By Allah, I have not watched the video of the sister who is currently trending on TikTok for speaking negatively about the niqab, the veil worn by Muslim women.
While your concerns may be frightening you because of the circumstances surrounding your decision to wear the niqab and your sudden removal of it, I think you should pause, reflect, and sincerely ask yourself the following questions:
1. Why did I start wearing the niqab in the first place? Was it to please Allah, to obey Him according to my understanding of the religion, or because of the influence of people around me?
2. Whose pleasure was I seeking when I wore it? Was it Allah’s pleasure or the approval of people? If it was for Allah, has the reason for wearing it changed simply because your circumstances have changed?
3. Does my current situation change my relationship with Allah? Whatever may have happened, have you considered taking your concerns to Allah in duʿā and asking Him for guidance, strength, and a way forward?
4. Am I allowing my experience to determine my understanding of the niqab? If someone mistreated you while you were wearing it, or if you faced difficulties that led you to remove it, remember that the actions of people should not be the sole basis for judging a religious practice.
5. Have I sought knowledge from people of sound Islamic knowledge? Before making a decision based on fear, public opinion, or painful experiences, have you consulted trustworthy scholars who can guide you according to the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah?
6. Am I allowing the trials and tests that come with wearing the niqab to dictate my decisions? People will talk when you wear the niqab, and many of us will also talk when you remove it, especially publicly. If your decisions are constantly shaped by the pain you are going through, when will you find the peace that comes from sincerely seeking Allah’s pleasure?
7. What do I hope to achieve by speaking publicly about my experience? Am I sharing my story to seek help, educate others, or address a genuine concern? Or am I allowing my pain to turn into words that mock or belittle something other Muslim women sincerely practise for the sake of Allah?
8. Since I removed the veil, has my life become better than before? Has the pain gone away? Have my circumstances improved? These are questions worth considering sincerely. More importantly, how can I use this experience as an opportunity to draw closer to Allah, correct any mistakes I may have made, and improve my relationship with Him?
Dear sister, your struggles deserve to be heard, and your concerns should not be dismissed. Nobody knows every detail of what you have experienced. However, pain should not become a reason to insult, ridicule, or speak carelessly about matters of religion.
Turn to Allah, seek knowledge, and ask Him to guide you to what pleases Him. You do not have to defend yourself to every person on social media, and you do not have to turn your personal experience into a public battle.
To my sisters who wear the niqab: You have made a beautiful choice, and we should encourage one another in our efforts to please Allah. This beautiful niqab can be a source of confidence and a symbol of humility. For me, wearing it has brought peace, respect, and dignity, especially when I wear it sincerely, seeking the pleasure of Allah.
I work in a hospital here in the United States while wearing this same niqab. In my personal experience, it has brought me respect, honour, and dignity. I could not be prouder of my choice. In so many ways, Allah has reassured me that He sees me and that I matter.
Wearing the niqab has never caused me any form of humiliation. Rather, in my personal experience, it has created opportunities for me to be seen, appreciated, and treated with love and care.
My dear sisters, our experiences may differ, but let us not allow the difficulties of others to make us despise what we sincerely believe is an act of worship. Let us continue to seek knowledge, renew our intentions, and ask Allah to keep us sincere and steadfast. Let us also remember that our sincerity, humility, and righteousness are not measured by the veil alone, but by our faith, intentions, and obedience to Allah.
May Allah guide our sister and all of us to what pleases Him. May He grant ease to those facing difficulties, strengthen those striving to obey Him, and protect our tongues from speaking about His religion without knowledge.
May Allah make us sincere in our worship, firm upon the truth, and beautiful in our character. Āmīn.
Umm Sumayyah Mai
By Allah, I have not watched the video of the sister who is currently trending on TikTok for speaking negatively about the niqab, the veil worn by Muslim women.
While your concerns may be frightening you because of the circumstances surrounding your decision to wear the niqab and your sudden removal of it, I think you should pause, reflect, and sincerely ask yourself the following questions:
1. Why did I start wearing the niqab in the first place? Was it to please Allah, to obey Him according to my understanding of the religion, or because of the influence of people around me?
2. Whose pleasure was I seeking when I wore it? Was it Allah’s pleasure or the approval of people? If it was for Allah, has the reason for wearing it changed simply because your circumstances have changed?
3. Does my current situation change my relationship with Allah? Whatever may have happened, have you considered taking your concerns to Allah in duʿā and asking Him for guidance, strength, and a way forward?
4. Am I allowing my experience to determine my understanding of the niqab? If someone mistreated you while you were wearing it, or if you faced difficulties that led you to remove it, remember that the actions of people should not be the sole basis for judging a religious practice.
5. Have I sought knowledge from people of sound Islamic knowledge? Before making a decision based on fear, public opinion, or painful experiences, have you consulted trustworthy scholars who can guide you according to the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah?
6. Am I allowing the trials and tests that come with wearing the niqab to dictate my decisions? People will talk when you wear the niqab, and many of us will also talk when you remove it, especially publicly. If your decisions are constantly shaped by the pain you are going through, when will you find the peace that comes from sincerely seeking Allah’s pleasure?
7. What do I hope to achieve by speaking publicly about my experience? Am I sharing my story to seek help, educate others, or address a genuine concern? Or am I allowing my pain to turn into words that mock or belittle something other Muslim women sincerely practise for the sake of Allah?
8. Since I removed the veil, has my life become better than before? Has the pain gone away? Have my circumstances improved? These are questions worth considering sincerely. More importantly, how can I use this experience as an opportunity to draw closer to Allah, correct any mistakes I may have made, and improve my relationship with Him?
Dear sister, your struggles deserve to be heard, and your concerns should not be dismissed. Nobody knows every detail of what you have experienced. However, pain should not become a reason to insult, ridicule, or speak carelessly about matters of religion.
Turn to Allah, seek knowledge, and ask Him to guide you to what pleases Him. You do not have to defend yourself to every person on social media, and you do not have to turn your personal experience into a public battle.
To my sisters who wear the niqab: You have made a beautiful choice, and we should encourage one another in our efforts to please Allah. This beautiful niqab can be a source of confidence and a symbol of humility. For me, wearing it has brought peace, respect, and dignity, especially when I wear it sincerely, seeking the pleasure of Allah.
I work in a hospital here in the United States while wearing this same niqab. In my personal experience, it has brought me respect, honour, and dignity. I could not be prouder of my choice. In so many ways, Allah has reassured me that He sees me and that I matter.
Wearing the niqab has never caused me any form of humiliation. Rather, in my personal experience, it has created opportunities for me to be seen, appreciated, and treated with love and care.
My dear sisters, our experiences may differ, but let us not allow the difficulties of others to make us despise what we sincerely believe is an act of worship. Let us continue to seek knowledge, renew our intentions, and ask Allah to keep us sincere and steadfast. Let us also remember that our sincerity, humility, and righteousness are not measured by the veil alone, but by our faith, intentions, and obedience to Allah.
May Allah guide our sister and all of us to what pleases Him. May He grant ease to those facing difficulties, strengthen those striving to obey Him, and protect our tongues from speaking about His religion without knowledge.
May Allah make us sincere in our worship, firm upon the truth, and beautiful in our character. Āmīn.
Umm Sumayyah Mai
