Alhamdulillah for Guidance and the Niqab

Assalamu alaikum. Alhamdulillah, Allah has blessed me in ways I can never fully thank Him for. He put love for the deen in my heart - may Allah forgive my shortcomings, guide me, and keep me firm upon His path. I’m far from perfect and don’t claim any special piety, but I share this hoping it might soften someone’s heart toward Islam, inshAllah. I was raised with Islam from a very young age. My mother, especially, kept us away from much of the fitna that comes from music and films. We grew up without knowing those forbidden pleasures. Our home valued honesty, avoiding haram, and other important Islamic morals. Bedtime stories were about the prophets and righteous people, so the love of deen was planted in us early on, Alhamdulillah. Seeing my mother, aunts, and other women wear the niqab made us love it as kids - we even played with niqabs. I remember asking my mom at about 10 or 11 if I could wear one because I’d seen a girl my age wearing it. I believed then (and still do) that the niqab is part of Islam and obligatory, though I know there are differing opinions. Around 12 or 13 I’d argue with friends about it - many thought niqab wasn’t part of Islam or was only for older women. When it became obligatory for me, I initially asked my mom to let me delay wearing it because I was shy about classmates noticing. After some sensible talking, I accepted. Alhamdulillah, it’s been easier for me since several relatives wear it. At school I was often the only one in my class with niqab, and that made me feel different and sometimes left out. Over the years I grew more confident and embraced it as part of who I am, Alhamdulillah. What used to bother me was when other Muslims asked condescending questions like, “Do you like wearing it?” or “Did your father make you wear it?” without realizing it’s something the mothers of the believers wore and it’s recommended even if you hold a different view on obligation. Those questions don’t sting as much now; I only wish I’d answered more confidently back then. One big challenge was when the niqab was briefly banned in my country. We didn’t remove it then; we mostly stayed home. Being in an all-girls school helped. I had one class with a male teacher - I’d sit at the back and use a book and a water bottle to shield my face. Alhamdulillah the ban was lifted, and enduring that period strengthened my resolve. My mother’s steadfastness was a huge source of inspiration. I ask Allah to keep me firm and to improve my hijab. What greater blessing is there than guidance? When I think of how Allah protected me from fitan and guided my heart to His deen, I’m at a loss for words. How ungrateful I feel at times, given how merciful He’s been. May Allah guide us all and keep us steadfast - there’s nothing sweeter than iman and guidance. Alhamdulillah. I’m trying to follow the command to “proclaim the blessings of your Lord” (Ad-Duha 93:11). I haven’t done it justice, and I pray Allah grants me help.