Salaam - Trying to Wear Hijab Consistently as a New Sister
Assalamu alaikum, hi I'm a revert, 25F. I want to wear hijab more consistently. I reverted earlier this year, in March. I struggle for a few reasons. 1. I reverted alone after a near-death experience where I found the Qur'an in the hospital. I didn't come into Islam with sisters to guide me, and my family aren't Muslim. Basically, nobody taught me “how to hijab.” 2. I grew up on the streets and never learned to dress “nicely” or feminine - I wore what was comfortable, weather-appropriate, and made me feel safe. Being a young woman alone on the streets, I felt safer in more masculine clothes so I wouldn't be targeted. Now I have a wardrobe of very worn, patched, androgynous/masculine street clothing - sweatpants, band tees, old sweaters, military-style jackets, skate shoes, etc. It all feels awkward with a hijab. 3. Money - I finally found housing but still need a job. Right now I'm picking bottles to afford food, so even thrifting isn't really an option for new clothes or hijabs. 4. Style - when I did have some extra cash I bought different hijab types (instant, jilbab-style, scarves, square ones), but I still haven't found a way to style them or keep them in place. When I go to the masjid I see people who seem so comfortable and graceful - many born into Islam and learning from sisters their whole lives. I feel like I just look like someone who's cold and put a scarf on their head. 5. Sensory/mobility needs - I like an active lifestyle. I'm unmarried and live alone. I enjoy running, skateboarding, stretching, etc. I also have ADHD and autism, so I'm always fidgeting and very sensitive to clothing irritation. Covering my head is grounding, but what bugs me is when it falls off my shoulder when I bend, slips back during the day (even with an undercap), or my short hair peeks out the sides. It feels like it hinders movement - turning, bending, running for the bus, putting on a jacket or backpack, and having to redo it from scratch is frustrating. 6. Gender presentation - I was born female and identify female, but before Islam I came out as nonbinary and started transitioning. I was on testosterone for a couple years (not taking it now), which changed my voice permanently, and I had top surgery. So my voice and chest present differently, and I’ve had people call me “sir” while wearing a hijab or say I’m not really Muslim. I mostly know my prayers, a few surahs, and a few Arabic words, so I worry people will think I’m mocking Islam or that I’m a “man in a hijab.” I’m tired of constantly proving my gender and I’ve mostly stopped insisting on corrections or pronouns. Now I worry about offending Muslims by being visibly different and also feeling out of place with queer communities - feels like you can’t win, lol. 7. Worthiness - a lot of the time I feel I don’t deserve the hijab. I tell myself I’m too broken, too street, too masculine, too queer (even though I’m living a chaste life). I know that’s negative self-talk, but the shame is heavy. I feel like hijab is for ‘good girls’ and I’m just a hood rat. Anyway, I know my experience is unique and I don’t expect a single answer to all this, but if anyone has tips, hijab hacks, encouragement, or thoughts on how to survive as a neurospicy, street-raised tomboy revert who likes using her body - let me know. I can’t imagine Allah wants women to just sit around looking pretty. I want to believe there’s a way to wear hijab that doesn’t slow me down or make me feel fake. JazakAllah khair for any help or kind words!