My answer to all those who think being in a hijab is being locked up. I am sad to see, that even most Muslims here in Pakistan think that. Girls start the hijab, and leave it, because of this culture around us. This is my answer to all of them.
Growing up, you read me the ugly duckling
And for years I believed that that was me
For so long you taught me nothing more
Than a bad copy of that standard
I couldn't run as fast or lift as much
I didn't make the same money
And I cried too often
I grew up in a man's world;
Where I didn't belong
And when I couldn't be him,
I wanted only to please him.
So I put on your make-up and wore your short skirts,
And I gave my life, my body, my diginity
For the cause of being "pretty"
But I knew that no matter what I did,
I was worthy only to a certain degree
As long as I could please my "master"
And so I spent my life on the cover of Cosmo.
And gave my body for you to sell.
I was a slave,
But you told me I was free.
I was your object,
But you swore it was my success.
You taught me that my purpose in life
Was to be on display.
To attract,
To be beautiful for men.
You made me believe that my body
Was created to market your cars.
And,
You still raised me to think that I was the ugly duckling.
But you lied.
My religion tells me- I'm a swan
I'm different- I'm meant to be that way.
And my body, my soul, were created for
Something more.
I am honoured.
But it is not by my relationship to men.
My value as a woman is not measured
By the size of my waist
Or the number of men who like me.
My worth as a human is measured
On a higher scale-
A scale of righteousness and piety.
And my purpose in life-
Despite what the fashion magazines say-
Is something more sublime
Than just looking good for men.
And so I cover myself,
I hide and protect my body,
And tell the world
That I'm not here
To please men with my body;
I'm here to please God.
So those who wish to "liberate" me
I have only one thing to say:
"Thanks, but no thanks"
I'm not here to be on display.
And my body certainly is not for consumption.
I will not be reduced to an object;
Or a pair of legs to sell shoes.
I'm a soul,
A mind,
A servant of Allah.
And thus, my worth is defined
By the beauty of my *soul*,
My heart and my moral character.
So;
I don't worship your beauty standards.
And I don't submit to your fashion sense.
My submission is to something much higher.
And with my veil,
I put my faith on display;
Rather than my beauty.
And my value as a human
Is defined by my relationship to my God,
Not by my looks.
So I cover the irrelevant.
And when you look at me,
You don't just see a body;
You view what I am;
A servant of my God.
So you see,
As a Muslim woman,
I've been liberated from a silent kind of bondage;
And thus,
I don't need to answer
To the slaves of God on earth,
I answer only
To their King.
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