Hijab, and Parents, and Mosque OH MY!

I went, I saw, I conquered. But before I did that I thought I was going to be ill from the butterflies in my stomach. Sis came to get me so we could walk together and I wouldn't be alone my first time in hijab. We all piled into the car and the rest is history. His family is extremely nice. His father is very funny and his mother is sweet. I think they like me...Isha'Allah.

So this is what I learned:

Hijab is rather comfortable once you get use to it. You forget the scarf is there and abayas are awesome. I want to wear one all the time. You don't have to worry about neck lines shifting or mid-drifts showing. Everything is nicely hidden under comfy fabric. And yes people look but I noticed that I don't care. I thought I would, but I don't. I think it is because I am quite comfortable in hijab. Maybe my transition into a hijabi won't be so bad after all.

The mosque is actually quite cozy. It reminds me of a person's living room with soft carpeted floors and a big TV in the front so you can see the speaker. It also projects english translations to Du'as which was awesome for me. This particular mosque was bright and inviting. Everyone sat on the floor and listened. And the people were QUIET! People talk a lot in church and small children run around all over the place. Here everyone, give or take the children, was quiet and listened to the speaker. It was nice being in a room with people who wanted to be there.

I like that we are separated from the men. Although I wish I could see the actual speaker but the TV wasn't so bad. I found it easier to focus without the men around and felt a larger sense of community just being around women. I feel out of place most of the time, was nice to feel "in" place for once.

Muslims do not all know Arabic. In fact, they don't know all the prayers by heart. They need books sometimes. And it is ok to not know. This made me feel a lot better about what I would be expected to learn.

No one asked me if I was Turkish ( I get that a lot). All the women were kind, said "Asalaam Aleikum" and smiled. No one stared even though I was the only white woman in the room. I was just like everyone else, it was nice.

Mosques ask for money just like churches do and you are expected to give money to the mosque you are registered with just like a church.

Mosques serve food before services and it is GOOD FOOD

You do not have to wear an abaya to the mosque. You don't even have to wear a scarf if one is not praying. I might not wear my abaya next time but i will certainly wear a scarf.

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All in all it was a wonderful experience and I can't wait to go back. Isha'Allah I will be invited back. I want to experience that feeling of being "in place" again.

Salaam