You can waste your life drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them.

Islamic Fashion: Modesty Is Always In.

After five days I shall rip off the page from my calendar which says February and welcome the crisp smooth page saying March. Mother Nature has her own ways of showing signs when winter is coming to a close.  The sun graces us more often and the silence of the early morning air is broken with a chirp of a bird. You take a look at the sweaters that kept you warm all winter. The sight of them makes you scorch a little and you know that it is time to start putting them away.

Along with spring comes spring fashion. Looking at the latest catalogs I feel sad that no matter what style is in season modesty never seems to make the list. It is important for me to evaluate each year whether or not my clothes are modest.

For me modesty stands for a preserve of culture and freedom, a freedom from vanity and pretentiousness. It is not hiding or being ashamed of being a woman but respecting and having confidence in one’s femininity.

In Islam modesty is not only restricted to one’s clothes. Modesty is decency in one’s mannerism and attitude towards life. And yes, it is meant for both men and women.

It is difficult to follow rules written in age-old scriptures when it comes to dressing up. Many people choose to follow MTV and their favorite celebrities instead. What I remind myself while dressing is how modesty evokes inspiration for elegance and grace within me. That in turn reflects in what I wear.

The secret to being well dressed is to take time and think about what you wear. I have become more fashion conscious since I have started wearing the hijab.  That is not because I feel I should compensate for the covering of my head. It is because I am very aware of what I wear and make an effort to shop for the right dresses.

By the way, many of you must have seen Jennifer Lopez donning a headscarf. I don’t know how far in the mainstream this hijab trend goes but I personally think JLO never looked better!

The myth is that you cannot mix faith with fashion. I say you can. You just need to be a little more creative than the rest. Someone who dresses modestly is someone who is mature and has immense self-respect for themselves.

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27 Comments

  1. szkhan

    You look at me and call me oppressed,
    Simply because of the way I’m dressed,
    You know me not for what’s inside,
    You judge the clothing I wear with pride
    My body’s not for your eyes to hold,
    You must speak to my mind, not my feminine mold,
    I’m an individual, I’m no mans slave,
    It’s Allahs pleasure that I only crave
    I have a voice so I will be heard,
    For in my heart I carry His word,
    “O ye women, wrap close your cloak,
    So you won’t be bothered by ignorant folk”
    Man doesn’t tell me to dress this way,
    It’s a Law from God that I obey,
    Oppressed is something I’m truly NOT,
    For liberation is what I’ve got
    It was given to me many years ago,
    With the right to prosper, the right to grow
    I can climb moutains or cross the seas,
    Expand my mind in all degrees
    For God Himself gave us LIB-ER-TY
    When He sent Islam,
    To You and Me…

  2. That is a very beautiful and inspiring poem by Izdehar Albowyha.
    Thanks for sharing it with us.

  3. I couldn’t agree more 😉

  4. nazia

    its a brilliant article… really appreciate ur effort… uv beautifully voiced the views of so many of us….great job.!!!

  5. naziaH

    This is a thought provokoing article…..uv certainly done a great job!!

  6. Great article! Check out my website for more islamic fashion

  7. Salams everyone!

    Thank you for reading my article. This one in particular is a subject very close to our hearts and minds.

    Basbousa and Hayah, you both have interesting websites!! We all can take a few fashion pointers from them.
    Thanks for sharing it with us!!

  8. small

    What Jlo is wearing is not a hijab or islamic in any way. Arabs/Muslims are not the only people who cover their heads. Americans have been covering their hair for hundreds of years this is an African style head scarf from it came other head covers like durag and jaimaican hat

  9. That is a valid point. It just shows how different cultures in the world are so much alike.
    Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

    I wanted to write this article not so much to boast about the popularity of the Muslim hijab but more for rupturing the view held by many that hijab is something you cannot look modern or fashionable in. That it is the garb of the under privileged or suppressed.

    What struck me about Jlo’s pic was how a glamorous star can be fully covered and still look great. I guess you don’t have to show skin to assert your brilliance. That is what Hijab is all about.

  10. Džana Mirković

    Great big salam to everyone!
    the last comment was brilliant! I’m from Bosnia- student in the academy of fine arts-product design. so I’m into fashion. a lot. I do wear hijab – and I do it my way – in style! you just need to be more creative… 🙂

  11. fdfsgfg

    i love the first pic shes sooooooooo pretty but u still didnt explain

  12. What exactly did you want me to explain??:)

  13. ali ahmad

    Its really beautiful and expressive article that i have ever read, its beautifully expressed, its the opinion of many of us , i really want to know more if u write more such articles, keep writing, best of luck, take care and kip smiling. Allah hafiz

  14. Zeeba

    Brilliant!! The poetry definitely shows how passionate you are about the topic.
    Looking forward to your next poetry…

  15. Azadeh

    WOW! ITS SUCH A GOOD POEM! I really couldnt go without leaving this comment and saying I really LOVE it i wish everyone in the world got a chance like i did to read this poem ! mwah

  16. Rukhsaar

    mashallah! strong message in a beuatiful poetic stlye.. love it ^_^

  17. AbdulAakhir

    Salaam all. Beautiful is the poem, amazing and sublime is the concept of hijaab. I want to help my partner find a new way of wearing her hijaab, this site helped slightly. Thanks. Inshallah your strengths and struggles will be rewarded sisters.
    Wsalaam

  18. I am new to blogging, so I feel like I am in the “just taking notes” phase. But when I do find a blog topic I like, I do comment because I genuinely like what has been said or the information was helpful to me. I am officially linked to your blog now, so I will be checking in often! Thanks for all the great advice.

  19. i would not have thought this had been awesome just a few years ago nevertheless its funny exactly how years changes the manner in which you see varied creative concepts, many thanks regarding the article it’s pleasurable to browse anything intelligent now and then in lieu of the basic garbage mascarading as blogs on the internet, i’m going to take up a few hands of facebook poker, cheers

  20. samira

    wowww, the poem is amaziiiiiiiinnnnnggggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!!!!

  21. Golnaz

    MashaAllah,
    I loved the poem. and it’s beautiful message.
    I wish a day when every one knows how beautiful is Hijab and other Islamic Laws.

  22. Christine ling

    I am Christian but I really have a deep love and respect for the Muslim religion. Thi poem is very inspirational so thank you for sharing it.

  23. amina

    this is not the authentic hijab

  24. amina

    this isn’t the authentic hijab that we must wear

  25. i love polite ladies that relax dress

  26. --

    masha’Allah true about the modesty!!

  27. I love this post so much, and the poem of course! I’m a Muslim girl with hijab. May I copy the poem and paste into my blog for other Muslims to see as well. Mashallah~

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