Hijab framed as a tool for freedom, professional success, and spiritual fulfillment, says Malama Zaynab Jibril

By Abdullahi Yusuf

Muslim women from across Nigeria gathered Sunday at the Women Centre in Abuja to mark World Hijab Day 2026, where Malama Zaynab Jibril delivered a keynote lecture emphasizing the hijab as a symbol of faith, obedience, and global sisterhood.

The lecture, titled “The Hijab: A Sign of Sisterhood and Unity,” explored the spiritual, social, and cultural significance of the hijab, linking it to principles of obedience to Allah, equality, and freedom from societal pressures.

Speaking to a diverse audience of women and community leaders, Jibril said the hijab is “more than fabric; it is a powerful symbol of sisterhood, unity and shared faith that binds Muslim women across the world.” She described sisterhood as a support system that provides safety, confidence, and a “safe space” for women, regardless of blood ties or social differences.

Jibril cited Quranic verses on the hijab, including Surah Al-Ahzab (33:59) and Surah An-Nur (24:31), emphasizing that covering is a divine injunction and an act of worship. “When we wear the hijab in response to Allah’s command, we are united in our submission, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, or social status,” she said.

The lecture drew on historical examples, noting the immediate and collective adoption of the hijab by the women of Medina. “The women of the Muhajiroon and the Ansar, though from different tribes, united in obedience,” she said, highlighting early Islamic practices as a model of cohesion and unity.

Jibril framed the hijab as an instrument of personal freedom, allowing women to reject objectification, societal beauty standards, and superficial judgments. She stressed that hijab-wearing women in Nigeria and globally including doctors, lawyers, engineers, and entrepreneurs can maintain both their professional ambitions and Islamic identity.

“True freedom is the ability to make conscious choices that align with one’s beliefs,” she said. “The hijab is a declaration of faith, a shield of modesty, and a banner of unity.”

The lecture also addressed contemporary challenges, including discrimination and Islamophobia, encouraging Muslim women to support one another across ethnic and regional lines, mentor younger sisters, and defend each other’s dignity.

Jibril invoked the Prophet Muhammad’s teachings on Muslim brotherhood and sisterhood, noting that the hijab creates recognition, mutual understanding, and equality among women. She concluded by urging attendees to embrace the hijab as a symbol of obedience to Allah, spiritual dignity, and global sisterhood.

“The hijab stands as a powerful symbol that obedience and freedom are partners in the path to fulfillment,” she said. “In a Nigeria where ethnic and religious tensions sometimes threaten peace, let Muslim women in hijab be ambassadors of unity, love, and understanding.”

The event marked part of ongoing World Hijab Day activities, highlighting faith, identity, and solidarity among women from diverse Nigerian communities.