Anyone who says that women are not as capable as men is definitely living in the stone age. We live in 2020, where women are the equals of men and no way inferior. From managing the home and family to stepping out and acing in their fields, they rock at it!
Many Muslim women around the globe work alongside men without taking their Hijab off. The times are gone when Hijab was considered to be a barrier to success. Now, females are making their marks regardless if they wear a hijab or a veil. Muslim women are no longer characterized to be oppressed. Instead, they have shown the freedom hijab gives them to look forward to accomplishing their dreams.
The number of influential and successful Hijabi women conquering the world is enormous. Let’s celebrate Hijab and Hijabis, who have attained the heights of success, proving that the Hijab does not stop them from winning at life. Instead, it gives them the freedom to achieve their aims and goals in the attire they are comfortable with.
Here are a few recognizable names,
Malala Yousafzai
The 23-year-old Pakistani activist might be the youngest one on the list but among the most prominent ones. Malala Yousafzai hails from Swat, Pakistan, where the literacy rate is less as compared to other parts of the country. Malala has been speaking for the education of girls since she was just a little girl herself. International Children’s Peace Prize-nominated her for her role in advocacy for girl’s right to education.
Going through a tragic incident in her life, Malala later boosted her efforts for the cause and created a fund for the girl child’s education, “champions every girl’s right to 12 years of free, safe, quality education.”
She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, at the mere age of 17 years. The young activist is an inspiration for young girls globally.
Yasmin Mogahed
Malala Yousafzai once said, “Let us pick up our books and pencils. They are our most powerful weapons.” And the nest successful Muslim Hijabi on the list understands that quite well.
Yasmin Mogahed is famous for her book “Reclaim your heart,” which helps you have another outlook on love, loss, happiness, and pain and life itself.
This Super-Hijabi is not only an author but a speaker, instructor, and scholar as well. Yasmin also holds the privilege of being the first female instructor at AlMaghrib Institute.
Every word she writes is gold but one of the best lines to be quoted by Yasmin Mogahed is “Train your heart not to be deceived by the surface of things.”
Tahera Rahman
Usually, people assume that the only space for Hijabis in the television industry is behind the camera. However, the talented Tahera Rahman broke all the odds. She became the first Hijabi on-air reporter in the local US television media.
She said that many times people asked her to give up on the thought of being on-air and focus on her journey off-air.
It is rightly said that when you want to achieve something, the universe conspires. After years of struggle and hard work, Tahera Rahman landed on the on-air reporting job without taking off her Hijab.
Raffia Arshad
Raffia Arshad is a British Pakistani who has just been appointed as the deputy district judge in the United Kingdom. The cherry on the cake is that she is the first-ever Hijabi woman for this position in the UK. Raffia pursued her law degree from Oxford Brookes University and pursued her career as a barrister at a firm.
She specialized in family law and wrote a book on family laws in the light of Islam, named “Islamic Family Law.”
Raffia feels immensely pleasured at the accomplishment and puts her achievement as “My appointment is a celebration for all Muslim women. I am delighted that I have broken the glass ceiling for many more capable Muslim women. At a time when everyone is facing uncertainty and unprecedented challenges, I urge everyone to rekindle their dreams and pursue them.”
Amanda Saab
When we talk about empowered women, we talk about women who do not let you stereotype them. We talk about the women who can be the first hijabi judge or be at a competition with the food-master, Gordon Ramsey. Amanda Saab is the first-ever Hijabi woman contestant to be a part of the finest cooking show, MasterChef America.
Not winning the show did not stop her, and she went across Asia to find the best halal eats for her show “Chef in Hijab.”
She’s a food blogger, chef and owns her bakery in Michigan.
Hawa Abdi
Hawa Abdi, also known as the Saint of Somalia, is a remarkably fearless and courageous woman who ran a refugee camp and a hospital. Dr. Hawa Abdi was Somalia’s first gynecologist and assisted those in need. The refugee camps are home to over 90,000 refugees now, where Hawa Abdi performed all her duties in Hijab. The inspirational Hijabi, when held hostage by militants, told them, “I may be a woman, but I’m a doctor. What have you done for society?”
Hawa departed to her final abode in August. The Dr. Hawa Abdi foundation and refugee camps are now looked after by her daughters.
Parisa Azam
Parisa Azam is another name on the list who hails from Pakistan.
Flying officer Parisa Azam is an active fighter jet pilot with her renowned skills from the academy. She often flies with the big boys and actively participates in flying exercises.
In a male-dominant field where people suppose females not to be strong enough, Parisa proved her mettle and achieved heights of success despite carrying Hijab gracefully.
Parisa encourages girls to pursue their aims, “With the right amount of determination and passion, you can do wonders in this world.”
If you are strong-headed and determined towards your goal, Hijab is not a barrier; it never was, it never will be!
The world is accepting Hijab eventually, and Hijabi women can make a name for themselves by working hard and staying steadfast.
