WORLD HIJAB DAY
Every year on February 1st, World Hijab Day recognizes the millions of Muslim women who choose to wear a hijab. It’s also a day to encourage women of all backgrounds and religions to wear and experience the hijab.
Most people throughout the world are aware that Muslim women wear many types of coverings. They wear these coverings to retain their modesty. They also wear them because they believe it helps them avoid harassment from men. The hijab is one such type of covering that most Muslim women choose to wear. (Only in Iran and the Indonesian province of Aceh are Muslim women required to wear a hijab.)
A hijab is a type of headscarf that also covers the neck. Even though it looks like a headscarf, the word “hijab” actually means “curtain” or partition.” Hijabs come in a variety of styles and colors, which makes them fun to wear. Women normally only need to wear a hijab when they are in the presence of men that aren’t a part of their immediate family. Some Muslim women choose to wear a hijab because they believe it promotes cultural solidarity. Others wear it because they believe their faith requires them to do so.
HOW TO OBSERVE #WorldHijabDay
The best way to participate in this day is to wear a hijab. You can also encourage all your female friends and relatives to do to same. You could also learn about other types of coverings, such as the niqab, burka, shayla, khimar, and chador. This is also a day to learn more about the Islamic faith.
You can also read about famous Muslim women, such as:
- Elif Shafak – an award-winning novelist from Turkey.
- Mariah Idrissi – H&M’s first hijabi model.
- Hawa Abdi – Somalia’s first female gynecologist who runs a hospital and refugee camp with her daughters.
- Malala Yousafzai – the youngest recipient of the Noble Peace Prize.
- Ibtihaj Muhammed – the first Muslim hijab-wearing American Olympic athlete.
To help spread awareness for this day, take a selfie while wearing a hijab and share it on social media with #WorldHijabDay.
WORLD HIJAB DAY HISTORY
Nazma Khan launched the first World Hijab Day on February 1st, 2013. Nazma is a Muslim woman who lives in New York. She wanted to foster religious tolerance and understanding by inviting all women to experience the hijab for just one day. Growing up in NYC, Nazma had experienced much discrimination when she wore her hijab to school (especially after 9/11). By creating this day, she hoped to end this type of discrimination. Currently, people in 190 countries throughout the world take part in World Hijab Day.