I remember twelve years ago when I started to take my hijaab quite seriously.

It wasn't perfect. I often let my neck uncovered, my arms were sometimes exposed, and my shirts were not long enough to cover my thighs. Nonetheless, I didn't dare expose my hair to non-mahrams. That was all that mattered to me at that time.  So, I'd wear my veil even at home.

I remember the look at my aunt's face when she saw me wear my veil during lunch. She was puzzled. She looked at me intently as if trying to figure out what was up with me. Why was I wearing a veil at home? Did she just call me "religious"?

At that time, I was the only granddaughter on my father's side of the family who was wearing a veil. For that, I was regarded as the religious one. But I couldn't even read the Qur'an. Astaghfirullah. I experienced being called an "ustadza" because of my hijaab. I also remember being asked if I was already a hadja. It was strange hearing those remarks from my Muslim brothers and sisters. It was as if wearing a hijaab was something extraordinary and not obligatory upon a Muslimah. Wearing a hijaab does not make a woman religious. It makes her a Muslim, a servant of Allah who wishes to please her Lord by following His Command.