They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, so perhaps when people encounter a niqabi woman like myself and feel the need to discourteously ask me to go back to my country, they are just intimidated by the profundity of my soul. However, a more likely reason would be the growing epidemic of ignorance.
Assumptions
The immediate assumption the public forms when they come across a niqabi woman is: “She was forced to wear that. Her husband made her, her father made her, her brother made her.” Many people appear to be shell-shocked when they learn otherwise.
“It’s incredible how all it took was a single conversation to shift her perspective.”
A high school girl once asked me if I was forced to wear it. When I explained that it was my choice, she was genuinely surprised. This illustrates how a simple conversation can break down false assumptions.
I Was Not Forced
My father was oblivious to the fact that I was even considering wearing the niqab until the day I actually started wearing it. I am not married, and my brothers are both significantly younger than me, so no man in my life could’ve influenced my decision.
Those who force women to wear the niqab have misunderstood Islam entirely. The niqab is meant to be a personal spiritual choice.
I Am More Than What I Wear
The niqab does not veil my intellect and personality. Niqabis are diverse individuals with varied interests. Take me for example—I love reading crime fiction, I am passionate about skincare and makeup, and I am a hopeless romantic.
We Are Not Oppressed
Labeling the niqab as a symbol of anti-feminism and oppression is both comical and unfair. We are telling the world that we are NOT oppressed. The world’s refusal to hear us is incredibly disrespectful—not just to Muslim women, but to all women.
“The niqab forces the world to look beyond my corporeal aspects and discern what a person is truly comprised of.”
Women in niqab are doctors, lawyers, writers, artists, educators, and more. It does not hinder success, rather, it elevates character.
It is time the world stops defining women by their clothing. The niqabi woman is vibrant, intelligent, and full of life. Ignorance is a disease that can only be cured with open-minded questioning and reflection. Look beyond the surface, and you will discover that Muslim women are positively radiant.