Convert to Islam; should I start praying and observing hijab?
I made my Shahada about a week ago....my question is how soon do I jump into prayer even though I don't now it....Also I am a security guard and I want to wear Hijab, I am having an issue about if my employer will allow me to wear it. What should I do?
Bunni-Furasha
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Hey sister, I am a revert and an American. I started covering about two weeks after I reverted. Let me tell you what will most likely happen, and give some advice. There are some ppl on this site that started covering and have sacrificed a lot to continue wearing hijab, or those others who feel strong conviction and ties with hijab and Islam. To those, I say this is only my opinion and advice, and I speak from experience as a revert.
1. Hijab changes your entire identity. Both inside and out. Inside, you will feel an immediate difference with those around you. Depending on where you live, the reaction will be a majority of either tolerance, or a sudden feeling that society is indifferent on a high level towards you. You will feel many things as you put on the hijab and leave your house and feel that you've given yourself a violent shove from being anonymous to one with a clear identity, either positive or negative in the minds of those around you, and they will project that onto you either with their energies, or looks, etc. This will cause you to go through what I can only describe as the same sort of process as when you move to a new country, which is:
1. Excitement for the first few weeks or maybe months, depending on what kind of person you are. It's a new feeling being the center of attention, having people ask questions, stare, smile for no reason, frown for no reason... look at you like you're a new comer,
2. A sense of loss and loneliness. After a while you'll feel like you're tired of being associated with a culture or point of view that's inaccurate. You'll 'mourn' the identity you grew up with, and begin to struggle with Hijab.
3. Anger. You'll feel angry, mostly this happens after you realize you have to change your friends, your relationship, find an environment that makes you feel more comfortable as a visual Muslim, and then realize that most 'born' Muslims have little culturally in common with you.
4. Acceptance. You accept who you are, and wearing hijab becomes just part of you.
So basically what the point is here, is there's more to think about than your boss, when observing hijab. Remember, when you put it on, everyone who sees you will then know you're Muslim (I know that will make some ppl step back and raise an eyebrow reading this), but then if you ever decide to take it off, it will confuse them as to not only your personal identity, but the concept of covering in Islam. Remember that covering is an outward expression and declaration of your new faith, and it's something that will change your entire life, not just your clothing and how your boss feels. Hijab is something you should phase into, and make sure if you marry, that you have a husband that Does Not strictly require you cover. I'm not saying you should find someone who doesn't care, I'm saying you should explain to the person you're with that you're a revert and you want the ability to chose for yourself when to cover. That way, you'll be able to love your hijab without feeling trapped in it, and trust me, there are times you'll feel uncomfortable wearing it and say, "am I wearing this for Allah SWT and myself still, or am I now wearing this for my partner?" Also, you'll ask yourself, "the purpose of Hijab is modesty, so should I be wearing it if it actually ATTRACTS attention to me?" You Will come across these questions and feelings during a lifetime of observing hijab. Give yourself room to ease into it, so you don't resent it. Keep the love for Hijab a happy, positive relationship.
All in all, my experience with hijab was a positive one. VERY positive in fact. Americans are very tolerant of Muslims, especially clear reverts. I got more smiles, more doors opened for me, more ladies complimenting on my lovely color choices, etc. If you chose to observe hijab, have fun with it and remember to retain control over your own life. Don't put yourself in situations where you'll be forced to do anything, that just sets you up for failure. Many, many muslimahs leave the Hijab from spite of being forced to wear it, when in the beginning it was their own choice.
Take care,
Sister Stacy
What a great comment, jazaki Allah khayr. Thank you Stacy. I think you should expand this a little (add some examples of personal interactions) and submit it for publication at MuslimMatters.org.
Wael
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
What a beautiful response sister Stacy, MashAllah. Thank you.
I put my Hijab on a year ago and still have mixed emotions about it.
50% of the time I am happy with my decision. I wanted to please Allah (SWT) and get closer to Him. I feel secure and peaceful when I have Hijab on. However, another half of the time I question myself if I made my life more complicated (because maintaining Hijab everyday is not an easy task), would I have been OK without it. I am afraid that one day I will be so tired of it and take it off, Authibillah. I guess it is matter of the level of my Eman at this point or whispers of Shaytan or both. But overall my experience with Hijab was a positive one, Alhamdullilah. I pray that Allah (SWT) keeps me and all sisters out there who struggles with Hijab (i.e Eman ) on His Straight Path.
Assalam'alaykum sister,
Its awesome news you brought us alhamdullilah masha'Allah, we welcome you to Islam. We pray that you find peace, hapiness and prosperity in Islam.
Your first aim as a muslim is to learn how to pray. The quicker the better, because you have to compete a race towards paradise. You must learn the basics first.
The Muslim prayers are a form of worship which establishes the link between human and Allah. Through Salah (prayer) a person communes with his Lord, the Creator and the Sustainer of the Universe.
