It's SO HOT!

"I really want to start wearing hijaab but it's so hot!" 

"I will not be able to breathe under all those layers of fabric!"

"How do hijaabis and Niqaabis SURVIVE?!"

Those dialogues sure do sound familiar. If they relate to you, this post is for you!

A lot of us go through this phase when it comes to taking the first steps towards wearing hijaab or niqaab. I, too, went through it. The same questions confused my mind, boggled my thoughts, kept me from wearing Niqab. Soon, I realised it was shaytan who was so jealous of me getting closer to Allah, and he was whispering in my heart. I started Niqab, I wear it in temperatures as high as 45 degree Celsius. I didn't die of suffocation. I'm alive, ain't I?

Allah says in the Quraan:

"And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is Hearing and Knowing." [7:200]

Therefore, whenever we have doubts about doing something good, be it giving Sadaqah, going to the mosque for taraveeh or even about wearing hijaab or niqaab, we should seek refuge in Allah from the evil of shaytaan. Say: A`ūdhu billāhi min ash-shaitāni r-rajīmi (أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم), read Surah an Nas and Surah al Falaq every morning (after salatul Fajr) and every evening (after salatul Maghrib) In shaa Allah. In addition to that we should pray to Allah to help us to do good and refrain from evil because only He can give us strength. 

Here are some tips on how to deal with hot weather and still rock your hijaab/niqaab:

1. Use light fabrics

Chiffon works best, Cotton is good too. Try to find hijaabs made of pure fabric, synthetic fabrics tend to cling and can irritate skin when we sweat. It should be breathable as well, that is, not too thick. Keep in mind though that it doesn't have to be so thin that its see-through. Same goes for the undercap and the Abaya. Skip the undercap when it's not required (like wearing hijab for an hour or so). 

2. Choose the best style

This matters a lot! Find a hijaab/niqaab style that is airy. Don't wrap the cloth around your head more than 2 times. In the niqaab style I wear, the cloth is such that it doesn't touch my neck and therefore I have a lot of ease in breathing. Your clothes/Abaya should be loose and airy too!

3. Take regular showers
Take a cold shower before you go out for shopping, to school, or the beach. This will help cool down your body temperature and prevent bad body odour. Shower everyday if the need be In shaa Allah. Shampoo frequently to prevent sebum and dandruff in your hair.

4. Use deodorant

Don't forget this step! Deodorant helps prevent excess sweating and also limits body odour, we all know that but sometimes people get lazy and they decide not to use it, which can result in other people getting disgusted lol.

You can also remove your niqaab on and off to breathe some fresh air or loosen your hijaab a bit to get some air inside (when non-mehrams are not around, when you go to the restroom etc).

JazakIllahu khayr for dropping by!