Confused about hijab and my faith - need sisters' advice
Assalamu alaikum sisters. I hope it's okay to share this here - I wanted to hear from other women, not men, because I feel they'll understand better. I'm a revert, alhamdulillah, been Muslim about six months. My iman has been up and down, which I know is normal, but one worry keeps nagging me and it's making me doubt things more than I'd like. I haven't started wearing the hijab yet. I realise for some people it's a gradual journey and for others they just do it straight away; right now I feel like I need more time. My biggest concern is summer. I understand the purpose of hijab - modesty and protection - but I keep imagining men laughing at us for covering so much in hot weather. I live in America where summers get really intense, and wearing long sleeves or covering feels almost unbearable then. Short sleeves feel necessary for me in the heat; I don't really care about shorts either way. Seeing lots of Islamophobic posts online saying it's unfair to women has gotten into my head and made me question whether the rules mostly benefit men. I know intellectually Islam gives many rights to women, but emotionally I'm struggling to see that right now. Sisters, can you share honest thoughts or personal experiences that helped you with this kind of doubt? Any practical tips for managing hijab in extreme heat, or advice on dealing with these intrusive thoughts would be really appreciated. InshaAllah hearing from others will ease this low patch.