Ahhhh this made me cry!!!! As someone who only started wearing the hijab recently (which I owe to alot of the hijabi women I follow on the internet including you) I've found the shift in the way other girls perceive you just so jarring! I've realised people place you on their religious spectrum just by determining what type of a hijabi you are and it's something that never occured to me before! It's definitely been difficult to find like minded people in uni and I can only hope it gets better from here, thank you for this article, it's such a source of comfort during this confusing, internally chaotic time 🤍
The preconceived judgements based on "type of hijabi" is waywaywayway too real. In the last three years I went from no hijab, no muslim community to wearing abayas more than half the time and being more intentional about bonding with muslims and have experienced all the stages in between. It's heart breaking to see that the kind of girls who were chatting me up with my hair down and a full face of makeup don't really include me when I show up covered head to toe. At times, it discouraged me from showing up to muslim spaces altogether but in reminding myself that I'm not there for them, but to be in a gathering where the angels are present, I've found a contentment amongst the disappointment and even some genuine bonds along the way. I still feel like I have a ways to go but the one thing I've learned is that giving up cannot be a part of that. These online conversations give me such hope that these kind of relationships can exist irl too inshAllah.
oh boy, this made me tear up. as a convert who struggled with finding and keeping friendships before Islam, then joining the community and instantly feeling a sense of sisterhood and closeness to a stranger simply because she gave me salaams have opened me up to a whole new meaning of sisterhood. On the flip side, I'm the girl with the odd interests and hobbies, who obvi doesn't speak arabic yet and is still finding her way in this beautiful deen and community. finding your podcast and reading your substack was kinda like "oh wait, there's Muslim girls that think like me too" lol. It's taught me to get out of my echo chamber and seek the sisterhood i've made du'a for (which has been working out so far Alhamdulillah). iA I get to meet you either in this life or the next, Nawal. may Allah bless you 🫶🏾
Aww thank you and may Allah continue to bless you too! This means so much to me, one of my friends shared your blog to me and ever since you've inspired me to start my own (launched today Alhamdulilah).
Assalamu alaikum, Jas. I reverted a few months ago too, so I can completely relate to what you shared. Alhamdulilah, my university’s MSA has been a support for me, but I still sometimes feel out of place—like I'm not ‘Muslim enough’ or ‘modest enough.’ Despite these feelings, I remind myself that Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala chose this path for me for a reason. I know I can learn from other sisters, and they can also learn from my journey. Alhamdulilah for this deen, the beautiful sisterhood, the Muslimah community on social media, and for spaces like this. May Allah bless you and keep us both steadfast. 🤍😊
you're such a star, Nawal! <3 I'm part of The Village Auntie's Foundational Womanhood programme rn and I highly recommend every Muslim woman - if theyre able to - to enquire about the next cohort. The course covers relationships and friendships and generates such good conversation. Also, muslim writer girls on Substack, please let's connect!!
what a beautiful piece mashAllah ❤️ this exact experience is what led me to actually create a platform for muslim women globally to have a digital sanctuary for themselves! so we have a space just for ourselves for these conversations. we just launched our substack and i’d love if you gave it a look 🤍 it’s @nurworldwide
I just started my Substack journey in which I explore effective ways of freeing Palestine and sharing deep thoughts (among other things) follow for more 🫶🏻
Ahhhh this made me cry!!!! As someone who only started wearing the hijab recently (which I owe to alot of the hijabi women I follow on the internet including you) I've found the shift in the way other girls perceive you just so jarring! I've realised people place you on their religious spectrum just by determining what type of a hijabi you are and it's something that never occured to me before! It's definitely been difficult to find like minded people in uni and I can only hope it gets better from here, thank you for this article, it's such a source of comfort during this confusing, internally chaotic time 🤍
💘💘 thank-you so much for reading
The preconceived judgements based on "type of hijabi" is waywaywayway too real. In the last three years I went from no hijab, no muslim community to wearing abayas more than half the time and being more intentional about bonding with muslims and have experienced all the stages in between. It's heart breaking to see that the kind of girls who were chatting me up with my hair down and a full face of makeup don't really include me when I show up covered head to toe. At times, it discouraged me from showing up to muslim spaces altogether but in reminding myself that I'm not there for them, but to be in a gathering where the angels are present, I've found a contentment amongst the disappointment and even some genuine bonds along the way. I still feel like I have a ways to go but the one thing I've learned is that giving up cannot be a part of that. These online conversations give me such hope that these kind of relationships can exist irl too inshAllah.
oh boy, this made me tear up. as a convert who struggled with finding and keeping friendships before Islam, then joining the community and instantly feeling a sense of sisterhood and closeness to a stranger simply because she gave me salaams have opened me up to a whole new meaning of sisterhood. On the flip side, I'm the girl with the odd interests and hobbies, who obvi doesn't speak arabic yet and is still finding her way in this beautiful deen and community. finding your podcast and reading your substack was kinda like "oh wait, there's Muslim girls that think like me too" lol. It's taught me to get out of my echo chamber and seek the sisterhood i've made du'a for (which has been working out so far Alhamdulillah). iA I get to meet you either in this life or the next, Nawal. may Allah bless you 🫶🏾
Such a beautiful comment, I wish you all the happiness inshallah. ⭐️💭
Aww thank you and may Allah continue to bless you too! This means so much to me, one of my friends shared your blog to me and ever since you've inspired me to start my own (launched today Alhamdulilah).
Amazing!! I’ll have a look!! 💘💘
Assalamu alaikum, Jas. I reverted a few months ago too, so I can completely relate to what you shared. Alhamdulilah, my university’s MSA has been a support for me, but I still sometimes feel out of place—like I'm not ‘Muslim enough’ or ‘modest enough.’ Despite these feelings, I remind myself that Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala chose this path for me for a reason. I know I can learn from other sisters, and they can also learn from my journey. Alhamdulilah for this deen, the beautiful sisterhood, the Muslimah community on social media, and for spaces like this. May Allah bless you and keep us both steadfast. 🤍😊
💘💘💘💘💘
ameen 💞
This gave me goosebumps!!! I love Muslim women so much ❤️
Me too 😭
loving someone for the sake of Allah swt might just be a new top tier level of girlhood analysis. May we all embody it!
you're such a star, Nawal! <3 I'm part of The Village Auntie's Foundational Womanhood programme rn and I highly recommend every Muslim woman - if theyre able to - to enquire about the next cohort. The course covers relationships and friendships and generates such good conversation. Also, muslim writer girls on Substack, please let's connect!!
Thank-you so much for reading!! 💘💘
Just like the comment I left on your piece from August on being a girls’ girl - sisterhood is so pertinent to our Islamic livelihood. I am a fan of all places that promote it. For yourself Nawal, and anyone that may be reading, I recommend jumping onto this ticketed event https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/blossoming-bonds-tickets-1072823426749?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYTm6q9Vb_CVWpPGSmjekwVgU_zWwqEj1EglsvZe2Sf3-3YAOuIivsTP1o_aem_5f78SgCkvzNLJGnDyrmh_g on restoring that bond between sisters, inshallah.
Thanks for sharing!
what a beautiful piece mashAllah ❤️ this exact experience is what led me to actually create a platform for muslim women globally to have a digital sanctuary for themselves! so we have a space just for ourselves for these conversations. we just launched our substack and i’d love if you gave it a look 🤍 it’s @nurworldwide
I just started my Substack journey in which I explore effective ways of freeing Palestine and sharing deep thoughts (among other things) follow for more 🫶🏻
💘💘💘 sending virtual hugs