It’s nice to have this kind of discussion here, and I would like to share my opinion too, as I wrote on the comment’s section on Hijab Style Blog, with some addition:

I personally feel happy with the way media represent the muslimah style and fashion recently. Most of them appreciate our faith and our modest style.

But sometimes Media try to make ‘hot stories’ by creating contradictions or conflicts between something (eventhough this may have a positive value, but sometimes this is not right, and media should remember that they have responsibilities, ethics, and values to write stories/articles based on that).

In this case, Media, in some way, contributes to create a dichotomy between niqab/abaya wearer and tunic-jeans wearer, or could be between hijab-wearer muslim women and non-hijab muslim women… the perception that some people on the other side are more or less pious than the other. This kind of perception, shaped by the media, can make an uncomfortable situation for us, muslim women, that actually it shouldn’t like that.

Ideally, we, as muslims, have to bear in mind that all of us are trying our best to obey Allah SWT; to do what Allah wants us to do. All of us are just trying our best, in our way, to be close to the “Real Truth from Allah”. We all have the same intention. So, there is no need to get into dichotomy, trichotomy, etc, and to judge each other.

And about our clothes as a hijab, me as a hijab fashion blogger too, have a basis according to Qur’an:
Surah 7:26

O ye Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover your shame, as well as to be an adornment to you. But the raiment of righteousness,- that is the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah, that they may receive admonition!

So clothing does not have to be drab. It is all right for both sexes to use clothing to enhance beauty as well as to cover nakedness. The most important thing is to be modest and righteous.

One more thing I’d like to add is in regard to the BBC’s question: “But doesn’t the showy nature of fashion contradict the essence of Hijab?”

In my opinion: No, it doesn’t contradict. I think based on the ayah above, it’s okay if we are showy about our clothes, as long as we’re NOT SHOWY about OUR BODY. (Allah knows best)

Fashion is showy. It shows creativities on clothes/outfits. So does ‘Muslim Fashion’, it is showy, it shows creativities on modest clothes/outfits (‘modest’ according to Islamic rules).

So, what is wrong with ‘Muslim Fashion’? Perhaps for some people, the reason why they want to deal with ‘Muslim Fashion’ is because they do want to fit in and be a part of mainstream society (nothing wrong with this as long as they keep follow Islamic rules in their life, for example: wearing hijab in western style; And people have their own reason why they want to fit in);
And for some other people, is because they want to create beautiful outfits (still within Islam’s rules of modesty) in their own style as their self expression. And this is all right too according to the ayah above.

At times the news media may get things a little “off” but as a journalist I know the challenges of putting together a story and getting all the information in on deadline.

If you look at it from an outsiders perspective, I think you can understand where they are coming from. But if you are someone who has been immersed in the Muslim community/culture it’s easy to become offended or read into things that weren’t meant to be that way.

And finally, the savvy hijab fashion bloggers are intertwined within the media industry. Do you really think this is spontaneous coverage? I’d bet you a lot of it is done with folks sending press releases or announcing a product launch and contacting the news media.. All it takes is one story, and then other papers and outlets run with it and try to put a fresh spin on it.

I realize I’m rambling, but I wanted to echo Jana’s sentiment.

What is with the word hijabista?

Frankly, I give a “crap” about what media thinks I do not give a “crap”because I believe that media is something other than “written based on one person’s personal perceptions and not the whole reality?” But I give a “crap” because it shapes the dominant discourse and it shapes people’s perception.

Muslim women, and as you mentioned, many other people, are then inserted into this discourse and our identity [what other people identify us as] is predetermined by people’s perception.

Idk about you, but I definitely give a crap when I start to feel as though I am not autonomous, because other people have already spoken for me, especially when Muslim women have the wherewithal and intelligence and, as you see here, the space to speak for themselves

And while I do agree that I am, “happy we are getting presented to the mainstream audience in a way that doesn’t have the word “terrorist” or “bomb” associated with it,” I find it so ironic that we can say this about current media representation of hijab and yet some Muslimahs/Muslims will not sit there and see Rima Fakih’s winning of the Miss USA title as invoking an ounce of the same kind of happiness?

So yea, it is all a little biased and all a little tiring and all a little stale, but at the end of the day, we really do [have to] give a crap, because this is our representation/face/story and if we don’t care enough to write/rewrite/challenge it then we might as well be invisible

we never agree about what is hijab and we never will. its human nature to stick to your guns about your own personal interpretation and outlook on things – just like any form of media does.

and at the end of the day – who really gives a crap about what some media (whether muslim or western based) thinks – especially when most of the time these things are written based on one person’s personal perceptions and not the whole reality?

the media does this with all types of people – not just hijabies. im just happy we are getting presented to the mainstream audience in a way that doesnt have the word “terrorist” or “bomb” associated with it. its nice to see a controversy free article about muslims amongst the usual anti-islamic trash that gets written about islam and its followers.

hi all i disagree with this statement :

“Looking chic and sexy enough to catch a man’s eyes and feel pretty…”

well where ever u are what ever clothes u wear it will “catch” by someone else eyes, and i believe if u were covered with abaya/niqab/burka etc it doesnt mean a man cannot put his dirty mind of you, believe me i have lotta male friend whom like imagine what is inside it.

so dont bother others by what the proper wear or sumthin, get back with your life and respect other people choise (wearing fashion clotes,wearing burka/niqab,etc)

Islam love peace and respect,
at least that’s what i learn since i was born.

Salam.

I understand your sentiment. Maybe it does not go that deep, but we challenge ourselves to think of things from different perspectives.

@Jana:

If I start to really sit and think about things I get so worn out. It is all too much and like I mention in this post, it feels as though anything we (we meaning Muslim women) say is already inserted into the dominant discourse so that everything is automatically categorized.

Even speaking out is silencing sometimes because our words enter into a predetermined space and they are manipulated…So exhausting!

And to think, the worst of it seems to be perpetuated from within our own community.

@ Majid:

I find your explanation of the trend so oversimplified: “Looking chic and sexy enough to catch a man’s eyes and feel pretty…”

You assume feeling pretty or having self esteem only comes as a result of a man’s attention?