When I was in University I was saddened by the fact that many Muslims ignored me, the indifference of the sisters especially, they would encounter me in the prayer room regularly, they definitely knew I was Muslim. Yet, in the halls, the library, the lecture theatre and the corridors I would be ignored. However the sister in front of me would be greeted with ‘As-salaam alaykum’. So why didn’t they say ‘salaam’ to me? Well the reason was I didn’t wear a hijab at that time, the sister in front of me did. Perhaps these Hijabis thought I wasn’t deserving of such obvious Islamic greeting because I wasn’t in obvious Islamic dress. Or maybe they just didn’t consider me part of their ‘hijabi’ clique. Needless to say I used to be quite hurt by this, they all knew I was Muslim so why was I so cruelly ignored and excluded? I questioned some of the sisters; did they think this behaviour was conducive to encouraging someone to wear the hijab? Did it reflect the ‘adab’, compassion or inclusion that should be part of Islamic etiquette? I never did receive a satisfactory answer. The Hijabis were for the most part unsmiling, unfriendly and uninspiring girls. Needless to say I made more friends among the non-Muslim students.

Much later I joined the ‘hijabi clique’ (a much larger one now mashallah!) And I resolved to be the opposite of those (quite unrepresentative Hijabis I felt) I had encountered at Uni.

Unfortunately due to several bad experiences I’m not sure those sisters were so unrepresentative after all. Since donning the ‘hijab’ I haven’t come across many friendly hijabis. Indeed I have been saddened to note the number of unsmiling Hijabis that walk the streets. Again the vast majority it seems do not even wish to smile at a fellow hijabi, so I wonder how they react towards non-Muslims? Do they realise they convey the impression that they are despondent and unapproachable? It may lead people to the conclusion that they are unhappy/compelled to wear the hijab, even unhappy to be a Muslim. (Astaghfirullah!)

Hadhrat Abu Dharr (Radhiallaahu Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, ‘Do not regard any act of virtue to be insignificant even if it is meeting your brother with a smiling face.’ (Mishkaat pg.167; Qadeemi)

I put this to the test when recently I walked down Edgware Road and smiled at every single hijabi that crossed my path. There must have been a good 30-40 sisters, none of them reciprocated with a smile. Indeed many of them frowned.

"He (Muhammad) frowned and turned away, when the blind man came to him. How do you know; he may be saved? Or, he may heed the message and benefit from such heeding. As for the rich man, you (Muhammad) gave him your attention. Even though you cannot guarantee his salvation. But the one who came to you seeking salvation, and sincerely reverent, you disregarded him. Indeed, THIS IS A REMINDER, for those who choose to remember." (80:1-12)

I’m sure you are all thinking maybe I just have a hideous smile…well I assure you it isn’t that bad.

The reactions to my smiles have been unfavourable, however my attempts to recruit sisters to the political jihad have been worse. Indeed I have been very disheartened by the number of sisters I have spoken to in the last few years, the vast majority have been inactive. I have spoken to them about the political and media jihad, the need for effective ‘dawah’, volunteering in charities, and the situation in mosques. However on many, many occasions their eyes just glaze over. They will say ‘sister it is Allah’s will that the Muslims, should suffer’ or ‘I never stop praying for the Palestinians, sister, Allah will answer my prayers and deliver them from oppression’. Ameen to that, I’m sure he will, but what will you do to help them? Indeed my own sisters are no different.

It is a crime that more Muslim women are not active in the Islamic movement. We are the most visible representatives of our faith, this is a great responsibility and a challenge we must respond to with enthusiasm, inshallah. All Muslim women should be at the forefront of Islamic activism both vocal, visible and smiling.

Indeed dare I say it and invoke a chorus of ‘Astaghfirullahs’?…… Brothers and sisters I know you are happy to be Muslim, then why not demonstrate this to all those passers-by and to your fellow Muslims: smile at each other.

“Smiling at your brother’s face is as charity (Sadaqa)”. Abdullah ibn al Harith tells us about the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying that he had never seen someone smile at the other’s face as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to do.

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