Why I Wear a Head Scarf

    My family and I are Muslim. In other words, we practice Islam. Islam is one of the world’s largest religions. It has many beautiful traditions. 

    I love going to the mosque, the Muslim place of worship. I like the spicy foods we eat when we’re together. And I like going to religious classes twice a week.

    In class, we use a book called the Koran (kuh-RAN). It’s the holy book for Muslims. We study it, just as Christian people study the Bible or Jewish people study the Torah.

    My religion has taught me important lessons. Muslims believe that all people are equal and that we should help each other.

    My family practices Islam, which is one of the world’s largest religions. Another way of saying that is that we’re Muslim. Like all religions, Islam has many beautiful traditions. These traditions are special and meaningful to me.

    I love going to the mosque, which is the Muslim place of worship. I like the spicy foods we eat when we’re together, like dumplings and chicken dishes. And I enjoy learning about my religion at my religious classes twice a week.

    In class, we study the Koran (kuh-RAN)—the holy book for Muslims—the same way Christian people study the Bible and Jewish people study the Torah.

    My religion has taught me many valuable lessons—ones that really aren’t that different from most other religions. For example, Muslims believe that all people are equal and that we should help each other however we can.

    I’ve been wearing the hijab for five years now. Putting it on in the morning is a normal thing, like doing my hair. When I get home, I take it off. It’s a part of who I am.

    Praying is also a part of who I am. Muslims do five daily prayers at specific times. Sometimes I have to stop my tennis match to pray. I’ve also prayed in restaurants and on the sidewalk outside of school.

    Once, my friends and I were at an arcade. When I stopped to pray, a woman started making weird faces at me. My friends told her to stop.

    My closest friends are not Muslim. But they support me and my religion. They even try the spicy foods! I’m lucky to have these friends in my life.

    Making friends with people who seem different is important. Sticking by them is too. It makes all of us stronger.

    I’ve been wearing the hijab for five years now. Putting it on each morning is a totally normal thing, like doing my hair. When I get home, I remove it. It’s simply a part of who I am.

    Praying is also a part of who I am. Muslims do five daily prayers at very specific times, which sometimes means I have to stop my tennis match to pray. I’ve also prayed in restaurants and on the sidewalk outside of school.

    Once, my friends and I were at an arcade when I stopped to pray. A woman started making weird faces at me, but my friends defended my right to practice my religion.

    None of my closest friends are Muslim, but they support me and my religion. They even sample the spicy foods! I’m fortunate to have these friends in my life.

    Making friends with people who appear different is incredibly important, and so is respecting and supporting them: It makes all of us stronger.