This is a very good article, for so many many reasons.
And Muslimah is right, ppl should not judge another Muslim sister based on whether she is wearing a hijab or not.
But I do have to add the hijab is a blessing and it EMpowers hijabies who wear the garment.
Btw, its nice to form a group of buddies when u can recognize another sister just from her hijab,
esp in lecture hall of 700 students!
its a HUGE convenience actually ; )

GREAT ARTICLE, ANILA!
JazakAllah for posting this. And I echoe Ishraq's sentiments. The MSA exists to facilitate muslim students from ALL walks of life. Whether its by educating them or making an inclusive halal social scene...

anyway. I think that those of us whoa re hijabi and are reading this (Like myself) should take this as a wake up call and actively befriend new Muslimahs! I think alot of us get v. comfortable in our clique and seeing familiar faces so it may be hard...but its not hugely difficult to go up to someone and say Hi :)

Wow, all of your comments are really amazing. You all are great!

Ess Kay - I really liked your point - but I have to just play devil's advocate and challenge you for a second. You said that it's great to look around a room of 700 people and find another hijabi sister - its a convenience.

BUT, on the other hand, it can also be kind of limiting, no? You end up having a group of friends composed of people that are very similar. It could be that wearing a hijab makes you, in some ways, more exclusive and selective about the people you hang out with?

Just throwing it out there, what do you think?

Thanks guys, your comments are really eye-opening. I know that many girls just find it physically difficult to wear a scarf, and others simply do not like it or believe in it. I'm sure they all appreciate hearing your thoughts on the issue.

Wow, this is a great piece. Thanks for bringing this issue to light, Anila.

I have so much to say, and I started typing, but I fear it's turning into an essay. And I have a pet peeve about people writing essays in comment sections on blogs. I always think, "if you have so much to say, why don't you get your own blog?!" So I'm going to have to come up with a better way of sharing my "essay."

For now, I will just say this: it would be great to collect more anecdotal evidence to find out how widespread this issue is. How many non-hijabi sisters feel this way? Do they feel the animosity mainly from sisters of from brothers, or both? Does it hinder their participation in MSAs?

It is very wrong for people (esp. other Muslims) to think your a bad Muslim and segregate you because you not wearing hijab. Some of the comments here are even a bit disappointing to read. But, I think I understand where your coming from. Don't judge a religion based on its people because it is not an accurate portrayal of what Islam truly is. It is upsetting to hear some of the things you say about other Muslims scoffing at you when you wear it to pray, but these people are just ignorant. If they had an ounce of wisdom of they would not act in such a manner but be happy, pleased and encourage you when you wear it and say things such as "wow, masha'allah you look so beautiful with it on" or "subhan'allah that brings out so much nur to your face" etc etc. You say that it wasn't forced on you by your parents but most hijabees don't wear it because they are forced but because it is a commandment of Allah (swt) and there are great benefits from it. With regards to it being uncomfortable, think to yourself on the day of judgement when your questioned about not wearing it and your reason for it being not comfortable get past the most merciful, most just? There are billions of muslim women who wear the Hijab in very hot and humid climates and don't even have the option of different material which help with comfort and have wicking properties.

The hijab is an act of obedience to Allah and to his prophet (pbuh), Allah says in the Qur'an: `It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His messenger have decreed a matter that they should have an option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, has indeed strayed in a plain error.' (33:36).

I think i was singled out by @reader...

I have taken out my msa's website in this post and perhaps later posts because they are my views and not of the MSA exec (although the first post was generic)

he/she makes a very important about the goals and future of MSA. So the question is the MSA suppose to tell people when they are sinning? OR is it something else. This New York Times article kind of touches on this issue and i regularly share it with other MSA execs
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/education/21muslim.htm?_r=1

The debate is whether MSAs should be inclusive or strict/"exclusive" where it is the case in should MSAs accept all muslims into their organizations or should they only accept those who are "correct" and as i quote "tell people when they are sinning". I have seen MSAs use both models and there are pros and cons to each.

For me personally, i will always opt for inclusion. I know from my personal experience where this sister is coming from and I believe that although people may not be "perfect" or "correct" (this includes myself) we should include them in our community so that we can strengthen their Iman and so we can all become better muslims. Excluding people will ensure that their Iman will be weakened.

So I am not changing the MSA. MSAs goal is to represent Muslims on Campus. I feel this cannot be accomplished by excluding people.

@Illyas, yes i think this issue is quite widespread unfortunately. I have spoken to 4-5 people who feel this way and once received a formal complaint about it.

Jazakallah khair ikhlaas, it reminds me of stories of the Prophet (sws) where even his worst enemies would come to the Muslim Ummah and he would accept them in so that they can hear the message of Islam.

