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Hijabistan
A young kleptomaniac infuses thrill into her suffocating life by using her abaya to steal lipsticks and flash men. An office worker feels empowered through sex, shunning her inhibitions but not her hijab ... until she realizes that the real veil is drawn across her desires and not her body. A British-Asian Muslim girl finds herself drawn to the jihad in Syria only to realize the real fight is inside her. A young Pakistani bride in the West asserts her identity through the hijab in her new and unfamiliar surroundings, leading to unexpected consequences. The hijab constricts as it liberates. Not just a piece of garment, it is a worldview, an emblem of the assertion of a Muslim woman's identity, and equally a symbol of oppression. Set in Pakistan and the UK, this unusual and provocative collection of short stories explores the lives of women crushed under the weight of the all-encompassing veil and those who feel sheltered by it.
224 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2019
29 people are currently reading
558 people want to read
About the author
Sabyn Javeri
3 books17 followersSabyn Javeri was born in Pakistan and now lives between London and Karachi, where she teaches Creative Writing at the university level. A graduate of the University of Oxford, she has a PhD from the University of Leicester. Her short stories have been published in literary journals such as The South Asian Review, The London Magazine, The Oxonian Review, Wasafiri, Trespass, Bengal Lights, Sugar Mule and in award-winning anthologies and creative writing text books. She has also received the Oxonion Review Short Story Award and was shortlisted for the first Tibor Jones Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
January 18, 2021
“Hijabistan”, a self-explanatory title, is a collection of short stories attempting to shatter long lived stereotypes of Pakistani women in light of the modern day feminist movement. Often perceived as demure, oppressed and filial, the book intends to portray the darker, defiant side of Pakistani women - at the expense of religion, of course.
I’m all for debunking the myth that women of a shared ethnicity are carbon copies of each other, but instead of actually challenging stereotypes in a meaningful way through the creative medium of storytelling, these writers embarrassingly perpetuate stereotypes in a wholly counterproductive manner.
I am not denying that there are aspects of Pakistani culture that require reform, for there is much to be said about the ongoing abuse of women’s rights, however, Hijabistan just comes across as grossly desperate in its effort to portray Pakistani women as the antithesis of docility. Absolutely no attempt is made at reconciling/separating culture and religion. The only thing this succeeds in is demonstrating the nauseating eagerness some writers of colour have to entertain and pander to a Western/feminist audience.
What I particularly disliked was the exaggerated, overtly sexual language and poor writing. It’s almost as if the writers had a brainstorming session in which they took turns listing every vulgar, explicit and voyeuristic scenario they could think of and then distributed the outputs after the session, making sure each story was just as, if not more, disturbing and outlandish than the last. Who said Pakistani women aren’t raunchy?
If you’re looking for a read that amalgamates every single inaccurate, negative Pakistani and Muslim stereotype/narrative, look no further: Hijabistan will provide you with liberating pre-marital sex, phenomenal rejection of morals, sensational pseudo-religious abuse and, of course, exciting acts of terr0rism.
1/5 ⭐️
(the reason it doesn’t get 0 is because there was a part that was so absurd I laughed out loud - serotonin procured✔️).
I’m all for debunking the myth that women of a shared ethnicity are carbon copies of each other, but instead of actually challenging stereotypes in a meaningful way through the creative medium of storytelling, these writers embarrassingly perpetuate stereotypes in a wholly counterproductive manner.
I am not denying that there are aspects of Pakistani culture that require reform, for there is much to be said about the ongoing abuse of women’s rights, however, Hijabistan just comes across as grossly desperate in its effort to portray Pakistani women as the antithesis of docility. Absolutely no attempt is made at reconciling/separating culture and religion. The only thing this succeeds in is demonstrating the nauseating eagerness some writers of colour have to entertain and pander to a Western/feminist audience.
What I particularly disliked was the exaggerated, overtly sexual language and poor writing. It’s almost as if the writers had a brainstorming session in which they took turns listing every vulgar, explicit and voyeuristic scenario they could think of and then distributed the outputs after the session, making sure each story was just as, if not more, disturbing and outlandish than the last. Who said Pakistani women aren’t raunchy?
If you’re looking for a read that amalgamates every single inaccurate, negative Pakistani and Muslim stereotype/narrative, look no further: Hijabistan will provide you with liberating pre-marital sex, phenomenal rejection of morals, sensational pseudo-religious abuse and, of course, exciting acts of terr0rism.
1/5 ⭐️
(the reason it doesn’t get 0 is because there was a part that was so absurd I laughed out loud - serotonin procured✔️).
August 10, 2019
Before I was in doubt but now I am pretty sure that the author is an Islamophobe. The pseudo-liberal paints her 'conservative' mentality by focusing on the negatives in a certain group amalgamating it with vulgarity. Reading the book was nothing but a sheer waste of time.
September 17, 2019
In her story, menstruation was a thing to be hushed, veiled and concealed— not celebrated. It was the moment when honour was replaced by shame, friendship with humiliation, and love by fear. For girls in her part of the world, pads were concealed in brown paper bags like counterfeits, films on the subject were banned, and the denial of a natural state wa encouraged. They were called impure, napak and unclean. This was not something to be discussed...not now, not ever. And, so in that one moment as she saw her father turn away from her and her mother in denial, Assia found clarity. She knew now why it was called the period. Because, like a full stop, this moment in a girl’s life put an end to all conversations.
Period.
-
There are so many passages in this book that are as relatable as this one. I absolutely loved this book and ya’ll should read it too. So many of us put people in boxes like this girl wears hijab, she is pious. That girl wears jeans, she is not. And so on. Sabyn kicked all those boxes and gives you a very new prespective.
Period.
-
There are so many passages in this book that are as relatable as this one. I absolutely loved this book and ya’ll should read it too. So many of us put people in boxes like this girl wears hijab, she is pious. That girl wears jeans, she is not. And so on. Sabyn kicked all those boxes and gives you a very new prespective.
March 15, 2019
Sabyn Javeri’s ‘Hijabistan’ is a collection of short stories themed on the ‘Hijabi’ culture or ‘women in a veil’. Set in Pakistan and the UK, these sixteen short stories explores the life of women crushed under their abaya. The book talks about women liberation, though it was anything but that. Before you proceed on reading my review, let me tell you that you might not agree with my opinion about this book but well! Not everyone has the same taste. The book centers women who feels trapped in their abaya yet they do nothing, as they are too weak to face the consequences, while there are women who feels safe hiding beneath their abaya. The first few stories did live up to the title of the book, but as the book progresses, it went completely off track. In some stories, the author tried hard to fit ‘hijab’ into the picture but failed miserably. I don’t know why the book promised ‘Feminism’. All I could see were women who are too weak to take a stand for themselves.
I picked up this book just for its stunning cover and the title but this was heights of disappointment for me. Like I said, your views might be different from mine so give it a read if you want to.
I picked up this book just for its stunning cover and the title but this was heights of disappointment for me. Like I said, your views might be different from mine so give it a read if you want to.
March 3, 2019
A book that has been marketed as a leading voice of feminism should at least have those elements in it.
This review might turn into a rant, but well!
The story starts with women who feel that their hijab or abaya is a cage, trapping their sexuality. The theme suddenly moves to be told what to do and what not to by the male(and sometimes the female) members of the family. But i don't think that's a reason to make sexually explicit choices, which happens again and again throughout the book.
These 'trapped' women aren't ready to accept the consequences of their actions and that is a huge letdown. Empowerment comes from within too.
I understand the message the author wants to convey, but neither the writing nor the disjointed, misconstrued plot supports it.
.
✨Even if I leave morality at the doorstep, I don't see the point on most of the stories. The stories do get a bit better towards the end of this collection, but there's this sense of something missing throughout.
