To my sisters who struggle with the hijab - please read

As-salamu alaykum sisters, I want to share something that came from a conversation I had with a sister who was finding the hijab really hard. I wrote this quickly once, I was crying, and even though it’s messy and I repeat myself, I won’t change it because it’s how my heart spoke. Please, sisters, please consider wearing the hijab - and for those struggling, read this. I believe everyone at some point struggles with their connection to Allah, and that’s normal. Even after I became Muslim I kept old bad habits from when I was 14–16. Changing how you live, think, and act is so hard. If you’d seen me three years ago, I wasn’t practicing, I didn’t understand modesty or the reality of the Hereafter. By society’s standards I was “free.” Then everything changed - suddenly I believed in reward and punishment, and that there is a Higher Power. But my habits didn’t change overnight. I still had a lot to work on. So I want you to know it’s normal to struggle. We’re all sinners. Still, as Muslim women there are things we must try to follow, and many don’t see the importance of modesty and the hijab. As a revert I’ve talked with women born Muslim who try to convince themselves it’s not obligatory. I ask you to read the Book and reflect. Please remember: we can die at any moment. I have seen people die suddenly - a man who worked with my brother died in a factory accident, one minute he was there, the next he was gone. That could be any of us. That thought kept me awake one night - imagining how I or my husband, my siblings, my parents might die. The hardest worry for me is my family who are not Muslim. My mother, father, and brother are not believers, and I cry just thinking about it. I became Muslim first in my family and I helped my sister accept Islam after me. She always wanted to wear the hijab since she accepted Islam, but our parents were against it. They even kicked us out. Despite that, she put it on because obedience to Allah comes before pleasing people. She looked so beautiful in it. I had excuses: I told myself I’d wear it when I was older, when I had kids, when I got married. I was jealous of my sister, and shaytan made me doubt if I was ready and if I made the right choice. People at work thought I was older because of the hijab, and I faced a lot of trouble. Still, looking back, I’m so grateful I started wearing it. I can die with my hijab on, and that gives me peace. Yes, it’s hard. I still hear comments from family. Some relatives don’t even know we’re Muslim because we’re kept inside when guests come so they won’t see our hijab. We are treated as a shame in the family, but we wear it with pride. I beg you: put the hijab on. It’s mandatory. Allah rewards every act done sincerely for Him. Shaytan will tell you you’re not ready, but put aside excuses. I used to value my hair so much - people praised it and I obsessed over it - but I covered it. My parents criticized me, called me ugly in it, but I still covered my hair. Whatever reason you use to avoid it, remove it from your mind and wear it. The day you stand before Allah, you will not regret wearing it. If you’re struggling now, work on two things: hijab and prayer. Build from there. Don’t mistake showing hair or body for freedom - that happiness is temporary and not real freedom. Life passes, so cover yourself and ask Allah to make it easy. That was my message to her. Later I sent her other conversations with my husband and friends to show how difficult it was for me, but I can’t attach them here. May Allah make it easy for all of us. It’s hard to keep modesty in a world that pushes against it, but it’s far worse to die without following what’s right. Please take this seriously, sisters.