HIjrah: It's more than just covering up

I feel like nowadays the term hijrah has started to lose its meaning. One would say that the term people use nowadays refer more to symbolic hijrah (i.e focusing more on the physical appearance for example wearing hijab for women and growing beards for men). Perhaps let’s start with the meaning of Hijrah itself.

(this is what I refer to as symbolic hijrah)

According to http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/, the term hijrah refers to “migration or withdrawal”. Further, the term is elaborated as follows:

Typically refers to the migration of Muhammad and his Companions from Mecca to Medina in 622 C.E. , the first year in the Islamic calendar. Symbolizes the willingness to suffer for faith and the refusal to lose hope in the face of persecution. Can be undertaken individually or collectively in response to a threat to survival. In modern times, has been used to oppose colonial rule, legitimize Muslim migrations, settle Bedouin tribes, and consolidate power. Most recently, has referred to a form of withdrawal from the politics of secularism, capitalism, socialism, and modernization/Westernization. For Sufis, refers to the process of self-purification during the inner spiritual journey of returning to God.

I would like to emphasise on the sentence: Symbolizes the willingness to suffer for faith and the refusal to lose hope in the face of persecution

It doesn’t state anywhere that it solely refers to superficial ‘migration’ (i.e wearing hijab or even Burqa). Especially in some countries nowadays, it seems more likely that people without hijab are the ones in higher risk of persecution.

I am a woman wearing hijab myself, I do not claim that because of that I am better than women without hijab, that would be a very shortsighted and narrow-minded view. I do not approve judging a person without first judging one self and I utterly disagree with people who preach or even force women to wear hijab for the sake of ‘hijrah’.

There’s so much more than just physical appearance in interpreting the meaning of hijrah. It is more of a spiritual self-development to be a better individual and thereby may not only be reflected through wearing hijab. Enriching oneself with knowledge may also be a form of hijrah, improving one’s attitude and way in treating others can also be forms of hijrah.

Every individual should be entitled to their own definition of hijrah and thereby the definition should not be limited to just covering up (or in the case of men- growing beard and wearing mid-length trousers). Another important thing that we must remember is everyone will grow in their own pace. One may ‘transform’ from a womanizer to suddenly become a very pious and practicing Muslim. But you shouldn’t expect everyone to transform overnight.

And plus, preaching in such intrusive manner would often result to a contradicting outcome. Instead of changing them to how you want them to behave, they would instead be more distant and decide to do the opposite of what they are told to do, just for the sake of rebelling and getting into your nerves as retaliation.

Changes may take time. Let them go through the change in their own pace, be supportive but not judgmental.

Buat akhi dan ukhti yang suka menceramahi orang lain, siapa tau orang yang Anda ceramahi justru lebih tinggi derajatnya dibanding Anda. Dosa dan pahala manusia siapa yang tau.