I was deeply unsatisfied with this collection and wouldn't recommend it at all. But then, as we all say, every reader is different.
This review might turn into a rant, but well!
The story starts with women who feel that their hijab or abaya is a cage, trapping their sexuality. The theme suddenly moves to be told what to do and what not to by the male(and sometimes the female) members of the family. But i don't think that's a reason to make sexually explicit choices, which happens again and again throughout the book.
These 'trapped' women aren't ready to accept the consequences of their actions and that is a huge letdown. Empowerment comes from within too.
I understand the message the author wants to convey, but neither the writing nor the disjointed, misconstrued plot supports it.
.
✨Even if I leave morality at the doorstep, I don't see the point on most of the stories. The stories do get a bit better towards the end of this collection, but there's this sense of something missing throughout.
I was deeply unsatisfied with this collection and wouldn't recommend it at all. But then, as we all say, every reader is different.
August 6, 2020
If you want to waste your money on a book that blatantly bashes hijab in the name of feminism then this is the book for you. I have never regretted buying a book as much as i do with this one. Sabyn Javeri just spews crap after crap in each short story and the book gets progressively worse. I understand that hijab is not liberating for everyone. When forced it does become a burden to carry but that does not mean hijabis go about flashing random men on streets or hide their adultery behind it. Yep! most of the short stories have an underlying sexual tone to them. I might be wrong but this is not the Pakistan or rather hijabistan i know of. Honestly speaking i dont want to keep this book in my collection and at the same time i don't want to give it away either. I just want to bury it or burn it. That's how much this book makes me mad. .
.
.
1/5 🌟 Utter rubbish packed in a pretty exterior.
.
.
1/5 🌟 Utter rubbish packed in a pretty exterior.
September 15, 2019
Every time I finished a short story from this book I wanted to not read the next one. Being a hijabi myself, however I felt that maybe I was being too sensitive and so I did finish the book. I should have not though. Either I failed to make sense of the premise or there wasn’t any at all. In every story I felt that the author has tried to compensate for the fact that the girl is a hijabi. Whether its a preference, an issue or an unethical doing, I am not judging the act itself but I fail to understand why it is a compensation or a required fulfillment for the character’s hijab. Didn’t make sense to me at all. Super disappointing🙄
March 2, 2019
A really interesting collection of short stories that explores Muslim, mostly Pakistani, female sexuality across a spectrum. It's well worth a read because, frankly, I don't think there's anything like this out there. There's much in here that people won't agree with, and in the current atmosphere it's nothing short of an act of courage to publish a book of this kind.
March 15, 2019
An Anthology of 16 short stories written by Sabyn Javeri; some from previous publications. As the title suggest, these stories are all on the common theme of girls and women in Hijabs. However that is where the commonality ends.
The Date: An office worker feels empowered by her sexuality despite her hijab or because of it.
The Urge: A growing up tale of a kleptomaniac who succumbs to her urges as she goes about claiming freedom.
Radha: A sex worker who refuses to bow down to circumstances and give up her pride despite all the pain and humiliation.
An Irreplaceable Loss: A young maid finds herself out of a job from the house of her new Madam within the shortest span of time.
The Adulteress: The Housewife turned Author rediscovers herself in another man’s arms finding a new found respect for herself and her life.
The Lovers: The tale of blooming young love between a Pakistani girl and her American friend.
A World without Men: The unlikely friendship and love between a divorced American Professor and her young Pakistani friend.
Under the Flyover: A young couple trying to find some privacy in the streets and gardens of Pakistan escaping from their trying marital situation.
The Full Stop: A young girl getting her first Period suddenly realizes her life is way different from that of all the Western protagonists in her books.
The Girl Who Split in Two: The young Militant girl who discovers the futility of Jihad while backtracking on her decisions and path.
Malady of the Heart: A London based young mother from Pakistan has to fight against her own mother as she contemplates Divorce on the basis of her Adultery.
The Hijab and Her: The young student who tries to explain and assert her right to use her hijab only to realize the futility of it all.
Fifty Shades at Fifty: A middle aged couple rediscover themselves as they muddle ahead understanding and accepting each other.
Only in London: A young Pakistani girl tries to fit in to her present life in every way yet remains a misfit despite all her attempts to adapt.
The Good Wife: The Pakistani bride who refuses to give up her Hijab despite her London born spouse’s cajoling only to face having him labelled a Terrorist.
Coach Annie: The spotty, balding young girl in her hijab who goes on to inspire and coach an entire team of burly American football players finding acceptance and support from the unlikeliest place.
Recommendation: An interesting mix of simple yet thought provoking stories. If you want a mixed bag of sorts, this one is for you.
Rating: 2.5/5
The Date: An office worker feels empowered by her sexuality despite her hijab or because of it.
The Urge: A growing up tale of a kleptomaniac who succumbs to her urges as she goes about claiming freedom.
Radha: A sex worker who refuses to bow down to circumstances and give up her pride despite all the pain and humiliation.
An Irreplaceable Loss: A young maid finds herself out of a job from the house of her new Madam within the shortest span of time.
The Adulteress: The Housewife turned Author rediscovers herself in another man’s arms finding a new found respect for herself and her life.
The Lovers: The tale of blooming young love between a Pakistani girl and her American friend.
A World without Men: The unlikely friendship and love between a divorced American Professor and her young Pakistani friend.
Under the Flyover: A young couple trying to find some privacy in the streets and gardens of Pakistan escaping from their trying marital situation.
The Full Stop: A young girl getting her first Period suddenly realizes her life is way different from that of all the Western protagonists in her books.
The Girl Who Split in Two: The young Militant girl who discovers the futility of Jihad while backtracking on her decisions and path.
Malady of the Heart: A London based young mother from Pakistan has to fight against her own mother as she contemplates Divorce on the basis of her Adultery.
The Hijab and Her: The young student who tries to explain and assert her right to use her hijab only to realize the futility of it all.
Fifty Shades at Fifty: A middle aged couple rediscover themselves as they muddle ahead understanding and accepting each other.
Only in London: A young Pakistani girl tries to fit in to her present life in every way yet remains a misfit despite all her attempts to adapt.
The Good Wife: The Pakistani bride who refuses to give up her Hijab despite her London born spouse’s cajoling only to face having him labelled a Terrorist.
Coach Annie: The spotty, balding young girl in her hijab who goes on to inspire and coach an entire team of burly American football players finding acceptance and support from the unlikeliest place.
Recommendation: An interesting mix of simple yet thought provoking stories. If you want a mixed bag of sorts, this one is for you.
Rating: 2.5/5
March 22, 2019
When the cover reveal of this book was done, I was stunned! Such a gorgeous cover. The colors, the art,the title everything is perfect. The title of the book ‘Hijabistan’ is perfect, as its an anthology of 16 stories of women who wear Hijab.
Some stories are from Pakistan and some from around the world. The only thing common between them is the Hijab. Each story is different and unique in itself. The stories are about these 16 different women- how they feel, what a Hijab is for them, their sexual urges and their inhibitions.
You’ll ask why sexual urges?
As per Islam, every woman should cover her body with a veil which is called Hijab.
It is written in the Quran “And say to the believing women that’s they should lower their gaze and guard their modest…………that they should draw their veils and not display their beauty.”
So I feel that writing about the sexual urges, the inhibitions of these women and also how society has pre-notions about women wearing Hijab is very liberating and empowering. The author has penned down a very realistic picture of their world. The writing is very honest and very well edited.
Many people didn’t like this book for the focus the stories had on sexual orientation but honestly, I felt that there is very little written on this topic. I have read a few books about women and life in general in Pakistan and Afghanistan, that’s why I found this book to be very realistic and intriguing.
