Hijabi in the Workplace

I do my best to pray at work. I do wudu in the bathroom then go pray in the library so I can have some peace and quiet. Most days when I take off my scarf to do wudu it spurs a relgious discussion. The project manager of the entire company I work for came in the bathroom when I was washing. Seeing me without my scarf prompted her to ask when I could take it off and when I can't. Who are you suppossed to wear it in front of? Can your husband see you without it? Do these people think that my arms are invisibly handcuffed to my body and that I cannot lift the scarf off of my head? That I believe I will burst into flames if I removed the scarf. It is not glued to my head! If I wanted to take it off I could...if I didn't want to wear it I wouldn't! It is my way of being modest and trying to please Allah with my modesty. It is also a sign to all that I am Muslim so I do not do certain things. It deters the men in my office from feeling like they can flirt with me; it makes me feel comfortable so I can interact with my male coworkers without feeling like they are looking at my beauty. Hijab is a blessing to Muslim women so they can move freely in society without being bothered. I don't need to focus on my appearance to strangers. How stressfull getting ready for school used to be before hijab! I used to have to get up hours before school so I could make my apprearance "appropriate". I had to worry about being sexually attractive at all times. Those times were the most stressfull, anxious and unhappy times of my life. Focusing on outer beauty and judging people by their looks leads to unhappiness. I will NEVER go back to worrying like that on a daily basis. My hijab takes care of all of that worry.

Salaam,

Kate