Modesty.

[Hala401]

Modesty and the safety of my covering is something that meant a great deal to me, and helped me to feel safe and protected. There has been presure to shorten my skirts, shorten my sleeves and not wear the Hijab. This is not working for me.

It is not for comfort to not cover because I have been outside when it is 105 degrees and covered and I was fine. The shorter skirts are pain in the neck for me because they keep going too high.

Before I talk to Bishop and Stake President, could you give me your opinion? One sister tells me that it will be sending bad message to resume the practice of Hijab. I am totally Mormon, let me assure you.

Maybe this is nessessary because of dark spirit in me and it needs to be controlled. One of my friends said that maybe I still feel deep guilt for my divorce, but I know that I am forgiven because of he Atonement.

I do not understand objection to the practice of Hijab. It is not a religious artifice, but only modesty.

[anatess]

Originally Posted by Hala401

Modesty and the safety of my covering is something that meant a great deal to me, and helped me to feel safe and protected. There has been presure to shorten my skirts, shorten my sleeves and not wear the Hijab. This is not working for me.

It is not for comfort to not cover because I have been outside when it is 105 degrees and covered and I was fine. The shorter skirts are pain in the neck for me because they keep going too high.

Before I talk to Bishop and Stake President, could you give me your opinion? One sister tells me that it will be sending bad message to resume the practice of Hijab. I am totally Mormon, let me assure you.

Maybe this is nessessary because of dark spirit in me and it needs to be controlled. One of my friends said that maybe I still feel deep guilt for my divorce, but I know that I am forgiven because of he Atonement.

I do not understand objection to the practice of Hijab. It is not a religious artifice, but only modesty.

The thing with what we wear is that it is representative of who we are. Wearing the Orlando Magic Team Jersey identifies me as an Orlando Magic fan. You won't catch me dead wearing Miami Heat jersey.

Filipinos wear the Barong Tagalog as a representation of the National traditional dress. Americans wear a uniform in red-white-blue colors when playing in the Olympics. And so on and so forth.

The hijab has been culturally identified as a Muslim garb, the kippah a Jewish ornament.

There's no specific outward dress code for LDS faith. The garments is an inner symbol of faith that is not intended to identify us to the public. So, as long as the outfit is chaste enough to cover garments (whether you wear one or not), then it's fine to wear.

Of course, the hijab fulfills these requirements as well, so I wouldn't worry about it. There are, for sure, a lot of non-muslim women wearing them in the Middle East. The only thing I would worry about is if you're wearing the hijab to cling to old traditions as a manifestation that you are having difficulty shedding your old faith to fully embrace the restored gospel. Make sense?

[Hala401]

I understand your last paragraph perfectly, and that is my friend's concern. All I can say is that I have no trouble accepting the tenants of the church, and in fact I often wonder if Islam made it easier for me to be Mormon?

Belief in a prophet? No problem. Belief in the Book of Mormon? No problem. Belief in the exposure of the tablets and subsequent translation of the Book of Mormon? No problem.

I'm just wondering if I can simply practice Hijab when not at church, and remove my head scarf when I get there? Gosh, maybe that is being passive aggressive?

Gee, in 1830 I could do it an no one would wonder.

[ruthiechan]

What about a head scarf that's not hijab? Something retro yet beautiful, like this: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wKCEfZCJrc...599b3a48_o.jpg

It's beautiful, elegant, modest, yet not hijab so it doesn't cause other Mormons cognitive dissonance so much.

[ruthiechan]

Or you could just wear it anyway. I know a gal who wears Hindu style clothing, tunic style dress, pants underneath, and a scarf. She always looks lovely and no one bothers her about it.

You can also wear the scarf in a way where your hair is still down but yet bundled up, sort of like a hair net. Play with different style head scarfs. I met an American girl, not Muslim, who wears the hijab because she finds it empowering to only let down her hair when she chooses. It was lovely.

I figure it this way, your spiritual state is between you and God and your Bishop. As long as you live worthily to enter the Temple then it doesn't matter if you wear your headscarf in the traditional hijab style or something else. Though I do encourage you to try other styles to see if there's something else you like just as much.

[Hala401]

I was thinking maybe Moroccan style?

[Dravin]

Originally Posted by Hala401

Gee, in 1830 I could do it an no one would wonder.

I suppose it depends on if people would have considered it a form of bonnet or not.

Or you could just wear it anyway.

That'd be my advice. If people are mistakenly attributing your hajib as a symbol that you still want to claim Islam as your religion you can gently correct them (if necessarily) and be on your way.

[marshac]

Originally Posted by Hala401

There has been presure to shorten my skirts, shorten my sleeves and not wear the Hijab. This is not working for me.

Maybe because I'm in LDS "man-land" and skirt length isn't a usual topic in EQ, i'm a little surprised that there is pressure to shorten- especially considering the frequent counsel regarding modesty in clothing. In our ward I think most skirts are slightly above ankle level maxing out at lower-mid calf. The only time I ever really see anything shorter is at a stake conference when YSA is in the house.... then I see quite high skirts, and heels with straps that go up the calf- it's quite shocking to see.

As others have said- wear whatever makes you comfortable.

[Blackmarch]

Originally Posted by Hala401

Modesty and the safety of my covering is something that meant a great deal to me, and helped me to feel safe and protected. There has been presure to shorten my skirts, shorten my sleeves and not wear the Hijab. This is not working for me.

It is not for comfort to not cover because I have been outside when it is 105 degrees and covered and I was fine. The shorter skirts are pain in the neck for me because they keep going too high.

Before I talk to Bishop and Stake President, could you give me your opinion? One sister tells me that it will be sending bad message to resume the practice of Hijab. I am totally Mormon, let me assure you.

Maybe this is nessessary because of dark spirit in me and it needs to be controlled. One of my friends said that maybe I still feel deep guilt for my divorce, but I know that I am forgiven because of he Atonement.

I do not understand objection to the practice of Hijab. It is not a religious artifice, but only modesty.

There is nothing wrong with a head covering, altho i think there is some tradition where its respectful to remove head clothes for a prayer. If you are going by anything close to muslim modesty standards you shouldnt encounter any problems with the lds. There are plenty of other cultures that use head coverings very similar to the hijab.

Now if there are some specific things that are sacred to muslims that are part of the hijab then there might some reason there to not wear it any more. Other than that icant really think of any reason not to wear one.

[Suzie]

I would wear it, it seems important to you and it's modest. A non-issue for me.