I would definitely recommend you this book if: You love short stories and if you are okay with reading about content which has more focus on sexual desires.
I would also like to request the readers, please read it without any preconceptions or expectations and do not complain that you couldn’t connect with the stories. You wont be able to connect if you are not a Muslim and it’s okay, because their religion, their culture, their society is absolutely different then what we live in. Accept that fact and you will be able to enjoy the book:)
Some of my favorite stories from the book were: The Urge, Malady of the Heart, The Good Wife.
Happy reading 🙂
Some stories are from Pakistan and some from around the world. The only thing common between them is the Hijab. Each story is different and unique in itself. The stories are about these 16 different women- how they feel, what a Hijab is for them, their sexual urges and their inhibitions.
You’ll ask why sexual urges?
As per Islam, every woman should cover her body with a veil which is called Hijab.
It is written in the Quran “And say to the believing women that’s they should lower their gaze and guard their modest…………that they should draw their veils and not display their beauty.”
So I feel that writing about the sexual urges, the inhibitions of these women and also how society has pre-notions about women wearing Hijab is very liberating and empowering. The author has penned down a very realistic picture of their world. The writing is very honest and very well edited.
Many people didn’t like this book for the focus the stories had on sexual orientation but honestly, I felt that there is very little written on this topic. I have read a few books about women and life in general in Pakistan and Afghanistan, that’s why I found this book to be very realistic and intriguing.
I would definitely recommend you this book if: You love short stories and if you are okay with reading about content which has more focus on sexual desires.
I would also like to request the readers, please read it without any preconceptions or expectations and do not complain that you couldn’t connect with the stories. You wont be able to connect if you are not a Muslim and it’s okay, because their religion, their culture, their society is absolutely different then what we live in. Accept that fact and you will be able to enjoy the book:)
Some of my favorite stories from the book were: The Urge, Malady of the Heart, The Good Wife.
Happy reading 🙂
March 20, 2019
I was waiting to put this post till today as today is the “Holi” the festival of colours and every time I see this book, this reminds me of Holi.
Talking about this book, Very first point I found attractive and no one can ignore is it has such a wonderful cover design. The colourful cover with sketch looks wonderful and significant to the stories.
The book has several short stories. The title “Hijabistan” has word the “Hijab” in it. That means “Veil” or covering. Stories are generally based of Pakistan where females have to cover herself in “Hijab”
There they think beauty of a girl is not to be shown to everyone except her husband. I loved the line used “A beautiful girl like you should be hidden from prying eyes.”
Few stories really touched my heart such as the story “The Urge” in that a girl is forced to wear Hijab and she became used to it. She began doing makeup and wearing Western dresses underneath it. She feels it’s a freedom to do hair, makeup and clothes according to her choice and no one could judge. That was really heart touching one.
There are deeply touching incidents are mentioned such as if a girl got caught applying makeup, she is punished. If a teenager girl is caught talking to any boy, her family made her marry to someone that has quite elder than her. The girl doesn’t want her girl child to survive because she doesn’t want to suffer her girl what she had suffered. Those parts were really emotional and heart touching.
I like the plot. I loved several stories as these kinds of books should be encouraged to bring change in society. I am working in a rural area so I believe that still there are many areas in which women needs empowerment. Stories are interesting and all ended with unexpected twists and turns. Overall good one.
Talking about this book, Very first point I found attractive and no one can ignore is it has such a wonderful cover design. The colourful cover with sketch looks wonderful and significant to the stories.
The book has several short stories. The title “Hijabistan” has word the “Hijab” in it. That means “Veil” or covering. Stories are generally based of Pakistan where females have to cover herself in “Hijab”
There they think beauty of a girl is not to be shown to everyone except her husband. I loved the line used “A beautiful girl like you should be hidden from prying eyes.”
Few stories really touched my heart such as the story “The Urge” in that a girl is forced to wear Hijab and she became used to it. She began doing makeup and wearing Western dresses underneath it. She feels it’s a freedom to do hair, makeup and clothes according to her choice and no one could judge. That was really heart touching one.
There are deeply touching incidents are mentioned such as if a girl got caught applying makeup, she is punished. If a teenager girl is caught talking to any boy, her family made her marry to someone that has quite elder than her. The girl doesn’t want her girl child to survive because she doesn’t want to suffer her girl what she had suffered. Those parts were really emotional and heart touching.
I like the plot. I loved several stories as these kinds of books should be encouraged to bring change in society. I am working in a rural area so I believe that still there are many areas in which women needs empowerment. Stories are interesting and all ended with unexpected twists and turns. Overall good one.
April 9, 2019
Hijabistan by Sabyn Javeri is a collection short stories dealt with emotions of Muslim women hidden behind their Hijab.
The book contains 16 short stories each having their own significance. Certain stories were meaningful and engaging yet some stories lacked explanation. All the stories were filled with erotic feelings concealed by Muslim women unveiled through the authors thought, that one denies divulging.
The Hijab concept practiced only in Muslim community and these women are bound to it. Upon wearing them they become invisible not only from the world but also in expressing their perceptions and emotion.
The author has penned down her thoughts about the true nature of the society and how Muslim women are treated by abandoning their thoughts and feelings. The author exposed the truth with utmost honesty. As all the stories based on Muslim women’s and their culture, we might lack to interpret the true meaning behind the storyline at some places.
Stories I liked most are “The Lovers”, “Fifty Shades at Fifty” and “Coach Annie”. These stories explicitly describes the feelings and desires that woman faced today irrespective of woman empowerment in some places.
The cover of the book is beautiful and appropriate that matches the book content.
I would like to recommend this book to all readers who loves short stories inclined with erotic touch.
My rating is 3.5 stars for this short read.
The book contains 16 short stories each having their own significance. Certain stories were meaningful and engaging yet some stories lacked explanation. All the stories were filled with erotic feelings concealed by Muslim women unveiled through the authors thought, that one denies divulging.
The Hijab concept practiced only in Muslim community and these women are bound to it. Upon wearing them they become invisible not only from the world but also in expressing their perceptions and emotion.
The author has penned down her thoughts about the true nature of the society and how Muslim women are treated by abandoning their thoughts and feelings. The author exposed the truth with utmost honesty. As all the stories based on Muslim women’s and their culture, we might lack to interpret the true meaning behind the storyline at some places.
Stories I liked most are “The Lovers”, “Fifty Shades at Fifty” and “Coach Annie”. These stories explicitly describes the feelings and desires that woman faced today irrespective of woman empowerment in some places.
The cover of the book is beautiful and appropriate that matches the book content.
I would like to recommend this book to all readers who loves short stories inclined with erotic touch.
My rating is 3.5 stars for this short read.
December 26, 2019
Every single story in this collection is a gem, thematically strung together with the hijab as the common thread. There are stories of oppression, of emancipation, even a story that doesn't feature the hijab as a physical object, but a loosely implied metaphorical one. Some are set in London, in the US, in Pakistan. At least a couple of stories don't shy away from mentioning ISIS and suicide bombers.
My only quibble would be that although the idea sounds excellent on paper, the stories don't work together as a collection. Maybe it's the sequence, maybe it's the choice of stories that were included (I'm sure they must have been picked from a larger selection). While the book features women in hijab, and the gap between their inner lives and outer realities, it's not a feminist statement in the 'bra-burning' sense. I felt let down when some characters I was rooting for simply felt defeated and accepted their fate - I can see that it is a reality among many women who feel isolated in their lives, but fiction is an opportunity to alter the world, and in this book, apart from a couple of stories, I didn't get a sense the solidarity among women in a similar situation, or for that matter, a singular lifechanging moment of great wisdom that changes.
Also, I wrongly perceived the colours on the cover, to depict some lightness, some joy and some vibrancy (although I realise that they are there to show the colours of the world outside the abaya).
