Sisters Noor and Ayah Barahim have worn the hijab for 11 years — a decision they describe as deeply personal and empowering but without its challenges. While the Calgary sisters say they’ve faced many challenges, they insist they meet them with pride.
“The majority of the time, it’s our choice to wear it,” Ayah says. “I feel a lot of people just look at you like, ‘Oh, you’d look so nice without it.'” To which Ayah adds, “Like that’s the point.”
A Hijab is a head covering worn by Muslim women. In the Islamic faith, it represents modesty as a religious obligation and humility.
Confronting misconceptions
The sisters say navigating social interactions as visible Muslim women has been a learning curve. Noor, the older of the two, says she directly confronts misconceptions or discriminatory behaviour.
“If someone looks at you in a weird way or says something, I say confront it right there, if you’re safe. Speak the truth about what it is. But if someone’s just being hateful, be like, ‘Okay, thank you, that’s what you think.’”
For Ayah, she felt different from the other kids when she first wore the hijab.
“When you’re a kid and you start wearing it, you’re like, ‘Oh, I’m not like the other kids.’ And sometimes you feel a little bit alienated,” she says. “But I think having that gave me something to become stronger in my personality. I don’t feel the need to be like others. I stick to my beliefs and what I believe is right.”
Despite occasional challenges, the sisters feel wearing the hijab has helped them grow. The sisters have practiced karate together since they were kids. Both have black belts, and Ayah is an instructor at a dojo in northeast Calgary.
For Noor and Ayah, wearing the hijab reminds them of their faith and values daily.
