“There are two types of the people of Hell whom I have not seen: men in whose hands are whips like the tails of cattle, with which they beat the people, and women who are clothed yet naked, with their heads like the humps of camels, tilted to one side. They will not enter Paradise nor even smell its fragrance.”

This is a saying attributed to the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Years ago, when the hijab styles from the Gulf region suddenly emphasized large poofs with pious sexy, volumizing head wraps — a few said this was a sign of the Day of Judgment (even though the Gulf style doesn’t really look like a camel’s hump or lean to the side — and is worn by women in niqab, abaya and jilbab, who hardly look naked). Nevertheless, warnings were given to those misguided enough to stuff their hijabs, and some had lively debates if stuffing your hijab a form of deception.

Well, I’m happy to announce that this fashion trend has sailed.

Hijab, like other “must-haves” in the fashion world, swings from extreme to extreme whenever the designers muse it’s time to refresh that tired headpiece.

The new Gulf hijab style is tight around the neck, with a smooth, flat head and one tail dangling over the shoulder. It’s like a cross between the Al-Amira hijab and the Turkish hijab style.

Simple and lovely.

So while it’s very interesting that a sign of the Day of Judgment has been gleaned from fleeting fashion (even though the Prophet himself said he didn’t actually see the examples he gave) — it’s good to know my short hairstyle is the in-thing, and I no longer have to stuff my hijab, hazard pins in my head, worry about hellfire or get a mouthful of Georgette each time I inhale.


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