My only quibble would be that although the idea sounds excellent on paper, the stories don't work together as a collection. Maybe it's the sequence, maybe it's the choice of stories that were included (I'm sure they must have been picked from a larger selection). While the book features women in hijab, and the gap between their inner lives and outer realities, it's not a feminist statement in the 'bra-burning' sense. I felt let down when some characters I was rooting for simply felt defeated and accepted their fate - I can see that it is a reality among many women who feel isolated in their lives, but fiction is an opportunity to alter the world, and in this book, apart from a couple of stories, I didn't get a sense the solidarity among women in a similar situation, or for that matter, a singular lifechanging moment of great wisdom that changes.
Also, I wrongly perceived the colours on the cover, to depict some lightness, some joy and some vibrancy (although I realise that they are there to show the colours of the world outside the abaya).
February 27, 2019
The hijab constricts as it liberates! 👊
🔖 Loved the colorful cover! 👀 ( Most of you might know how a good cover seduces me)
🔖 The book isn't a novel, it's a conspicuous grouping of stories which you might goes is based on Muslim Women and centers around Hijabi culture
🔖 The author is valiant, word powering through a series of characters which I wouldn't have known, coming from a free-er Hindu community
🔖 The writing is honest and so well edited!
This book blew my mind. Even though not everyone will like this book, as it is social and women-centric, I would rather have men read this than women! I would love to know what do they think when they think of inhibitions and myths regarding the Muslim feminists. The book had some emotionally enticing stories and some shame smattering ones too. A few of them I couldn't relate to (obviously) but all in all, the book screams get out of your comfort zone, you women!! 😊😁
What I didn't like is how there aren't many books covering this particular topic or talking about rendezvous, gluttony and dastardly sexual acts in the Muslim community. There's that side too, you know. That's what this book is about.
@harpercollinsin You are killing me with the floral colours! You made the hijab in Black, so appealing! 😀😜
🔖 Loved the colorful cover! 👀 ( Most of you might know how a good cover seduces me)
🔖 The book isn't a novel, it's a conspicuous grouping of stories which you might goes is based on Muslim Women and centers around Hijabi culture
🔖 The author is valiant, word powering through a series of characters which I wouldn't have known, coming from a free-er Hindu community
🔖 The writing is honest and so well edited!
This book blew my mind. Even though not everyone will like this book, as it is social and women-centric, I would rather have men read this than women! I would love to know what do they think when they think of inhibitions and myths regarding the Muslim feminists. The book had some emotionally enticing stories and some shame smattering ones too. A few of them I couldn't relate to (obviously) but all in all, the book screams get out of your comfort zone, you women!! 😊😁
What I didn't like is how there aren't many books covering this particular topic or talking about rendezvous, gluttony and dastardly sexual acts in the Muslim community. There's that side too, you know. That's what this book is about.
@harpercollinsin You are killing me with the floral colours! You made the hijab in Black, so appealing! 😀😜
March 23, 2019
Hijabistan is a book of 16 short stories of women, who chose or preferred to wear the hijab. Some stories were set up in modern day Pakistan and some in UK, where all of them were about women in the veil.
Starting from the first story, I realized that this book will be different. It aims to liberalize women and uncover the layers of ideas which the world believes. There are women who choose to wear the hijab, while some don’t. Some women find it comforting and liberating. This book gives an insight to what goes under the hijab in an interesting way.
Theme
It was interesting to read a different side to the stories of women you choose to wear the hijab. It was intriguing in the sense that women wearing a hijab have always been considered as conservative. This book breaks the stereotype and hence make it an interesting read.
Final Thoughts
I loved the last two stories in the book. They were my favorites from the book. I enjoyed the writing style of the author. I recommend this book to all the people who like the theme of the book. The beautiful and colorful cover makes this book a must have, if you’re a hoarder like me.
Starting from the first story, I realized that this book will be different. It aims to liberalize women and uncover the layers of ideas which the world believes. There are women who choose to wear the hijab, while some don’t. Some women find it comforting and liberating. This book gives an insight to what goes under the hijab in an interesting way.
Theme
It was interesting to read a different side to the stories of women you choose to wear the hijab. It was intriguing in the sense that women wearing a hijab have always been considered as conservative. This book breaks the stereotype and hence make it an interesting read.
Final Thoughts
I loved the last two stories in the book. They were my favorites from the book. I enjoyed the writing style of the author. I recommend this book to all the people who like the theme of the book. The beautiful and colorful cover makes this book a must have, if you’re a hoarder like me.
March 30, 2019
3.5 🌠🌠🌠.
Such a pretty colourful cover. This book is a collection of stories based upon women and especially women who belong to the Muslim community and set in Karachi or Pakistan...i liked the theme of these stories because they deal with some topics which are like taboo, or is it reality. Talking about periods, same gender love, equality, love etc are some of the topics which are still not openly discussed. And here the author has woven stories with all these topics. To be honest I was expecting a a bit more from this book. I thoroughly enjoyed a few stories while others I didn't enjoy.
Such a pretty colourful cover. This book is a collection of stories based upon women and especially women who belong to the Muslim community and set in Karachi or Pakistan...i liked the theme of these stories because they deal with some topics which are like taboo, or is it reality. Talking about periods, same gender love, equality, love etc are some of the topics which are still not openly discussed. And here the author has woven stories with all these topics. To be honest I was expecting a a bit more from this book. I thoroughly enjoyed a few stories while others I didn't enjoy.
May 31, 2024
One of the worst books I've ever read. Most of the stories have nothing to do with the Hijab. All the protagonists are unlikeable and portrayed as weak and without any agency. The characters are flat and not well fleshed out. The dialogue is cringy and robotic. The themes and messages are all over the place. The writing is subpar. Do not recommend.
July 19, 2019
Power of Burka: Potential, Politics, and Political Economy of Veil
“it was sweet of him to think she dressed modestly and probably prayed five times. It was sweet of him to think…to think that she was pious. Pure.” (11)
Situated in Pakistan and Pakistani Muslim diaspora in UK, the discourse on hijab gets a new flavor, which simultaneously is nonchalant, provocative, and invigorating. These short stories try exhausting full length of possibilities on how and why hijab is a reality of many women across the globe, hailing from different geographical locations, cultural backgrounds, and economic situations. Religion, yes, can’t be ignored in realizing the practice of veiling, however reducing the significance of veil to merely a religious identity marker will be a reductionist irrationality. Hijab rescues, hijab conceals, hijab connects, hijab heals, hijab inspires; hijab creates opportunities; hijab is a fashion statement; hijab is a choice.
We are sick of theological intricacies and apologetics, this blasé narrative of Sabyn Javeri, is highly relatable here. These are my stories; the stories I want the world to listen to, without making the slightest of intentional effort to justify my stance. Instead, as a standpoint that showcases my lived realities, and something I harmonize with. Know me through my living conditions, is a message that resonates throughout the book, and gets manifested in varied forms ranging from workplace harassment, female sexuality, kleptomania, homo-hijabians, sensuality of hijab, politics of identity, piety, and to the concept of ‘good girl’. Some significant subthemes of these stories include: destitutions of love, women and mosque, old-age romance, societal taboos, sex toys, pubic hair, periods, sexually less capable men, self-pleasing, business pf pleasure, art of seduction, marriage and age, right to divorce, anal sex, hypocrisy, adultery, sexual experimentation, perversion, machination, Desi London, and valuing hijab in its entirety which I term as ‘Fifty shades of Burka’.
The discourse of these stories is very inclusive in terms of representing a wide range of sexual orientations, levels of religiosity, along with social and economic status of its female characters. Just for instance, the story delineating with the love life of lower-middle class, I especially found very affectionate and gentle in its portrayal.
