For many, taking the first step towards wearing a Hijab can be a difficult one. I, as well as many other Muslim women can relate. The first step that a woman must take before wearing a Hijab is to understand the purpose of it. I've already explained that purpose in my previous post: The Commandment of Hijab. Without understanding the true purpose and benefits of Hijab, you will not understand the beauty of it. Once you have understood that by wearing a Hijab you are pleasing Allah, your Creator,  the following steps becomes a lot easier. Here is a list of some of the most common questions/comments that Muslim girls think of, that stop them from wearing the Hijab:

• What will others think?
• I don't even have 'Hijab friendly' clothing.
• I don't know how to wear the Hijab.
• I won't look good in Hijab.
• No one in my family wears the Hijab.

We all know that Allah has a plan for us. However, we have a big responsibility in helping to fulfil this plan. The choices we make, our faith, determination and persistence are all factors that could change or impact this plan. There are many aspects of life that give us the opportunity to choose between right and wrong or good and bad. We can choose what we want to do today, the career we wish to go into etc. However, there are also some aspects of life that we have little to no control over. Our destinies could be impacted by outside forces such as nature, altering the destinies of all the people of that certain location. For example, if a hurricane strikes a certain city, then that city as a whole experiences an outside force impacting all those people's destinies. Also, the circumstances of a wider population of people can impact the destiny of an individual in this population. We can see this happening in the world today, people who are higher in rank (government officials) and have authority over the citizens of that location, are affecting the destinies of the population by making the wrong decisions.

WHY DOES ALLAH TEST US IF HE KNOWS THE OUTCOME?
Many times we wonder, why does Allah test us if He knows the outcome? Just remember that He may know the outcome, but we don't. We must remember that merely knowing, and actually testing are two different things. A great example that Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad (ra), (the fourth successor of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community), gave when asked this question was:
Let's say we know that putting wheat into a mill will make flour, is that enough? Will merely knowing, actually make the flour and allow it to be fed to people? No. You would test the mill by putting the wheat in it, to see how it makes the flour and if it actually does make flour the way it's supposed to. So, everything in Allah's Universe, isn't just for the knowledge but for creative testing.

CAN OUR DESTINY/FATE BE CHANGE BY PRAYER?
There are two aspects of fate, the unalterable fate and the alterable fate. We can generally change little things if we pray for them. Allah can do anything He pleases, so if we pray hard enough he can change something in our lives (get rid of a trial etc.). However, if changing our fate would impact the fate of things that Allah doesn't want to change, then our prayers won't change our fate. For example, it was Allah's promise that His prophets would succeed and their enemies would be destroyed. If someone prayed that Allah changed their fate, and it impacted the fate of His prophets, then He would not change the fate of the one who prayed. Things that are higher in rank can't replace that which is lower. Similarly, many question how praying for a longer lifespan can increase our lifespan when it's already predetermined in our destinies. We must remember that the creator of anything knows the lifespan of what he/she creates. Allah also knows the lifespan of his creations. However, no creator says that their creation will stop working on this day at this hour. It gives a rough span of the maximum and minimum number of years it will work for. If the creation is used roughly, then the lifespan decreases, if it is used with care, then the lifespan increases. Similarly, Allah doesn't fix our lifespan in that on this day at this hour we will pass away, our lifespan is subject to our way of life.

DO WE FOLLOW OR CREATE OUR DESTINY?
There are many aspects of our destinies that cannot be changed and are up to Allah completely. For example, we didn't have a choice in the matter of where we were born, who our parent's were, if we were healthy or unhealthy, our religion or race (of many). But if we move to a new country, if we convert to a new religion, or if we make a decision, we are changing our destiny. For example, if someone is born in a country where there is little to no freedom of religion, there's mass poverty and the conditions are unsafe, then all the people of that country have a similar destiny in terms of what their lives will be like. However, let's say someone from this population has the financial support to move out to a much safer and developed country, is their destiny still the same? What i'm trying to say is that human effort and decisions combined with fate can decide ones life on Earth.

The reason I'm writing about this is because many times we take for granted our predetermined destinies. The majority of us should be thankful to have been born in Ahmadi families, having been Ahmadi from birth, and having grown up in developed countries. This wasn't something we chose or had any say in, it was entirely Allah's decision. Alhmadulillah!

• An Elementary Study of Islam by Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, 1996, Islam International Publications Ltd.

To remind myself of Allah and to remember that Allah will reward me for the good that I do, I: 

HADHRAT KHALIFATUL MASIH IV
Huzur (may Allah strengthen his hands) has defined the 'minimum Islamic purdah' as wearing a loose fitting outer garment and a headscarf. The face can be left uncovered, if no makeup is worn. However, this purdah requirement is more adequate for sisters new to Islam (who are unable to wear the complete burqa). He has also advised women born and raised in Pakistan (who have moved to Western countries) to maintain the form of purdah that they practised there (in Pakistan).

Huzur (may Allah strengthen his hands), stated in the Concluding Address delivered to Lajna at the Annual Ijtema UK:
“With reference to women, the attacks that are being levied against Islam these days relate to the issue of ‘Purdah’, or wearing of the veil or a scarf. Men can present countless explanations and justifications in support of the institution of ‘Purdah’ in Islam. However, if anyone can answer this attack, it is a practicing and a God fearing Ahmadi woman who can demonstrate the proper answer. Therefore, instead of becoming the victim of any complex, like a brave Ahmadi Muslim woman, with your practice and with your arguments, convey this message to your friends and in your society that this Quranic teaching is to safeguard your chastity. It is there to restore your lost honor. It is not an imprisonment.” He went on to say that: "Purdah is an Islamic injunction and a distinctive mark of an Ahmadi woman. It bestows honor to an Ahmadi woman. Remember that along with the scarf, the remainder of dress should be loose fitting. Allah’s commandment is that your beauty should not be revealed. Some non-Ahmadi girls can be seen wearing a scarf in reaction to this prohibition on the wearing of a scarf, but they are wearing tight jeans and blouses. Such ‘Purdah’ is of no value. It is total hypocrisy. ‘Purdah’ should be such that is truly ‘Purdah’ and is befitting your honorable status.” [November 19, 2006]

MODESTY IN OTHER RELIGIONS

• “Any man who prays or prophesizes with something on his head disgraces his head but if any woman who prays or prophesizes with her head unveiled disgraces her head. It is one and the same thing as having her head shaved. For if a woman will not veil herself then she should cut off her hair. But, if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or to be shaved, she should wear a veil. For a man ought not to have his head veiled since he is the image and reflection of God but the woman is a reflection of man” (1 Corinthians 11:4-7)
• “Women must not wear men’s clothing nor a man wear women’s clothing for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this” (Deuteronomy 22:5)

Allah knows what is best for us, so placing this commandment in the Holy Qur'an must have been for our own good. Just remember the words of our Khalifa (may Allah strengthen his hands),

"The secret to our success is in following the instructions of the Holy Qur'an"
[January 30th, 2004 - Friday Sermon].


Stay Tuned For More Posts in the Hijab Series -
Hijab Series: How To Start Wearing the Hijab
Hijab Series: How To Rebut Stereotypes About Hijab
Hijab Series: My Hijab Story