INTERVIEW: A BEAUTIFUL NIQAB JOURNEY

Assalamu Alaikum Warhmatullahi Wabarakatuhu,

Just coming out of a long blog break and Jazakallah khair for the messages sisters! It's really your Duaas and support that keeps this blog going. Yes well, somewhat going but I'm working on it! ;)

Anyway, this is an interview I had some time back with Sister Adrie Hurmathullah. This should have been posted a while back but as you know, I've been a terrible procrastinator. Jazakallah khair for the lovely interview sister and Jazakallah khair for your patience! 

Do read through this amazing interview. There's a lot of inspiration and advice you can get from it, In Shaa Allah.


Tell us a little bit about yourself

My name is Adrie Hurmathullah and for the past few years I have been trying to figure out who I am as in: where do I see myself in the next few years, how I can improve my religion and help people to better understand it, and lots more! You can kind of say I'm overwhelmed with over thinking most of the time.

How long has it been since you've been wearing the Hijab?

Although I have been Muslim from a very young age, I hadn't began wearing hijab until I was sixteen and then recently decided that I wanted to wear niqab. I hadn't known that I would be so comfortable with doing so since I don't like the attention (I'm very shy and quiet) but its an amazing journey that I don't regret.

You now wear the Niqab. What made you take the extra step?

When first wearing niqab I would say I got my inspiration from watching my first YouTube video. Although my Nanni wore it occasionally, I was a little embarrassed to ask her and my mum. However, there was a girl around my age at the time who spoke of the importance of niqab and it being fardh.

Was it a difficult transition, going from a Hijabi to a Niqabi?

In the beginning it was a little difficult since I lost even more friends because they believed I had radical terrorist groups. But I took baby steps each day from occasionally wearing niqab to wearing it entirely EVERYDAY.

A lot of people tend to believe that wearing the Niqab is a barrier for education, work and social life. What are your thoughts on this?

To be honest, wearing niqab hasn't prohibited me from receiving a higher education. I am currently in Uni and the city I live in has a large population of Muslims and beautiful mosque. But it also depends on the environment and the individual. One problem that I have had lately is finding a job. Most people refuse or oppose hiring Muslim women due to the scarf and wearing niqab makes it a little more complicating. But in shaa Allah, I will be starting my own business soon which will eliminate the current troubles.

You live in a Muslim minority country. Is wearing the Niqab difficult there?

Unfortunately, a lot of Muslims in the US are being blamed for the actions of others. Some Muslims are also discouraged from following Islam as a whole. But I personally don't allow it to get beneath my skin. I keep mind that Allah is the all-knowing creator and whatever situations we experience is for a reason. It's important to remember this world, the Dunya, is only temporary and as a Muslim I am striving for something far more rewarding.

Is there any Niqab incident that you would like to share?

About a month ago I went into a store to purchase lunch. But I was told to leave or remove my veil. If I hadn't, the police would be notified immediately and I would be put in jail. But that is illegal here since a store is at fault for denying a person service because of their faith or opinion.

What is your best Niqab/Hijab moment?

My best niqab moment is everyday when my husband looks at me and tells me that I am even more beautiful with niqab and that he admires my dedication to Islam.

How do you feel you have changed after you started wearing the Niqab?

I am less self conscious about my appearance face wise. I don't have to cover myself with make-up and wonder what others will think. I am more confident and focused. 

If there are sisters that want to wear the Niqab but are afraid of doing so, what would your advice to them be?

Niqab isn't something that happens overnight to get use to. It takes time to adjust but if it's something you want to do then do it. Other people's thoughts and concerns shouldn't be yours because it is your life. People will continue to judge and mock you until the day you die. Niqab is a good thing. 

How do you think that Niqabis should deal with any hate?

Hatred is caused by ignorance and misconception. You cannot make someone see what has always been in front of their faces. Even when the resources are provided they'll continue to refuse. The only way to cure hatred is with kindness, love and forgiveness.

Niqab and freedom. This is something non-Muslims have misunderstood terribly. How do you feel that wearing the Niqab makes you feel free?

Wearing the niqab is an act of freedom. Each person has always been entitled to their own views and to dress as they pleased. Niqab is just the same for me, and in shaa Allah my sisters will be given the same freedom to make choices that are suitable for them.

Note: If you would like to be interviewed for our blog, leave us an email on niqablovers@gmail.com and we'll get back to you, In Sha Allah. Sisters only.

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NIQABIS (WITH GIFs)

1- Do you bath with your Niqab? 

No really, we do get this question a lot.

Besides being a major face-palm moment, the answer is no; we have a bath like all human beings do.

Some also assume that Niqabis have the Niqab on all round the clock too. We wear the Niqab only when we’re out of our homes or in the presence of any men other than our immediate family. 

2- Oooooh, here comes a Darthvader! 

Oh, we get that a lot!! From being called Death Eaters, Darth Vader, Ninja, Osama Bin Laden’s wife and in some instances, mothers use our mere presence to try and terrorize their children into submissiveness (poor kids, we love you!) and they expect us to be terrified…

… but we are not. Most of the time, when we do come across such pleasant behaviour, our expressions tend to be more like this:

Try something new people, we are bored!

3-  Niqabis are dominated by their men and live like caveman

Ahhh, the age-old allegation against the Niqab. Everyone “assumes’ that the men in our lives forced the Niqab on us. That the men in our lives dictate how we live, the men in our lives force us to live like slaves, yada, yada, yada…. We even had people asking us if we were using the internet without our fathers knowing! Seriously, people!

And no matter how many time we Niqabis scream ourselves hoarse saying that the Niqab is OUR choice, nothing in our lives is forced on us; we work if we want too, we study is we want too, we choose who we want to get married too, we wear what we want too, people conveniently ignore us and think themselves clever in assuming that we are oppressed and live like the Croods, er, cavemen….And as for us Niqabis not being able to use technology, well, you wouldn’t have all these Niqabi blogs and Twitter accounts if we were not allowed to use technology, right? Honestly, my father has a hard time prying me away from the computer most of time. 

But certain folks go far as to say: “Ah but you are not a woman, you are a maniac man masquerading as a woman and tweeting about the Niqab because you want the women to be subservient to you…”

                                        

Clever, real clever… 

4- Niqabis are restricted, oppressed and are not permitted to have fun

Au Contraire my friend... we do have fun, LOTS of fun! The only thing is we have fun with only those who are close us instead of random people… Our Niqab is and never will be a barrier for us having fun!

5- If you have a question ask. We don't bite! 

Niqabis are very nice people so if you have a doubt about the Niqab or Islam in general, ask us instead of happily assuming. We’ve had a lot of tweets about how people say that Niqabis are unapproachable because we’re covered.  It's just an extra bit of clothing people, I've not built a brick wall around me! Le sigh.....

* This is a guest post from my sister and as a side note, all the GIFs used are not depicting Niqabis in any way, but just used to lighten up the post. (She had a really hard time getting the appropriate GIFs by the way)