Wearing the hijab in public can be scary, but wearing it at work or professional settings can be just as intimidating. Every job offers a unique work environment that comes with people from diverse backgrounds. There may be people that perceive the hijab as a threat and oppressing, while others consider it beautiful or no big deal. Whatever the case may be, we may never truly know what people think of you when you wear the hijab at work. Therefore, it is important to understand the role of hijab in professional settings while being an example to people who are foreign to the hijab and its significance. There are many roles of the hijab that are rooted in cultural, religious, and regional contexts. The best standard to live by is to wear the hijab with confidence and respect its morals especially when wearing it in front of non-Muslims. 

When I became a hijabi in the middle of November I was more nervous to wear the hijab to work than to wear a hijab in front of my family. At first I thought I would have coworkers that would come up to me and make comments about it, but it was the complete opposite. I've had people say it looks very beautiful on me and others have said “Mabrook" when I didn't even know they were also Muslim. Hijab has a way of connecting with the Muslim community and unifying each other. This is why it is important to wear it with confidence since you may never know who you'll inspire or connect with just by wearing it. 

However, not everyone is completely fond of the hijab and I have met people who would burden me with intense questions. For example, I was at a work event that had many employees all under one building and in the same room. One of these random employees came up to me asking why I still have a hijab on. I'm assuming he thought it was only temporary. I went on to explain that the hijab is a permanent decision of mine and it won't be coming off anytime soon. He responded by saying I looked a lot better without it and that not all Muslim women wear it so I don't need to either. At that moment I realized the hijab has two roles in professional settings: wear it with confidence and wear it as the best example for others, so that's what I did after that conversation. Before understanding this, I always came to work nervous and I didn't say much to anyone about why I wore it. Now, I share with everyone the happiness I feel and how beautiful it makes me feel on the inside as well. Hence, I responded to him by saying the hijab is required but not compulsory since we all have free will to choose what we do. Alhamduillah I had the ability to wear it amidst all the fear that grew within me, especially during the few seconds before putting it on. 

I've had other coworkers ask to try on my spare hijabs laying around in the office and after they did they couldn't stop smiling. I get asked questions daily about Islam and sometimes I even quiz them on what I teach them all because I decided to wear the hijab. Sometimes they'll ask me if I'm too hot in it or what the importance may be, so I think it is a great opportunity to showcase the role of hijab including: modesty, self respect, confidence, and most of all submission to Allah swt.  When things get hard I always remember the verse “With hardship comes easy” because it remains true every time for every difficult situation. After months of being a hijabi at work now, it has been much easier wearing it to work than it was for the first couple of weeks. May Allah (SWT) make it easier for everyone.