How to Hijab: Wrap Up

Salam!

Bismillah

So ladies, this is the end of How to Hijab. For now anyway. Maybe inshaAllah one day I will add an appendix about How to Niqab :-P

I've shown you how I made it to where I am. Also, I would like to talk about the timeline involved with this.

I started learning about Islam about 8 or 9 months before I converted. I almost immediately started with step one at that point and I got to step 6 by the time I converted. So it took me about 8 months to wear hijab full time. It took me another month or so after I converted to get to step 7.

I know this isn't an on and off switch kind of thing. And I'm not saying you need to follow my timeline either.

Find the pace that works for you. Set goals for yourself if you need to. For example: InshaAllah This week I will do step 1, next week I will start step 2, next month I will start step 3... etc.

Make sure that your end goal is to wear complete and proper hijab inshaAllah. Focus on that and know that any step from here until then is a stepping stone on the road to modesty. The journey isn't over until you make it to the end.

And through it all, make LOTS AND LOTS of du'a. Allah wants you to do what he commanded, and He is on your side subhanAllah. Sincerity is the key :-) Be sincere in your efforts and be honest with yourself about your intentions.

Please sisters, let me know if you need someone to talk to about this or anything else. Feel free to email me at findingguidance (at) hotmail (dot) com or add me on facebook under the same email.

Allah make it easy for you, ameeeeeeen!!!!!

much love.

How to Hijab: Step 7/7

Salam

Bismillah!

So we've made it to step 7. This step is the step where I went from skirts and maxi dresses to abaya.

Step 8 by chastain featuring a maxi dress

This was a personal choice for me, but one that I definitely advocate.

One piece outerwear is really convenient and cuts down on layers (which keeps you a lot cooler once it starts warming up).

Also it is MUCH MUCH easier to find modest cuts when you are looking at abayas/jilbabs.

However, if you want to still buy clothes from a regular store, you can occasionally find long sleeve maxi dresses. Just buy them up a few sizes so that they are loose enough to conceal your stuff.

Another benefit is the ease of getting dressed every morning. You spend less time on vanity (making your outfit look nice so other people will notice/comment on your cuteness). I'm not saying that you should look frumpy or anything. You should still wear nice clean clothes in good repair that match. However, you shouldn't be spending an hour or two every morning picking shoes then matching your shoes to your top and your jacket and your skirt and your hijab and your hijab pins and and and...

This is a waste of your time, and ultimately a means of vanity; a way of getting attention. It is counter productive if we cover up our adornment with MORE ADORNMENT!

How to Hijab: Step 6/7

Salam!

Bismillah

Step 6 is getting that hair covered! I know most people think this is the most important step of hijab, but really all of the other stuff is much more important! Imagine throwing a scarf on your head while still wearing a t-shirt and jeans... makes no sense right? The loose clothes are much more important.

Step 7 by chastain featuring a rachel pally dress

NOW WE FINALLY HAVE HIJAB!! We are wearing loose and concealing clothes, our hair/chests are covered, and you can't tell our body shape.

When donning your scarf, look for options that COVER YOUR CHEST!!

I know you will be temped to try out that new Turkish style, but girl that doesn't fulfill Qur'anic requirements!

And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their zeenah (charms, or beauty and ornaments) except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their khimar (veils) over their bosoms and not display their zeenah except to their husbands, their fathers .... and that they should not strike their feet so as to draw attention to their hidden zeenah (ornaments). (24:31-32)

Did you read that? Clear as day it says COVER UP THOSE BOSOMS with your veils!

So do it.

How to Hijab: Step 5/7

Salam!

Bismillah

Step 5 is making sure that you are wearing two layers.

Step 6 by chastain featuring a tank dress

Why you ask? Let me tell you...

O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters and the believing women that they should draw over themselves their jilbab (outer garments) (when in public); this will be more conducive to their being recognized (as decent women) and not harassed. But God is indeed oft-forgiving, most merciful. (33:59)

And know that women advanced in years, who no longer feel any sexual desire incur no sin if they discard their thiyab (outer garments), provided they do not aim at a showy display of their zeenah (charms or beauty). But it is better for them to abstain (from this); and God is all-hearing, all-knowing. (24:60)

We should draw our Jilbab (outer garments) around us. This means there should be something INSIDE our outside clothes.

If a woman is allowed to take off her thiyab (outer garments) when she is advanced in years, is she now allowed to walk around naked or in her underwear? No. Now she is allowed to wear the clothes she had on inside. This means that the clothes she wears inside her outer garments should also be modest enough to not display your charms or beauty, but still somewhat different than the recognized outer garment.

My rule of thumb: my inside clothes should be modest enough that I could take off my jilbab (outside layer) and still be able to be around other women. This means no inordinate amount of chest showing (because thats icky) and you should be covered from your belly button down to below your knees (this is awrah for women around other women, just like it is awrah for men).

