Questions Hijabis Get Asked

Being a Hijabi (a woman who wears hijab, or the Islamic veil) opens up you up to a world of questions and queries. While many of the questions are ignorant, there are those that are derived out of hilarious curiosity.

This is not an attempt to make fun of those who ask these questions, but rather showcase that we are actually not that different from everyone else and most of these questions are, in fact, unwarranted....

If there is a silly question you've been asked, send me a message!

Jan 5

“If the wind blows it off, what will happen?”

(This is usually added with prompts such as “will you go to hell?” “will your father beat you?” Perhaps one day each of these will have their own post, but for now the crux of the question is answered generally.)

Potential Answers:

Whoever sees my hair will have to marry me.

My head will blow off with it.

I’ll be like the Muslim Marilyn Monroe!

I always carry a spare scarf — they come in pocket size!

Actual Answer:

Many hijabis secure their scarves to their head with pins or tying it tight so it’s probably not a very likely hypothetical. Since this has never actually happened to me, it’s difficult to say what I would do if the wind blew my scarf off. I imagine my immediate instinct would be to cover my head with my hood, my winter scarf, or something else. If the wind carries it off into well, the wind, then it is of no fault of my own — accidents, after all, happen. The consquences would be nil.

I would attempt to chase after my scarf however, which likely means I’ll end up short-winded - so THAT’s what would happen….

Jan 1

“Do you have hair underneath that?”

Potential Answers:

Yes, as well as other other growths.

Yes, but it is made of snakes. I also go by the name Medusa.

No, I just pinned a ball to my head.

No, I started wearing it so people do not find out what is truly growing on my head.

Depends who you ask. ;)

Actual Answer:

I might have hair undernearth my hijab, it actually varies on the woman. Similar to any other woman anywhere else belonging to any group, some hijabis have hair, some do not. We are not vastly different from any other woman, and like all women everywhere, we are not a homogenous group either.

However, one of the purposes of the hijab is to cover parts of my body, including my head, largely due to my hair. Most hijabis therefore will have hair, which is what we are attempting to cover.

Dec 30

“If I see your hair, will I have to marry you?”

Potential Answers:

Yes, hair-showing is actually a Muslim mating call.

Yes, and just wait ‘til you see my elbow! ;)

No, especially since I’m not interested in people who ask foolish questions.

Actual Answer:

No, you do not need to marry me if you see my hair although I will show my hair to whomever I marry. So marriage leads to hair-showing, hair-showing does not lead to marriage. Nice try ;)

Dec 29

“Do you shower with that on?”

Potential Answers:

Yes. I take everything else off, but leave my scarf on.

Yes. It doubles up as my loofa.

Yes - why not do my laundry while I shower?

Yes. That is why people call me “towel-head”.

No. We do not have running water where I come from.

Actual Answer:

No. I do not shower with my scarf on. This would make no sense as the scarf is largely an item of clothing — I take it off when I wash my body.

Furthermore, I only wear my scarf in front of those who are unrelated to me, none of whom ought to be in the washroom when I shower.