“Before getting off the bike, he gave her a quick peck on the cheek. Shumaila giggled and shrank back, with a rhetorical, ‘Koe daikh lega’” (104)
There has not been made an effort to oversimplify the use of hijab, instead complicated it, to avoid generalizations and shatter stereotypes. There are parts that are profound and deep, and there are sections with visible voyeuristic vogue.
“Once he was inside her, she seemed to relax and he thrust hard…She looked at his sweaty face, his eyes half-moons and looked her head. He buried is face in her breast and thrust twice more before collapsing on her like a dead crab. From below, she watched his small body splattered over her. She prodded him gently. ‘Shall I turn over?’ she asked, slightly annoyed at how abruptly the greatly anticipated adventure was over.” (7)
The diction is humorous, jovial, and breezy, where no effort has been made to ‘leave an impression’ via cumbersome rhetoric. The tenor of writing compliments the content. Apart from a very few stories and pages losing the focus, chunks appearing as needless elongation, majority of the book (16 stories) is crisp and chewable. On the whole, the Hijabistan accentuates empowering assortment of feminist and postfeminist framing of veiled experiences of Muslim Pakistani women. Thank you Sabyn.
“it was sweet of him to think she dressed modestly and probably prayed five times. It was sweet of him to think…to think that she was pious. Pure.” (11)
Situated in Pakistan and Pakistani Muslim diaspora in UK, the discourse on hijab gets a new flavor, which simultaneously is nonchalant, provocative, and invigorating. These short stories try exhausting full length of possibilities on how and why hijab is a reality of many women across the globe, hailing from different geographical locations, cultural backgrounds, and economic situations. Religion, yes, can’t be ignored in realizing the practice of veiling, however reducing the significance of veil to merely a religious identity marker will be a reductionist irrationality. Hijab rescues, hijab conceals, hijab connects, hijab heals, hijab inspires; hijab creates opportunities; hijab is a fashion statement; hijab is a choice.
We are sick of theological intricacies and apologetics, this blasé narrative of Sabyn Javeri, is highly relatable here. These are my stories; the stories I want the world to listen to, without making the slightest of intentional effort to justify my stance. Instead, as a standpoint that showcases my lived realities, and something I harmonize with. Know me through my living conditions, is a message that resonates throughout the book, and gets manifested in varied forms ranging from workplace harassment, female sexuality, kleptomania, homo-hijabians, sensuality of hijab, politics of identity, piety, and to the concept of ‘good girl’. Some significant subthemes of these stories include: destitutions of love, women and mosque, old-age romance, societal taboos, sex toys, pubic hair, periods, sexually less capable men, self-pleasing, business pf pleasure, art of seduction, marriage and age, right to divorce, anal sex, hypocrisy, adultery, sexual experimentation, perversion, machination, Desi London, and valuing hijab in its entirety which I term as ‘Fifty shades of Burka’.
The discourse of these stories is very inclusive in terms of representing a wide range of sexual orientations, levels of religiosity, along with social and economic status of its female characters. Just for instance, the story delineating with the love life of lower-middle class, I especially found very affectionate and gentle in its portrayal.
“Before getting off the bike, he gave her a quick peck on the cheek. Shumaila giggled and shrank back, with a rhetorical, ‘Koe daikh lega’” (104)
There has not been made an effort to oversimplify the use of hijab, instead complicated it, to avoid generalizations and shatter stereotypes. There are parts that are profound and deep, and there are sections with visible voyeuristic vogue.
“Once he was inside her, she seemed to relax and he thrust hard…She looked at his sweaty face, his eyes half-moons and looked her head. He buried is face in her breast and thrust twice more before collapsing on her like a dead crab. From below, she watched his small body splattered over her. She prodded him gently. ‘Shall I turn over?’ she asked, slightly annoyed at how abruptly the greatly anticipated adventure was over.” (7)
The diction is humorous, jovial, and breezy, where no effort has been made to ‘leave an impression’ via cumbersome rhetoric. The tenor of writing compliments the content. Apart from a very few stories and pages losing the focus, chunks appearing as needless elongation, majority of the book (16 stories) is crisp and chewable. On the whole, the Hijabistan accentuates empowering assortment of feminist and postfeminist framing of veiled experiences of Muslim Pakistani women. Thank you Sabyn.
November 12, 2019
Rating: 4 Stars
Hijabistan by Sabyn Javeri is a collection of short stories about women, with a common thread of hijab running through all the stories. As a rule, I'm not one for short stories. They always leave me feeling like I missed the point. These short stories just sucked me in and left their mark. It is entirely possible that I might be biased towards this collection.
These stories speak to me personally because I have been through the struggle myself. This push and pull of wearing the hijab or taking it off has been a part of my life for most of last 15 years. Of course, it has never been as hard as it is for most of the protagonists in these stories, but I feel an affinity with most of them. There is no judgement about the garment itself here, just the people who use it as a weapon and those who let their views be coloured by it.
I liked almost all the stories in this collection, even those that might seem far-fetched to people who have no clue about how close to the truth they are. I will not talk about all the stories here, just my most favourite ones.
The Full Stop is about a young girl who gets her first period. It reads like a true story because it is the truth of millions of girls who are taught that menstruation is something to hide, something evil and disgusting. Girls are told that it is something to be ashamed of when they should be told that it is natural and something ordained by nature.
Only in London shows us a girl stuck between two cultures, not knowing which one to call hers. It is the dilemma faced by all immigrants, no matter where they come from. It is not easy to give up your old values and suddenly pick up new ones. When a person migrates to a new place, they inevitably become a mixture of the two, their country of origin, and their country of migration.
The Good Wife has to be my favourite story out of all. It is also the saddest. It tells us of a woman who covers herself because she wants to, who is not afraid of what others think of her, whose faith in her Creator is strong even if her husband's is not. At the same time this woman loves her husband with everything in her and is not afraid to show her love as well. I was crying for that woman by the end of the story, and trying to make sense of our senseless world at the same time.
The last story, Coach Annie, is the sweetest and most upbeat story of the collection. I loved reading about Annie who has to wear the hijab at a tender age, yet she makes it her own, even when she is surrounded by men double her size. Annie makes me believe that women can do anything they put their minds to, regardless of how they choose to dress.
A great book about women and hijab that needs to be read with an open mind and a big heart.
Hijabistan by Sabyn Javeri is a collection of short stories about women, with a common thread of hijab running through all the stories. As a rule, I'm not one for short stories. They always leave me feeling like I missed the point. These short stories just sucked me in and left their mark. It is entirely possible that I might be biased towards this collection.
These stories speak to me personally because I have been through the struggle myself. This push and pull of wearing the hijab or taking it off has been a part of my life for most of last 15 years. Of course, it has never been as hard as it is for most of the protagonists in these stories, but I feel an affinity with most of them. There is no judgement about the garment itself here, just the people who use it as a weapon and those who let their views be coloured by it.
I liked almost all the stories in this collection, even those that might seem far-fetched to people who have no clue about how close to the truth they are. I will not talk about all the stories here, just my most favourite ones.
The Full Stop is about a young girl who gets her first period. It reads like a true story because it is the truth of millions of girls who are taught that menstruation is something to hide, something evil and disgusting. Girls are told that it is something to be ashamed of when they should be told that it is natural and something ordained by nature.
Only in London shows us a girl stuck between two cultures, not knowing which one to call hers. It is the dilemma faced by all immigrants, no matter where they come from. It is not easy to give up your old values and suddenly pick up new ones. When a person migrates to a new place, they inevitably become a mixture of the two, their country of origin, and their country of migration.
