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Greetings sister.
First let me just say that your Creator, Allah s.w.t. (God) did not make you half anything and I pray that you will discontinue seeing yourself like that. Science has long proven that all men have one origin and regardless of the man-made political tension that exists everywhere (not only in Qatar), all humanity has only one destiny. The question is as humans, what we choose to do with our lives to make that destiny a hopeful one.
The tension that you are exposed to, many have been exposed to for many years, and even more so recently. Our God given book of guidance informs us that:
"I swear by the night when it shines in brightness, And the creating of the male and female, Your striving is most surely (directed to) various (ends). Then as for him who gives away and guards (against evil), And accepts the best, We wil facilitate for him the easy end. And as for him who is niggardly and considers himself free from need (of Allah), And rejects the best, We will facilitate for him the difficult end” (Chapter The Sun: verses 1-10).
As the war on Iraq draws closer, the tension you feel now will become more widespread. This is not only because it is an illegal war, but also because the line between right and wrong has become none existent. For us ordinary people, this will increase a sense of uncertainty about what the next day will bring and a feeling of helplessness about the future. With this in mind, people have been and will do react differently about the situation.
As for the news reports that you have heard, be mindful. It is part of the nature of war, that a lot of untruths will be spread mixed in with the truth. The problem is how to distinguish between the two. It will also call into question every individual position in relation to what is going on and how best to handle it on a day-to-day basis.
For you at the moment, the issue is the hijab. You have not made it clear as to whether you are a Muslim or not, or if you are a non-practicing Muslim. If up until now you have not worn a hijab then you must ask yourself the question why? Obviously, this question only pertains to you if you are a Muslim even if you are non-practicing. Bearing in mind the context in which you have raised the question, you might want to consider other factors about your appearance. By this I do not mean what you have said i.e. you look Western. What I mean is your general dress code. Imagine, a people are about to be attacked in the most grave of ways because, as the propaganda has led us to believe since the attack on the World Trade Organization in 2001, Muslims and Arabs in general have been maligned for just breathing. Therefore, there might be a personal reaction to anything that represents the West. By this once again I do not mean your Western features. Muslims and Arabs are not that narrow minded as much as the press would have us believe. What you should be looking at, as a young girl is whether your general clothing respects your features. For instance:
* Do you wear tight, or semi-transparent clothing?
* Does the length of your clothes cover your arms and your legs to the ankles?
* Do your clothes attract the gaze of men as you walk by?
Wearing more loose and respectable clothing will go a long way towards making those around you feel more comfortable and this would in turn make you feel more acceptable. It would also increase your confidence in their presence. This will help towards you being accepted. Despite what popular global culture would have us believe about the freedom of Western women, contemporary fashion enslaves women to their beauty and a need to feel beautiful which contributes towards the likelihood of being sexually harassed. By viewing one’s body with a sense of decency, one can pay more attention to one’s mind.
A hijab adds to a respectable dress code, by covering another aspect of feminine beauty. The hijab along with the rest of a respectable dress code contributes towards ones self-respect. At the same time you state that you currently do not wear a hijab. This implies that a) you are a Muslim and b) you used to wear a hijab. So what made you change? This is the question that you must explore before deciding to wear the hijab again. A person who wears a hijab as a part of daily dress, has more of a sense of honor than someone who does not. This transmits visibly helping the onlooker to see this as a part of your personality.
If you do choose to wear a hijab again, let it be for the above reason. It would be an extension of your renewed commitment to being a Muslim and it would strengthen your relationship with your Creator. By demonstrating this, you would increase self-respect. It is not an act of oppression as some would lead us to believe. The wisdom in wearing a hijab is connected to respecting the body that your Creator has blessed you with, respecting yourself by behaving accordingly and respecting those around you by helping them to be responsible with their eyes and their feelings – the men as well!
For your further guidance, try the following links:-
◊ Dress For Success: In This World And The Next
◊ When Terror Becomes Personal
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