How to Hijab: Step 4/7

Salam!

Bismillah

Step 4 is switching out jeans and slim pants for skirts and maxi dresses. I know some people consider pants to be proper hijab, but I don't/they aren't. I will be explaining why in the next post so stay tuned.

Step 5 by chastain featuring a denim jacket

Now we're getting pretty modest right! Now, apart from our hair/neck no part of our body shape is apparent or on display, alhamdulillah. We are getting there!

How to Hijab: Step 3/7

Salam

Bismillah

Step 3 is adding a scarf around your neck. It keeps you cozy if it's cold and more importantly it keeps your chest covered! THIS IS STILL NOT HIAJB, but inshaAllah a step in the right direction.

Step 4 by chastain featuring plaid scarves

Alhamdulillah this is in fashion now so no complaining!

If you're already carrying/wearing a scarf every day, it won't feel weird to eventually pop it up over your head. Plus you get the added modesty of covering up the "twins" as Stacy and Clinton say. :-)

How to Hijab: Some Clarification

Salam!

Bismillah

Because there has been a little confusion I decided to clarify a bit for you all.

The posts I have done so far represent positive change toward a more modest wardrobe. They DO NOT fulfill the Islamic requirements of hijab. I will cover this in more detail in later posts.

I will not be showing an outfit that is proper hijab until about post 6 or 7.

These early posts are about making positive changes instead of being stagnant and *wishing* you could wear hijab. It is about being proactive.

It is also a chronicle of what worked for me. This is how I actually went through the process but something different may work better for you.

In any event, slapping a scarf on Step 2 is not proper hijab, and I don't want to represent it as such.

I think inshaAllah I will go back on put disclaimers on the other posts as well.

much love.

How to Hijab: Step 2/7

Salam!

Bismillah

Step Two: Loosen and Lengthen!

THIS IS NOT HIJAB YET, JUST MORE MODEST CLOTHES THAN BEFORE

Switch out short t-shirts for long ones, tunics, or dresses that cover your tush and thighs.

Step 3 by chastain featuring a long sleeve t shirt

A good self-check for this one: If you bend over to pick something up from the floor, can someone behind you see your rear? They shouldn't be able to...

Nobody wants to see that girl...

Cheap places to find this stuff? Thrift stores. You can find tunic things there and also XXL t-shirts. If you are kind of short you can take an XXL t-shirt and sew in the sides to make a cool and cheap tunic inshaAllah.

How to Hijab: Step 1/7

Salam!

Bismillah

For step one toward hijabness... (THIS IS NOT HIJAB, JUST A STEP IN A MORE MODEST DIRECTION INSHAALLAH)

ADD SLEEVES

Step 2 by chastain featuring a short sleeve tee

The first thing to do is to get yourself use to wearing something that covers all of your body. It is an adjustment for the way your body cools and heats itself so it is good to get this step going while it is still cool/cold outside! This way you don't feel overheated when you first start covering all parts of yourself.

Also at this point, you can start wearing looser t-shirts and cardigans (instead of just sleeves under a t-shirt).

Best place for cheap, loose t-shirts? Brother/Uncle/Dad's closet! I'm telling you, your dad probably has some really sweet t-shirts from the 70s/80s. Go look for 'em!

How to Hijab: Introduction

Salam!

Bismillah

So I decided to go ahead and do it since I had some time to put it together.

This is a pictorial guide to how I transitioned from jeans and t-shirts to full on hijab/jilbab/abaya wearing awesomeness :-P

Alhamdulillah it was quite the process and I will walk you through it inshaAllah!

Step 1 by chastain featuring dark wash jeans

THIS IS MOST DEFINITELY NOT ANY KIND OF HIJAB.

This is where I started. Jeans, t-shirts, hoodies with pushed up sleeves. Typical college wardrobe, really.

This is how I still dress in private. I still have my massive t-shirt collection, lol. I don't wear jeans as much as I use to, but they are still a staple in my wardrobe.

When I'm with the ladies, I try be a little bit more put together now. Like maybe I will wear a real blouse and a cardigan or something. Since I'm 23 now and everything... lol. I also usually wont wear tight or revealing clothes around other women.

How To Hijab

Salam sisters,

Bismillah

I was thinking of doing a series of posts about how I went from tshirts and jeans to abaya.

I know most people can't switch cold turkey, and I certainly didn't either, so inshaAllah a how to will be helpful.

Plus it's fall (for us in the Northern Hemisphere) which is the PERFECT time to start covering.

let me know what you think inshaAllah!

much love.

Note to Self

Don't forget:

"I'm not ready for that" = "I don't trust Allah enough to do that"