To Be Hijabi, or Not to Be?

I just read this amazing article featured on Oprah.com about this half white, half lebanese, nine year old girl who chooses to wear the headscarf. The article is from her mother's point of view; and she explores the idea of covering up as an outlet to discover oneself. Take a look and see what you think:

Choosing To Wear the Headscarf - article linked here.

Excerpts from the article that especially resonated with me:
"Since that day in Venice Beach, I'd spent years learning to swim in the turbulent currents of attraction—wanting to be desired, resisting others' unwelcome advances, plumbing the mysterious depths of my own longing. I'd spent countless hours studying my reflection in the mirror—admiring it, hating it, wondering what others thought of it—and it sometimes seemed to me that if I had applied the same relentless scrutiny to another subject I could have become enlightened, written a novel, or at least figured out how to grow an organic vegetable garden."

I agree with what she's saying here, I've had different points in my life where I'm very modest - to the point where I forget that I have curves of any kind and that I could use them to my "advantage" (a horrible dumb-it-down scheme the media feeds to women making them believe that if their appearance is up to par - they don't need to have a brain or opinions or thoughts) or very immodest - to the point where I become overly obsessed with my appearance and forget my actual purpose in life. Honestly, moderation is key, I'm happiest when I'm in the middle of both extremes - "O you who believe! Make not unlawful the good things which Allah has made lawful for you, but Commit no excess: for Allah loves not those given to excess." (5.87) - I am by no means saying that one should ever use their body to get ahead by unlawful means, but it is definitely necessary to feel good about oneself so that Muslimah's are associated with high self-esteem and great poise - I would go to such an extreme that I would stop exercising and wearing nice clothes.

"I understood then that while physical exposure had liberated me in some ways, Aliya could discover an entirely different type of freedom by choosing to cover herself."

This is so TRUE. I feel as American-Muslims especially, we should explore and create dialogue about the kind of freedom that stems from dressing modestly. It's so pleasant to know that you have the power to let someone into your space as opposed to knowing that everyone knows/imagines what every curve of your body looks like unclothed. ALLAHUAKBAR!

Peace.