If ignorance is an issue within our communities (which it is) the approach to resolve this should be education. Someone who understands what they are doing and why they are doing it has so much more value than someone who is doing it because they were told to. Although both will get blessings from Allah (swt), may Allah reward all our brothers and sisters on our campuses for all their efforts. :)

"Muslimah: I just hope I don't get crucified in the comments..."

2 comments later...

"[Muslimah] only wants to remain anonymous cuz she knows she's wrong."

The literary hammer and nails are clanging as expected!! haha - Lets face it - this type of response is more predictable than the fate of the Maple Leafs when it comes to discourse amongst Muslims regarding Islam. You would think a more free society and open ended education would lead to more enlightened views, greater perspective and as such, increased tolerance. In fact forget tolerance - there should be more acceptance.

Yet in my experience (which I have no reason to believe is unlike most people's in university), I have many with found a strong attachment to rigid forms of faith that almost liken piety with critical, judgmental personalities.

It is funny that often times I have found the ones in the trenches that are actually changing perspectives of those who have been put off by anything Islam, are the ones that many would consider too liberal in their ways.

When I was in highschool our youth group was supervised by a Palestinian women. She was a social worker, who took the time to save an otherwise crumbling youth group. While she supervised - the youth group experienced a revival I didn't think was possible. There was no hijab on her head, but to question the iman in her heart in my opinion would be a crime of epic proportions. As Muslimah has referred to - there was no banner on her head that announced her faith... but her words and actions screamed it.

My favourite quote by reader!:
"...its the msa's job to tell ppl when theyre sinning."

This should be on the mission statement of MSAs everywhere!!!

Seriously <reader>... lets leave that to God on Qiyamat.... or the Mutawwa'in if you are in Saudi lol

Civilized is good, indeed, Anila. I think most of us Muslims in Canadian society understand the importance of not condemning someone who is not at the perceived pinnacle of iman (as if someone can really be...).

We must always remember:

La Ikraha fid deen -- There is no compulsion in religion.

If you condemn, you close the door on someone who may one day surpass you in every way in the sight of Allah. Hence, we must never do that! Practice patience beyond all things.

Assalamualaikum Muslimah,

I agree and disagree with alot of things you said, but I enjoyed the opportunity to read from the prospective from a Muslimah who does not wear hijab.

I gave this article a chance maybe thinking it would be different but it seems to be the same old issue, "people are judging me..etc"

People judge in general thats a well-known fact, a hijabi that is known smoke,has a boyfriend, has an addiction or does XYZ sin can be judged when going to pray, you can be judged by other Muslims due to race and other factors that make us different. At the end of the day stop complaining and do you.

You should not let people in MSA/Other Muslim clubs who judge stop you from joining Islamic clubs, man-up (or woman-up ) and join despite what people say.

But by avoiding these types of gatherings --those who do judge and backbite in order to put others down win , and you just look like you're whining on the sidelines but doing nothing to make change.

Why don't you get more non-hijabi's to join MSA? MSA members tend get "visible Muslims" to join these clubs because they cant tell you're a Muslim by looking at you.

Why not try to make MSA more friendly for those who don't wear Hijab?

I'm not saying its easy but if you don't step up who will, alot of people do not see this hijabi/non-hijabi dynamic as an issue.

Some of the stuff you said about the garbage people are telling you in the prayer room was quite shocking, I've never seen that happen but I'll take your word for it, but many of those who do wear hijab are not aware how deep the discrimination is.



The parts about it being harder to avoid temptations when not wearing hijab, and also challenging oneself to prove you are a Muslim by not wearing hijab I find to be ridiculous.

You can still work on becoming a better Muslim with a hijab on, its an excuse, not a reason not to wear Hijab.

Regardless of whether or not you wear hijab there is still temptations and there is not exactly a sliding scale which goes up when your not wearing a hijab.

Other than that nice to see you're perspective,
-your sis in Islam

Also, I don't get your point Layla - what's the point of her forcing herself to "man up" and join the MSA if you clearly said in your comment that Muslims who sin will be judged. So, you're saying that she is sinning by not wearing the hijab.

She's not joining because she doesn't agree with that "non-hijabi sinner" mentality, not because she's scared and she needs to man up.

She never said she was dying to join and that the MSA needs to change so that she can fit in - she's simply telling her story. Just take it for what it is - a story; she wasn't dissing the MSA. The MSA has a lot of great, kind and welcoming people. No need to get defensive.

I just have one comment. When people say ' Don't judge Islam based on what people do' or as exactly quoted 'Don't judge a religion based on its people because it is not an accurate portrayal of what Islam truly is.' Islam is a religion OF the people and FOR the people. Any person who is a muslim has an obligation to REPRESENT the religion. We are supposed to portray Islam because it's our job not our next door neighbours. That's another thing that people in our society portray it inaccurately but what does it show others who think that what we are is what our religion has taught us?