The Good Wife has to be my favourite story out of all. It is also the saddest. It tells us of a woman who covers herself because she wants to, who is not afraid of what others think of her, whose faith in her Creator is strong even if her husband's is not. At the same time this woman loves her husband with everything in her and is not afraid to show her love as well. I was crying for that woman by the end of the story, and trying to make sense of our senseless world at the same time.
The last story, Coach Annie, is the sweetest and most upbeat story of the collection. I loved reading about Annie who has to wear the hijab at a tender age, yet she makes it her own, even when she is surrounded by men double her size. Annie makes me believe that women can do anything they put their minds to, regardless of how they choose to dress.
A great book about women and hijab that needs to be read with an open mind and a big heart.
March 3, 2019
💕Hijabistan By Sabyn Javeri💕
💕Category: Short stories
💕Publisher: Harper Collins
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Introduction: The hijab constricts as it liberates. Not just a piece of garment, it is a worldview, an emblem of the assertion of a Muslim woman's identity, and equally a symbol of oppression. Set in Pakistan and the UK, this is a short stories collection all about women & their Hijab.
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My Opinion: Here comes the most anticipated read of 2019, this book was all over the social media & I too was extremely willing to read. After reading, I am completely impressed: firstly the book is dedicated to the authors mum which is really beautiful. This book is a collection of short stories about the muslim women who are always under hijab but it is not necessary to that they too are willing to be under hijab always. The hijab can hide their body & not the their bodily pleasures & they are as normal as other women who doesn't wear a hijab or abhaya. The author brings light to the fact that, under the viel is always a different story or love or lust or defeat or victory. A young kleptomaniac infuses thrill into her suffocating life by using her abaya to steal lipsticks and flash men. An office worker feels empowered through sex, shunning her inhibitions but not her hijab ... until she realizes that the real veil is drawn across her desires and not her body. I loved her conceptual thinking & yes the cover is so so beautiful & vibrant.
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Pros: The stories are short, very captivating & very vibrant. The book talks about women's issue dealing with different topics in different stories. The writing is smooth, aggressive & pleasurable at times. The language is easy. I do recommend it to all the men & women who have a hype about the women in Hijab.
Cons: I couldn't connect myself with some stories at all. Though some have my heart.
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Rating: 3.75🌟
💕Category: Short stories
💕Publisher: Harper Collins
.
Introduction: The hijab constricts as it liberates. Not just a piece of garment, it is a worldview, an emblem of the assertion of a Muslim woman's identity, and equally a symbol of oppression. Set in Pakistan and the UK, this is a short stories collection all about women & their Hijab.
.
My Opinion: Here comes the most anticipated read of 2019, this book was all over the social media & I too was extremely willing to read. After reading, I am completely impressed: firstly the book is dedicated to the authors mum which is really beautiful. This book is a collection of short stories about the muslim women who are always under hijab but it is not necessary to that they too are willing to be under hijab always. The hijab can hide their body & not the their bodily pleasures & they are as normal as other women who doesn't wear a hijab or abhaya. The author brings light to the fact that, under the viel is always a different story or love or lust or defeat or victory. A young kleptomaniac infuses thrill into her suffocating life by using her abaya to steal lipsticks and flash men. An office worker feels empowered through sex, shunning her inhibitions but not her hijab ... until she realizes that the real veil is drawn across her desires and not her body. I loved her conceptual thinking & yes the cover is so so beautiful & vibrant.
.
Pros: The stories are short, very captivating & very vibrant. The book talks about women's issue dealing with different topics in different stories. The writing is smooth, aggressive & pleasurable at times. The language is easy. I do recommend it to all the men & women who have a hype about the women in Hijab.
Cons: I couldn't connect myself with some stories at all. Though some have my heart.
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Rating: 3.75🌟
March 14, 2019
Genre - Fiction (Collection of short stories)
A head covering worn in public by some Muslim women - A Hijab. While a hijab has a simple meaning as this, different people around the world have created their own definition of of it. However, out of all the perceptions, I did not know what it may mean to the women wearing it and how different women may have a totally different perception towards a Hijab. This book made me realise so.
Hijabistan is a collection of 16 short stories, with one or two that have been published earlier and is based in Pakistan and London. It tells you how different women incorporate a hijab in their daily life and the role it plays in their day-to-day lives. The entire book revolves around a hijab giving way to various different issues and stories.
A book full of different stories from around the two countries entirely based on Hijab. It surely can be called a Hijabistan.
The language is intense. The author has used easy words very accurately. The right word and the right phrase have been used at the right places. Some phrases also portray the creative side of the author, just like the book’s cover. It can be understood easily. You won’t have to wrack your brains to understand the hidden meaning or what the author wants to convey.
I loved most of the stories but 2-3 stories were cliche and not very clear compared to the other breath taking stories.
However, I did understand how a hijab can have so many meanings. I was brought in terms with the fact that hijab is not always pressure. Arrange marriages can be a personal choice. Hijab can be someone’s preference. But it may also turn out to be almost deadly.
In the end, I would love to recommend this book to everyone as a one time read and a must read to all the feminist friends.
A head covering worn in public by some Muslim women - A Hijab. While a hijab has a simple meaning as this, different people around the world have created their own definition of of it. However, out of all the perceptions, I did not know what it may mean to the women wearing it and how different women may have a totally different perception towards a Hijab. This book made me realise so.
Hijabistan is a collection of 16 short stories, with one or two that have been published earlier and is based in Pakistan and London. It tells you how different women incorporate a hijab in their daily life and the role it plays in their day-to-day lives. The entire book revolves around a hijab giving way to various different issues and stories.
A book full of different stories from around the two countries entirely based on Hijab. It surely can be called a Hijabistan.
The language is intense. The author has used easy words very accurately. The right word and the right phrase have been used at the right places. Some phrases also portray the creative side of the author, just like the book’s cover. It can be understood easily. You won’t have to wrack your brains to understand the hidden meaning or what the author wants to convey.
I loved most of the stories but 2-3 stories were cliche and not very clear compared to the other breath taking stories.
However, I did understand how a hijab can have so many meanings. I was brought in terms with the fact that hijab is not always pressure. Arrange marriages can be a personal choice. Hijab can be someone’s preference. But it may also turn out to be almost deadly.
In the end, I would love to recommend this book to everyone as a one time read and a must read to all the feminist friends.
March 11, 2019
I was honestly excited for this book the day they had the cover release because the cover was appealing plus the name took me by surprise.
I would rate this book a 5🌟 and would definitely suggest people all around the world to read this one.
Everything is a story. And we are all made up of stories, stories we tell others, stories we tell ourselves and stories that we don't want anyone to know.
In the muslim community, the women are told that hijabs are women's fate. They are told to make the best of it. But do they really wear the hijab because their Allah have told them too or do they wear it because they enjoy the invisibility they receive after wearing it ? The book Hijabistan comprises short tales of woman who are fierce, dreamers, courageous and most importantly beautiful in and out. Because of the increasing terrorists attacks all over the world, people have developed a mindset that it's better to stay away from Muslims but the truth is not all Muslims are terrorists and not all terrorists are Muslims. This book has given me an insight into how the Muslim women feel about their hijab, how they take hijab as a part of their own soul and who they are when they wear it. Hijab does not only give them an identity it gives them renounciation of who they are.
I would rate this book a 5🌟 and would definitely suggest people all around the world to read this one.
Everything is a story. And we are all made up of stories, stories we tell others, stories we tell ourselves and stories that we don't want anyone to know.
