When we talk about modesty, our minds often go straight to the visible: how much skin we cover, how we wrap our hijab, and how others might perceive us. But as I've come to realize through my own journey with hijab and modesty, it is so much more than just a dress code—it’s an inward state, a quiet act of devotion that can be deeply creative and profoundly personal.
As someone who knits and sews many of my own clothes, I've always had a more intimate relationship with my own clothing than if I just buy it off the shelf at a store. When I make something for myself, I choose every single detail with care and consideration - the purpose of the garment, the pattern I will use, the way it will fit me, the type of fabric or yarn and how it will feel on my skin. With every stitch, I’m creating something thoughtful, intentional, and deeply rooted in who I am and who I want to be.
And I've realized, modesty can (and maybe should) feel like that too.
Modesty, and the clothing I choose to fulfill that value, can be a tender expression of my relationship with Allah.
Instead of seeing hijab, and modesty more broadly, as a rulebook, what if we approached getting dressed similarly to how we would approach hand-making a garment? With care. With individuality. With love.
Creating an intimate and intentional relationship to the clothes on our body in order to honor what’s sacred between us and our Creator.
Maybe modesty, like journaling, like dua, like handmade clothes, is another avenue we can take to not only get to know ourselves better and express our deeply-held values, but also to continue to seek a more intimate relationship with our Creator.
Are you looking to create a more intimate relationship with the clothes you choose, and through those choices, deepen your relationship with Allah? The Dua Journal - Self Love is a beautiful space to explore this idea further and take the next steps on that journey.