It's World Hijab Day. Happy World Hijab Day! Merry World Hijab Day! Well, we'll work on the greeting. What is World Hijab Day you may ask? Every February 1st, Muslims and non-Muslims alike come together to celebrate women who choose to cover themselves. The celebration is fairly new; the first World Hijab Day was last year. The movement was created by Nazma Khan of New York to fight the stereotypes against Muslim women who wear headscarves and to call others to understand what it is all about. Women who do not wear headscarves both Muslim and non-Muslim are invited to cover their heads on this day just to see what it is like to be a hijabi, or one who wears a hijab.
As a hijabi myself, I think it is amazing that there is a day to recognize women like me so that we can share what we wear and why. With so much misunderstanding, I hope that instead of judging a Muslim woman for covering herself as oppressed and mistreated, people go up to them and just ask “What are you wearing that for?” I know that when people stare at me, some don't always mean to. It is just sheer curiosity with a fear of finding out more. More awareness and connections through events like World Hijab Day will help fight intolerance and create humanity in society. In today's tumultuous times, it is better to stand united not divided, regardless of our differences. So go ahead! Go meet a hijabi and wish them a happy World Hijab Day and maybe you'll find a new connection you never saw before.
