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Recently, I have noticed that blogs and social media being overflown with write-ups about “Hijab”. The good thing is that it is all in acceptance with the Muslim women’s social identity. With sports brands making sportswear for Muslim women and designers recognizing that it’s a lucrative market for their brand which they have been neglecting for years.

In this wave of acceptance, we read many who feel that all this hype of designer hijabs and bloggers making beauty videos are actually turning hijab into something else or hijab being turned into everything it stands against. My reply to such voices is that call a rose by any name it will still be a rose, similarly a hijab is a hijab there is no lesser hijab.

Hijab is a Muslim women’s identity which protects her modesty and it is done purely to please the Creator who has ordered it. It takes a lot of courage in today’s time, for a woman, who has been stigmatized for years, for being oppressed because of their hijab. It takes a leap of faith to hold on to your identity and embrace the word of God. It takes guts.

So let’s appreciate the ones who are doing it rather than criticizing the style, color or even a bit of hair that may or may not show from the scarf. If we need recognition for the Muslim women, then let the hijab be her strength. We cannot appreciate the company for taking out the sportswear/hijab wear and condemn women for wearing it or saying that it is way too fashionable for Muslim women.

Hijab is not against beauty, hijab itself is beautiful. The sad part is that Muslim women are now being judged by their own sisters in faith for not being “Hijabi enough”. If today, hijab is accepted and is becoming a style statement, what else do we want? After years of negative stereotyping, this acceptance is like a breath of fresh air for all of us. If it’s becoming the latest trend, then we all should be happy.

Hijab in its true sense will always be a symbol of modesty and liberation for Muslim women. Muslim women with faith would by default know that she has to cover her aura. Her hijab will be her dignity; be it accompanied by a perfect winged eyeliner or not. To say that women are engulfed by typical standards of beauty and are objectifying themselves even though they are wearing a hijab, it is a bit too unfair and outright judgmental.

A woman who is strong enough to embrace her faith every time she steps out in the world is a strong woman and should be appreciated for her courage. That is the beauty of faith everyone explores it with their own level of understanding and acceptance.

Let us all explore our faith and identity and not judge other people’s deeds. Let’s be encouraging towards those who have the courage to embrace it. There is NO LESSER HIJAB!