometimes these fall flat on their faces.

The same woman may continue on her hijab journey and a few years down the road, hijab becomes a burden, a habit. Since it never delivered on its promises, it seems somehow unnecessary. Even more so that she met really nice and pious Muslims who didn't wear hijab. She begins to question it all, "what is the point of it really?"

Haters may hate. And those that are perfect in themselves, will judge at this point.
But should she care? Not one bit.

Hijab is one small part of being Muslim. To those who have formed their identities around it, this is hard to accept. If you can get beyond the preaching moulanas and muftis who have over-emphasised hijab, and continue on your hijab journey asking questions, why? how? why? It may lead you to answers that bring you closer to Allah (swt). It's a scary path to take, because there are few who do it so boldly.
You lose friends, you feel alone. Yet, in truth we are always alone, with Allah (swt). What difference does it make?

Hijab is also a trial. It's regretful that it has come to a point where some people feel that once they wear it, their religion is complete. There is more to being Muslim than only wearing hijab.
Let's start with the five pillars, then there is kindness, charity, humility, over-coming ego, honesty, tolerance and consideration, gratitude...

I'm a choice person. Not a choice grade person, but a believer in free - will and making your own choices.
If your hijab journey leads you to a decision to remove it, for whatever reason, that's okay. Hijab can be an on and off thing. Perhaps not lawfully, but by its nature wearing hijab is a task. I don't think removing it lessens iman, or makes anyone less of a Muslim.

We all have to find our journey in Islam. It is not going to be the same for everyone. Some find it easy to wear hijab, and love it. Others struggle a little bit more with it, and yet find every other part of practising Islam a breeze.

In the end though, Allah (swt) mentions in Quran more of ingratitude and ungratefulness for His blessings and mercy than about wearing hijab. Arrogance is what gets punished throughout the revelations. That's a clue as to what is really important in life. Hijab is such a small part indeed. 

When you feel overwhelmed by something, it is a good thing to step away and step out of that overwhelming thing. This may or not mean, making a decision to remove hijab. That is a completely personal decision.