#whduw

World Hijab Day, a movement that was founded by Nazma Khan in 2013, occurs annually on February 1. It was created with the purpose of recognizing the millions of women, specifically Muslim, who choose to incorporate the garment piece in their dress and lifestyle. It serves purpose as a learning experience, as all women are invited to wear the hijab for a day. The end goal is to promote religious tolerance and disassociate the incorrect assumptions that the hijab symbolizes segregation and oppression. At the University of Washington, the United Muslim Relief UW Seattle chapter commemorates their second year of hosting World Hijab Day on campus.

During the volunteer session, Ferdose Idris (left) and Fatima El-ghazali (right) help the United Muslim Relief UW Seattle create materials for the World Hijab Day tabling session, Friday Jan. 29, 2016, in Seattle, Washington. Inside UW’s Student Organization Resource Center, they assist the group by making poster-boards, signs and fliers. (Photo by Sidney Sullivan)

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Outside the Husky Union Building, the United Muslim Relief UW Seattle’s members rotate shifts tending their tabling station from 10a.m. to 4:30p.m., Monday Feb. 1, 2016, in Seattle, Washington. Members report that on average, the table attracts the attention of approximately 100 people per hour. (Photo by Sidney Sullivan)

“Girls usually pick up the hijab around puberty, because at this time people are believed to become accountable for their actions. So some girls begin wearing it seriously earlier than others. Some girls may stop wearing it. And some may never wear it. The reason behind it [the choice] is personal,” said group member Dina Al-Bassyiouni.

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Group members, Amani Azzaidani (left) and Rabbia Pasha (right), straighten and readjust the multitude of donated scarves for this event, Monday Feb. 1, 2016, in Seattle, Washington. The nonprofit organization collected a total of 76 scarves, all of which were provided by a single donor. (Photo by Sidney Sullivan)

“The hijab is traditionally not worn in front of men you are not supposed to marry, including fathers, brothers and uncles. When around female friends and family, it can be taken off. But sometimes I don’t want to, because it covers up a bad hair day,” said Azzaidani.

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Medina Khedir assists a participant in securing a hijab, Monday Feb. 1, 2016, in Seattle, Washington. All women, both non-Muslims and non-Hijabi Muslims, are encouraged to experience the hijab for however long they feel comfortable, Monday Feb. 1, 2016, in Seattle, Washington. Members are pleasantly surprised to find that many participants actively choose to wear the hijab for the entire day. (Photo by Sidney Sullivan)

“I like being in control of what others see of me, especially in the modern-day world. Because I am fully covered, people are forced to judge me based on my personality, opposed to my appearance,” said Khedir.

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Dina Al-Bassyiouni distributes informative fliers about World Hijab Day to a passersby, Monday Feb. 1, 2016, in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Sidney Sullivan)

“I enjoy wearing the hijab, but I am not forced to wear it. You are not just your appearance. My hijab forces people to look at me for who I am and what I stand for. I cannot compare myself to someone else, and someone else can’t compare themselves to me,” said Al-Bassyiouni. 

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Inside the UW Allen Library Research Commons, the organization hosts a discussion session from 4:30p.m. to 6:30p.m., in order to help conclude World Hijab Day, Monday Feb. 1, 2016, in Seattle, Washington. Together, students, faculty and Pipeline Project representatives gather to discuss and share their varying personal experiences with the hijab. (Photo by Sidney Sullivan)

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Rabbia Pasha, secretary of the United Muslim Relief UW Seattle, helps guide the discussion as she answers questions related to the head garment, Monday Feb. 1, 2016, in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Sidney Sullivan)

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One major takeaway point the group elaborates on is that contrary to American media wearing the hijab is a choice, Friday Jan. 29, 2016, in Seattle, Washington. Calling from a verse in the Quran, they stress that people who wear hijabs, verses people who do not wear hijabs, are not more or less religious than the other. (Photo by Sidney Sullivan)

Let there be no compulsion in religion: Quran 2:256.