At least five times a day Muslims all over the world face the direction of the first house built for the worship of The One God (Allah) and pray the five daily prayers enjoined on every sane adult Muslim male and female. This house is called the Kabah. It is located in the Holy city of Makkah in present day Saudi Arabia.
The five daily Prayers become obligatory from the moment a person embraces Islam. This is an extremely important tenet of Islam and has been enjoined withgreat emphasis both in the Holy Quran and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). According to one saying of Prophets (peace be upon him), the prayer is the borderline between a Muslim and a non-believer.
Preparation for prayers-
Firstly, before starting the prayer, a person must perform Wudhu (ablution).
However if a person has had a wet dream or sex then they should perform Ghusl (shower).
Ghusl should also be performed at the end of a women period of menstruation has ended and at the end of 40 days after childbirth (unless the bleeding stops before completing the 40 days period, then she must make the Ghusl as soon as the bleeding stops).
Ghusl in Islam means the bathing of the entire body with water. Proof of its legitimacy is embodied in the Holy Qur'an as follows:"And if ye are in a state of ceremonial impurity, bathe your whole body" (Qur'an 5:6).
Prayers-
There are five obligatory prayers which are performed at five different times of the day.
1) FAJR PRAYER (The MorningPrayer): It starts at dawn.
2) DHUHR PRAYER (The Early Afternoon Prayer ): It starts when the sun begins to decline from its zenith.
3) ASR PRAYER (The Late Prayer ): When the shadow of the object is equal to its size.
4) MAGHRIB PRAYER (The Sunset Prayer ): It starts when the sun set.
5) ISHA PRAYER (The Night Prayer ): It starts when twilight has disappeared.
Learning to pray when your language is not Arabic can seem to be a very difficult task. However it is not as difficult as it may appear to you. A certain amount of surah is memorized and the same surah (Qur'anic verse) can be recited in all the 5 daily prayers.
First memorise atleast 3 chapters of the holy Qur'an. I would recommend, surah Al-Fatiha ( Its very important ), surah Kawthar and surah Ikhlas.
Surah Fatiha is important because, this surah must be recited in all 5 daily prayers.
Memorise them by reading the transileration of it. For example-
Surah Al-Fatiha-
Transileration:
1.BismiAllahi arrahman arraheem
2. Alhamdu lillahi rabbi alAAalameena
3. Alrrahmani arraheemi
4. Maliki yawmi ddeeni
5. Iyyaka naAAbudu waiyyaka nastaAAeenu
6. Ihdina alssirata almustaqeema
7. Sirata allatheena anAAamta AAalayhim ghayri almaghdoobi AAalayhim wala alddalleena.
Translation-
1. In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
2. Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds
3. Most Gracious, Most Merciful
4. Master of the, Day of Judgment.
5. Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.
6. Show us the straight way.
7. The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, Those whose (portion) is not wrath and who go not astray.
Surah Al Ikhlas-
Transileration:
BismiAllahi arrahman arrahim.
1. Qul huwa Allahu ahadun
2. Allahu alssamadu
3. Lam yalid walam yooladu
4. Walam yakun lahu kufuwan ahadu
Translation:
1. Say: He is Allah the One and Only;
2. Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
3. He begetteth, not nor is He begotten;
4. And there is none like unto Him.
After learning few surahs, you can then begin learning the procedure of praying.
Its best if you purchase a prayer book.
Regarding hijab, its best if you observe it. Allah says in the Qur'an, chapter An-Nur, verse 31,
"And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty.."
Hijab is for respect, modesty, righteous deed, dignity etc etc but main is obeying the commandments of Allah. Insha'Allah you will be allowed to wear hijab at work.
Thank you for this explanation of prayer. Islam is something I've been seriously thinking about for 6 months now and recently I've taken some concrete steps toward it. (making my wardrobe modest, slowing buying scarves, learning the beginning of Al-Fatiha, etc) But it's not easy, especially alone. I appreciate comments like these.
Let me tell you how I learned the Al-Fatiha in a month with little to no effort.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kuk6HgOH9yQ
This is only one of a series of prayer videos on youtube. All it is, is a man in a masjid praying. It says the prayer in Arabic, and the man prays as the words are spoken, and as the prayer progresses there is english translation to his words on the screen.
Every time I prayed, I just played these videos for the prayer I was doing and did every prayer perfect as a new muslim. After about a month of listening to the prayer being said 5 times a day, I was talking right along because by then the melody of the words became familiar and I knew what was coming next. So although I didn't always know what I was saying, I said it with no errors and virtually no effort.
Another great tip is order some arabic prayer robes. They go on in 2 seconds over everything you're wearing so you're not discouraged to find odds and ends of clothing to cover yourself for prayer. You should have seen me... socks pulled all the way up to my knees, hats and scarves! Lol.
Hope this helped!