Shakirah Hunter

A young girl, wearing a black abaya and hijab looked tiny as she walked through the midst of a crowd. Surrounded by Hindutva men screaming at her and chanting for Muslim women to remove their hijab, suddenly a different scene unfolds. One that leaves you with goosebumps and a deep sense of awe. This young girl who seemed so tiny suddenly becomes a lioness. Her voice is ferocious as she roars the words “Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!”.

Her faith shines through so strongly, such a deep war cry of every Mu’min faced with the test of Iman. Those around her are many and stronger – it does not seem to matter. Without flinching, no hesitation and a deep strength of faith. Watching the video back recalled the verse of the Qur’aan:

“Surely, those who have declared: “Our Lord is Allah”, then remained steadfast, on them the angels will descend, saying, “Do not fear, and do not grieve; and be happy with the good news of the Jannah (Paradise) that you had been promised”.

Muskaan khan, a student at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial college in India’s Karnataka responds to a pack of men following her and chanting with the first statement that cements her reason for wearing her hijab- Allah is Greater! – she then yells out with a deep clarity: “Who do they think they are to snatch my right? My hijab is my right. Who do they think they are?!”

This act of incredible faith and strength by this young girl prompted the Jamiatul Ulema Hind to make an announcement that an account had been set up for Bibi Muskaan Khan with the total amount of five lakh which is five hundred thousand rupees. In a video the General secretary of the Jamiat Ulema – e – Din has spoken to the family, and they commended the family on this incredible act of bravery by their daughter. They assured the family that they supported them and will stand by them. This is an act that highlights the deep pride the Muslim Ummah has in the taqwa and the Tawakkul of this Young girl.

Muslims around the world were deeply touched by this show of faith, with thousands of social media users calling her ‘brave’, a ‘lioness’ and ‘hijab is our faith’. People described the video with the word “goosebumps’ and certainly it made one feel the pain, the choice , the pride and the certainty of Iman that makes a young girl who outwardly seems so tiny – roar with that deep certainty of faith.

The ban on Islamic headscarves has outraged Muslim students who say it’s an attack on their faith enshrined in India’s secular constitution, while Hindu right-wing groups have tried to prevent Muslim women from entering educational institutions causing communal tension.