"Hijabists"

There is a short but adequate list of certain groups of people who are hatable. Off the top of my head racists, sexists and the like. So why are they so easily put into a group where people can openly declare their hatred towards an entire group of people? It obviously has to do with a bit of stereotyping, disregard, discrimination and hostile behaviour.

It has been a while since I've noticed the very same attitude and behaviour towards, what some people like to label, "Hijabis". To begin with, its not even a proper terminology. It was coined by 'I dont know who' simply for the convinience of those people whom I will from hereforth refer to as "Hijabists"! I mean do you call a person wearing a dress, a dressi? Or someone wearing a scarf, a scarfi?Or a hatti? Then why must someone wearing a Hijab be reffered to as a Hijabi?

The term Hijab by itself means 'to cover' or 'to veil' or 'to protect/shelter'. It is also used to refer to the clothing that women use to cover themselves (their head). Although the term Hijab has a much vaster meaning than that. I shall do a write up on that inshaAllah.

Since the younger generation these days are fans of creating their vocabulary, and consider it 'cool' I'll skip to the real point.

There is a general (mis)understanding that a Hijab is like a magic cloak of some sort. Perhaps they believe its a piece of clothing for God Himself? Whatever the reason, people (including some Muslims) expect a woman in Hijab to be as perfect as an angel. There ought to be a transformation in them from whatever they were like into a new and improved being that is incapable of sin. For this reason, any behaviour on the part of a "Hijabi" that is flawed in any way is looked upon with disgust. The saying is "She's a Hijabi and she does that?!" with mouth wide open. Little do people realize that a women under a headscarf is still herself. She still carries the same personality. She is just like any other human being.

Just like different cultures have different traditional clothing, so do different religions. Making a decision to wear your religious outfit, simply means looking like the religion you belong to. It represents your religion. Wearing it does not by default mean you've taken a secret oath of perfection. You are still the same person and character.

So if you see imperfection or even repulsive behaviour in someone wearing a headscarf, its not something to awe about. They are humans too.

That being said, I must emphasize the fact that being a Muslim (with or without hijab), if you have sincerely accepted Islam, means you have taken an oath to try your best to attain perfection in the eyes of Allah.
I took that oath years before I took up the Hijab. Its a long journey that never ends. And I've only moved inches from the starting line over the years.

This is for all you "Hijabists" out there. We're not evil people.