In the muslim community, the women are told that hijabs are women's fate. They are told to make the best of it. But do they really wear the hijab because their Allah have told them too or do they wear it because they enjoy the invisibility they receive after wearing it ? The book Hijabistan comprises short tales of woman who are fierce, dreamers, courageous and most importantly beautiful in and out. Because of the increasing terrorists attacks all over the world, people have developed a mindset that it's better to stay away from Muslims but the truth is not all Muslims are terrorists and not all terrorists are Muslims. This book has given me an insight into how the Muslim women feel about their hijab, how they take hijab as a part of their own soul and who they are when they wear it. Hijab does not only give them an identity it gives them renounciation of who they are.
March 13, 2019
Hijabistan is a collection of short stories, all written from the perspective of a woman in the subcontinental (Pakistani) society, from all walks of life, and the challenges they face under social norms of what is expected of women, some of it which they want to break out of.
It voices the thoughts of people who opt to wear a hijab, who are forced to and who do it as a means to protect themselves.
It is powerful in its impact, a practical literary depiction and resonance of the voices of Aurat March. The crisp writing makes for a swift yet absorbing read. The issues voiced all make for a very delightful and inspiring read.
It voices the thoughts of people who opt to wear a hijab, who are forced to and who do it as a means to protect themselves.
It is powerful in its impact, a practical literary depiction and resonance of the voices of Aurat March. The crisp writing makes for a swift yet absorbing read. The issues voiced all make for a very delightful and inspiring read.
October 20, 2020
How difficult political journeys are for women in our subcontinent, how sham our democracies are, how deeply entrenched patriarchy is, how fanaticism is unleashed in its many shades.’
This book tells the answers to all these questions through different stories. It is written, by and large, from the feminist perspective and explores the issues females have to face in their daily lives in a country like Pakistan. One thing was annoying for me that the writer chose all the characters who used to wear Abaya. I don't know why she did so.
This book tells the answers to all these questions through different stories. It is written, by and large, from the feminist perspective and explores the issues females have to face in their daily lives in a country like Pakistan. One thing was annoying for me that the writer chose all the characters who used to wear Abaya. I don't know why she did so.
March 4, 2019
Intriguing short stories about what lies beneath the hijab, the characters, their thoughts. Some wear it as compulsion feel restricted while some as an option to protect themselves and some as a choice which becomes part of who they are. Wonderful stories.
April 1, 2019
An interesting book. Not my favourite book by the author though ('Nobody Killed Her' had far more polished prose). But I enjoyed Coach Annie, Malady of the Heart, The Good Wife, The Full Stop and The Hijab and Her. In all, this is an important book.
April 1, 2019
It's a must read. Finally someone showed women who is not vicitm but survivor or fighter. And hijab is choice and option
May 22, 2021
"An expectional way of putting all pieces of womanhood together in one bind. "
April 7, 2019
Mere clothes are not enough when one's mind is insecure. The body mustn't only be covered up, it must be locked up.
Remember, a boy is a provider. A boy will bring you status. A girl is a liabity.
Girls wrapped in a hijab. A thing to be hidden from the rest of the world - a man's honour but not his pride.
'A beautiful girl like you should be hidden from prying eyes.'
'We're all made up of stories. The stories we tell others, the stories we tell ourselves and, most importantly, the stories we hide. Deep inside.'
'The smaller the penis, the bigger the ego.'
Men cares only about pleasing themselves. But what they perhaps themselves didn't know was how easy it was to please them.
The love she expected from her husband... Long ago... She had learnt not to expect. For expectations were like promises - made to be broken.
Early in her marriage, she had learnt that beauty was a thing to be cherished & love was fleeting.
In the end, love boils down to nothing. It's not love that holds a marriage together, but responsibility, property & children.
'Sometimes, the stream of our pulse carries the illness into those dark forgotten corners of our bodies where the doctor's tool cannot reach.'
Now she understood why it was called the period. Because, like a full stop, this moment in a girl's life puts and end to all the conversations. Period!
Life is precious. Uncertain & short.
'Women are impulsive creatures. They only listen to their hearts.'
Fear Allah. He's watching you. Fear the society - people will talk. Keep your mouth shut - even the walls have ears.
Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of all mankind; From the evil of that which whispers evil in the heart & slinks away...'
Faith can make you do lot of illogical things, but sometimes it can also give you the strength to push ahead.
I guess violence made the world go around. It was like night & day, I often thought. Where there's love, there's hate. And if hate is power, then perhaps this was a struggle between the love of power
& the power of love.
'Mangoes & Cricket 🏏 are two things that bring everybody together.'
'Only money brings people together.'
'You can get away with whatever you want when you've got money.'
'You don't have to wear that if you don't want to.'
'But I like wearing my hijab.'
'Yes, but I mean there's no obligation. This is London, you know. No-one has the time to look at one another.'
'But,' 'I don't wear this for anyone. I'm not hiding from anyone or anything.'
'Really? You mean what?'
'You don't feel odd walking through the streets of London with people looking suspiciously? Like you're carrying a ton of explosives under your clothes?'
'Look, husband, it's very simple, really. If people are going to measure all five fingers as equal, then that's their short-sightednedd. I wear the hijab for myself, for my Allah. And I wouldn't feel complete without it. It's second skin to me.'
'All I'm saying, beautiful, is that you don't have to. I'm not a typical Pakistani husband. I grew up here, in London. I don't care if you bare your head or your legs or your belly. I'm not one of those men who get jealous everytime another man looks at their wife.'
'But I care.'
'Listen to me, husband. Please. My hijab is my identity. My calling card. I know who I'm, where I come from & where my place is in the world. I know that sometimes it may make you feel uncomfortable with the way people view me suspiciously. No, no, don't deny it. And don't think I haven't noticed that people move away from me at the bus stop or change their seat when I sit down next to them. And I know you don't like women who wear the full veil. I've heard you call them blackbirds & crows & Ninjas & all sorts.'
' Listen, all this only strengthens my belief in my faith. You know that no-one forced me. I chose to veil.'
'And I want to know why someone so beautiful wants to hide herself from the rest of the world.'
'Because Allah told me to.' 'See here in Quran, it says - "And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze & guard their modesty... that they should draw their veils & not display their beauty."'
'It is religion that has been my anchor. My faith keeps me grounded.'
'I think I love you more than I love life. I want to live inside you.'
'Let me make you my home.'
'Like the tinkling of a thousand wine glasses. Like the gushing of a hundred fountains.'
'It is all His greatness, you know. He creates us & instils this love inside our hearts. What you are feeling, my beloved husband, is Allah's magnitude.'
'I think what I'm feeling is love for my wife.'
'And I thank Him for putting that love in your heart.'
'What if one day I went away, wife? Would you miss me?'
'There's no soul but has a protector over it.'
'Is your faith really so strong, wife?'
'Strong enough to be able to withstand suspicious glances & funny remarks.'
'... Why don't you stop wearing your hijab?'
'Are you ashamed of me?'
'I worry about you.' 'That's all.'
'Well, let me tell you something.'
'I'm not ashamed of my faith. My hijab is a part of me. It's my Muslimness. It sort of announces my arrival. Anyway, why do you people in the West always think that hijab is a symbol of submission?'
'I don't know, maybe because it forces you to cover up?'
'And to bare herself is a woman's right?'
'I promise I'll take you to all over the world,' 'I promise I'll take you, hijab & all.'
She throws a pillow at him. It bursts into a rain of soft feathers & they're locked in a timeless moment. Across the feathers, they silently confess to each other a bond that no marriage union, whether arranged as theirs or through love & courtship, could have created. A bond of friendship.
WINTER
That day, snow covered the city like a giant white blanket...
STILL WINTER
A grey, watery, wintry day cascading gently into visions of Venus & Aramis measuring the price of hubris. 'Love,' says Venus, 'begins through discovery...'
SPRING
When the flowers found face again, spring scattered the air with tiny blossoms & the scent of love. People stopped throwing themselves on subway tracks, postmen started delivering lost mail, & the English started smiling, the husband & wife decided to visit the park.
