In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful. Salutations and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad.

I start by praising Allah, Lord of the Heavens and the Earth, for all that He has bestowed us with, and for His Mercy towards us.

About a year ago I decided to try out wearing a niqab (face veil) for a week and wrote about my experience in doing so. At that point I had no intentions of wearing it permanently, and only tried it to see what it was like because I had met sisters who wore it and it peaked my interest.

I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with it so easily, and yet Allah (SWT) inclined my heart to it and ever since I tried it, I felt like it was a part of me. Although I had to remove it at the time, as I was working in a job that required my face be uncovered. I had to resolve myself with loving it in my heart for the next year and a half, until I could finally put it on.

It was a big decision, and I prepared in the lead up as best as I could. I spoke to many imams, both local and international. I spoke to friends, family, and even my pet goldfish, but I realized somewhere down the line, that this was going to be a decision I had to make on my own. Those who tried to talk me out of it made me want to wear it even more, and those who encouraged me made me fall in love with it all over again.

While I would have the internal debate in my head almost daily, about whether it was fard (obligatory) or mustahhab (highly recommended), I realized it didn’t actually matter, because it had become a part of me; my intentions were to please Allah (SWT) and this would not change regardless of the ruling.

Well what is the big deal? Isn’t hijab enough? It shouldn’t be. We should never say we are at a stage where we feel we have done enough because we, as believers, should always strive for excellence in everything; in our dress, our character, our worship. We have to do better than “okay”, we are capable, and we are ambitious in our wordly lives so why can’t we be ambitious in our worship to Allah (SWT)?

I am inspired by one of my favourite speakers, Mufti Ismail Menk, and I will never forget these words; when asked if the niqab was fard, he said something very significant. He said “…you are on a certain level, maintain that level if it is within the frame of the Shariah, with an intention of getting to the next one (level)… if Allah has granted you the ability to put a scarf on your head, don’t ever remove it, and try to get to the next stage. If Allah has granted you the ability to wear a niqab, don’t ever remove it and try to get to the next stage… If Allah has granted you the ability to abstain from speaking to a non-mahram (non-related man), maintain it and get to the next level…Everyone who is trying, try harder, there is no level that you can get to and say ‘you know what, now I’ve arrived’”.

So my sisters, and my brothers, what are you doing to strive for and maintain the next level? Whether it be in your dress, your character, or your private worship to Allah (SWT). Ask yourself this question each morning, and strive to accomplish something for Allah (SWT) by the end of the day, even if it is small. We may never be perfect, but we can certainly strive for perfection.

Allahu Akbar. All praise is due to Him. I look at this opportunity as a gift from Allah (SWT), and I ask Him to keep me steadfast in it, and I ask Him to grant all my sisters and brothers the steadfastness to maintain and reach new levels of eman (faith) every day.