Identity

So what is my identity? when we think about identity we will always say what is most important to us first. For others it’s also often what they visually see first that identify’s us in their mind.

Without my hijab many people wouldn’t guess that I am muslim and I do have days where I dont wear the hijab, that is my struggle and my journey, but should that truly be the only reason I should identified as a muslim, by what I wear in my head ?

This time away from islam has had me thinking about how I identify and how others identify me. Firstly, whilst visually the hijab is a clear sign that someone is muslim generally, the hijab is much more than a head scarf.

Hijab includes conduct and behaviour among other things. Complete ‘hijab’, besides the six criteria of clothing, also includes the moral conduct, behaviour, attitude and intention of the individual. A person only fulfilling the criteria of ‘hijab’ of the clothes is observing ‘hijab’ in a limited sense. ‘Hijab’ of the clothes should be accompanied by ‘hijab’ of the eyes, ‘hijab’ of the heart, ‘hijab’ of thought and ‘hijab’ of intention. It also includes the way a person walks, the way a person talks, the way he behaves, etc.

In conclusion, the hijab is a protection for both men and women.

So Surely our character and our behaviour should be the identifying factor in defining who we are and not how we look the part and more about how we live the part. ?

So do you pray ?

I recently watched this video where the speaker was listing all these sins that we hear everyday as taking you out of the folds of islam , no hijab , alcohol , haram relationship, drugs etc the list was endless, and this list is pushed and I say pushed as many other muslims are quick to point out another sins under the disguise of guidance and advice but it is pointing at someone else’s struggle that is between them and Allah.

He went on to say that no matter what you are doing that you should PRAY, that no matter how much you feel a hypocrite for sinning and praying whilst committing these acts that you shouldn’t stop praying.

That you shouldn’t wait to have your life together perfectly before you start praying and instead to just PRAY, because it through praying that we will get our life together. That video turned my head back to islam.

It made me realise that YES I am not perfect, NOONE is nor will be, but to keep praying, for Allah is all forgiving.

I came to the conclusion that I dont need to leave islam just because I am not the perfect Muslim, that it is in praying and asking for forgiveness that I am ‘becoming’ a better muslim and this happens over time and that it’s ok to fall and fail, but to always come back to salah and ask for forgiveness. Perfection should never be the goal, just trying to be better than yesterday.

Surely, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed He is the most Forgiving, the Merciful’ (Quran 39:53)