📜 Question: What advice can you give a Muslimah who is interested in wearing the niqab?
📝 Alhamdulillah as a niqabi since about 12 years old back in Saudi Arabia and still wearing the niqab in my 30s here in the Philippines I advise you to:
1° First purify your niyyah/intention of wearing the niqab. Are you wearing the niqab to join the fabulous team of niqabi sisters worldwide, or are you tired of people staring at your cute face, or are you covering it so your skin doesn't become darkened by the sun's rays? The best reasons to wear the niqab would be to sincerely please Allah the Almighty by leveling up your love for modesty, by keeping your actual beauty reserved for your husband exclusively, and to dress modestly like how the noble wives of the beloved Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu alaihi wa sallam used to have their bodies and faces covered when outdoors.
2° Be patient while wearing the niqab, especially if this is your first time. Expect some ignorant individuals from among Muslims and non-Muslims who may mock or laugh at you for wearing the niqab. The term "ninja" and "molto" or "monster" would become more common, along with questions like "Why do you wear that?" or "Are you seriously acting like you're better than us because you've become more religious?"
When any child or adult makes fun of you for wearing niqab, you have three ways to react to them:
1• Calmly smile and patiently explain what the niqab is, and why you chose to wear it.
2• Jokingly make a ninja move and say something clever like "Hey what about you? Are you a secret ninja too?" or simply laugh at their ignorance while walking away from nonsensical remarks which reflect their bad upbringing or insecurity.
3• Maintain Sabr and silently walk away from rude, insecure and uneducated strangers who probably never traveled abroad or were exposed to different customs. Be kind enough to pray to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala that He guides them to understanding and embracing Islam someday.
You will Inn-sha-Allah be rewarded for staying patient when going through any difficult situation.
3° Choose a niqab with the kind of cloth that allows you to breathe easily. Don't make things more difficult by wearing a niqab that is thick enough to be a winter jacket or mini blanket.
4° Try to have at least two niqabs, not just one. Obviously if one niqab hasn't been washed yet, you still have an extra one.
5° If you're among those sisters who go out with some make-up on even underneath the niqab, expect some concealer or foundation markings around the inner part of your niqab. You can easily wash them off with water or wet wipes.
6° Remain steadfast as a niqabi Muslimah. Being the only niqabi among a group of hijabis or women who don't wear hijab shouldn't stop you from sporting the niqab. It is a huge sign that you trust Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala when you refuse to give up wearing the face-veil even if you're the only one in your family, workplace or class wearing the niqab for Allah's sake.
7° The more you spend time with fellow niqabi sisters, the more you become an expert at identifying people by their body size and recognizing different voices or ways of speaking and distinguishing friends by their overall behaviour. One of the beautiful aspects of wearing the niqab is you don't want people judging you by your face, but who you are as a person is based on what's inside your heart, the good deeds you do solely for the sake of Allah the Most Wise, the contributions you generously provide and kindness you give to the Muslim Ummah, your unique personality and your main desire to enter Jannah Paradise without being concerned by the expectations of society and demands of the fashion industry.
May Allah the Most Merciful make you more courageous and patient as you decide to wear the niqab for His sake only. Ameen.
📖 ‘Urwah reported: Aisha RadhiAllahu 'anha said, “May Allah have mercy on the foremost women of the Muhaajirun. When Allah revealed the verse, ‘Let them draw their cloaks over their bodies,’ (The Noble Qur'an 24:31) they cut their sheets and veiled themselves with them.”
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 4481
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Bukhari