Comment on this post and share with us a special personal hijab story - maybe the story of when you first put on hijab or some funny or embarrassing Hijab mishap or any story about you and your hijab.

The story that I want to share with you is the moment I faced my fears, took ownership of my hijab and decided to walk off the plane returning from my first trip to Pakistan and greet my awaiting family wearing hijab. When I first went to Pakistan in 2012, I had been Muslim for a bit over a year and in that time I had yet worn hijab in front of my non-Muslim family. What I would do is wear hijab on the bus and train to go visit them and take it off just before they opened the front door. I would not wear hijab in public when with them out for dinner and the like. But I was sitting on the plane and it was due to land - having spent 8 weeks in Pakistan freely wearing hijab and not having any concern over anyone's opinion - I felt liberated. 
So when I found myself resentfully, panicking in my seat about whether I should go to the bathroom on the plane and take off my hijab or if there would be a restroom between the plane and the arrivals gate. And then battling the increasing animosity in my heart for my family for 'making me feel this way' - I prayed for a solution. That solution was Allah giving me a burst of courage to stand up for my beliefs no matter what happened - my hijab was my belief.

To me in that moment - that was no less a jihad than my namesake Summayah Bint Kayyat refusing to denounce her Islam - even in the face of torture and threat of death.

I did have a few more times where I had to choose my hijab over family members wants and preferences - and will continue to do so.

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