SUMMER
The night is still & restless at once. The night is ironic. The night is significant. Tonight, a dream is being filled with bags of hope & make-believe, the kind the angels preach in faraway heaven when God makes a mistake. If only the meaning of events didn't elude us as they unroll through our lives.
AUTUMN
A season of grey, neither night nor day. It was that time of year when stones bled & birds fled to the south. A season of migration for some & for others, a season of betrayal.
WINTER ONCE AGAIN
The heavy curtain of rain strung with the white lace of fog bade the autumn goodbye, heralding the unstoppable change of seasons. Once again, darkness had prevailed. A season in between.
Hijasbistan is a collection of many short stories which talks on the account of various women in all sectors of life. It takes into consideration their efforts, strengths, weaknesses, unjustified things done against them. We're all well aware of the fact that hijab restricts the same way it liberates. And hijab is assertion of a Muslim woman. The book deals with an insight of hijab - the way they're portrayed & dealt in the society. People basically impose several restrictions upon women just on pretext of hijab culture.
The term 'Hijasbistan' comes from the worrd root 'Hijab' - which means 'Veil' or constrictions. Plot is generally based on Pakistan where females have to cover themselves in Hijab & Abaya. They personify the beauty of a girl in terms of male chauvinism, according to which it's not meant to be shown to everyone except her husband.
The book has certain drawbacks. It could have been written better. It impersonates the pain of women. However, at the same time, it fails to touch the readers' hearts. At certain nuisances, I felt the book can leave good enough impact on the soul. But I was deeply disappointed with the outcome. The overwhelming amount of sexual abuse, gratification & the astonishment it causes leads to a total letdown when it comes to a good read.
Language is simple, good & easy to understand. Narration is okay. A good onetime read.
Remember, a boy is a provider. A boy will bring you status. A girl is a liabity.
Girls wrapped in a hijab. A thing to be hidden from the rest of the world - a man's honour but not his pride.
'A beautiful girl like you should be hidden from prying eyes.'
'We're all made up of stories. The stories we tell others, the stories we tell ourselves and, most importantly, the stories we hide. Deep inside.'
'The smaller the penis, the bigger the ego.'
Men cares only about pleasing themselves. But what they perhaps themselves didn't know was how easy it was to please them.
The love she expected from her husband... Long ago... She had learnt not to expect. For expectations were like promises - made to be broken.
Early in her marriage, she had learnt that beauty was a thing to be cherished & love was fleeting.
In the end, love boils down to nothing. It's not love that holds a marriage together, but responsibility, property & children.
'Sometimes, the stream of our pulse carries the illness into those dark forgotten corners of our bodies where the doctor's tool cannot reach.'
Now she understood why it was called the period. Because, like a full stop, this moment in a girl's life puts and end to all the conversations. Period!
Life is precious. Uncertain & short.
'Women are impulsive creatures. They only listen to their hearts.'
Fear Allah. He's watching you. Fear the society - people will talk. Keep your mouth shut - even the walls have ears.
Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of all mankind; From the evil of that which whispers evil in the heart & slinks away...'
Faith can make you do lot of illogical things, but sometimes it can also give you the strength to push ahead.
I guess violence made the world go around. It was like night & day, I often thought. Where there's love, there's hate. And if hate is power, then perhaps this was a struggle between the love of power
& the power of love.
'Mangoes & Cricket 🏏 are two things that bring everybody together.'
'Only money brings people together.'
'You can get away with whatever you want when you've got money.'
'You don't have to wear that if you don't want to.'
'But I like wearing my hijab.'
'Yes, but I mean there's no obligation. This is London, you know. No-one has the time to look at one another.'
'But,' 'I don't wear this for anyone. I'm not hiding from anyone or anything.'
'Really? You mean what?'
'You don't feel odd walking through the streets of London with people looking suspiciously? Like you're carrying a ton of explosives under your clothes?'
'Look, husband, it's very simple, really. If people are going to measure all five fingers as equal, then that's their short-sightednedd. I wear the hijab for myself, for my Allah. And I wouldn't feel complete without it. It's second skin to me.'
'All I'm saying, beautiful, is that you don't have to. I'm not a typical Pakistani husband. I grew up here, in London. I don't care if you bare your head or your legs or your belly. I'm not one of those men who get jealous everytime another man looks at their wife.'
'But I care.'
'Listen to me, husband. Please. My hijab is my identity. My calling card. I know who I'm, where I come from & where my place is in the world. I know that sometimes it may make you feel uncomfortable with the way people view me suspiciously. No, no, don't deny it. And don't think I haven't noticed that people move away from me at the bus stop or change their seat when I sit down next to them. And I know you don't like women who wear the full veil. I've heard you call them blackbirds & crows & Ninjas & all sorts.'
' Listen, all this only strengthens my belief in my faith. You know that no-one forced me. I chose to veil.'
'And I want to know why someone so beautiful wants to hide herself from the rest of the world.'
'Because Allah told me to.' 'See here in Quran, it says - "And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze & guard their modesty... that they should draw their veils & not display their beauty."'
'It is religion that has been my anchor. My faith keeps me grounded.'
'I think I love you more than I love life. I want to live inside you.'
'Let me make you my home.'
'Like the tinkling of a thousand wine glasses. Like the gushing of a hundred fountains.'
'It is all His greatness, you know. He creates us & instils this love inside our hearts. What you are feeling, my beloved husband, is Allah's magnitude.'
'I think what I'm feeling is love for my wife.'
'And I thank Him for putting that love in your heart.'
'What if one day I went away, wife? Would you miss me?'
'There's no soul but has a protector over it.'
'Is your faith really so strong, wife?'
'Strong enough to be able to withstand suspicious glances & funny remarks.'
'... Why don't you stop wearing your hijab?'
'Are you ashamed of me?'
'I worry about you.' 'That's all.'
'Well, let me tell you something.'
'I'm not ashamed of my faith. My hijab is a part of me. It's my Muslimness. It sort of announces my arrival. Anyway, why do you people in the West always think that hijab is a symbol of submission?'
'I don't know, maybe because it forces you to cover up?'
'And to bare herself is a woman's right?'
'I promise I'll take you to all over the world,' 'I promise I'll take you, hijab & all.'
She throws a pillow at him. It bursts into a rain of soft feathers & they're locked in a timeless moment. Across the feathers, they silently confess to each other a bond that no marriage union, whether arranged as theirs or through love & courtship, could have created. A bond of friendship.
WINTER
That day, snow covered the city like a giant white blanket...
STILL WINTER
A grey, watery, wintry day cascading gently into visions of Venus & Aramis measuring the price of hubris. 'Love,' says Venus, 'begins through discovery...'
SPRING
When the flowers found face again, spring scattered the air with tiny blossoms & the scent of love. People stopped throwing themselves on subway tracks, postmen started delivering lost mail, & the English started smiling, the husband & wife decided to visit the park.
SUMMER
The night is still & restless at once. The night is ironic. The night is significant. Tonight, a dream is being filled with bags of hope & make-believe, the kind the angels preach in faraway heaven when God makes a mistake. If only the meaning of events didn't elude us as they unroll through our lives.
AUTUMN
A season of grey, neither night nor day. It was that time of year when stones bled & birds fled to the south. A season of migration for some & for others, a season of betrayal.
WINTER ONCE AGAIN
The heavy curtain of rain strung with the white lace of fog bade the autumn goodbye, heralding the unstoppable change of seasons. Once again, darkness had prevailed. A season in between.
Hijasbistan is a collection of many short stories which talks on the account of various women in all sectors of life. It takes into consideration their efforts, strengths, weaknesses, unjustified things done against them. We're all well aware of the fact that hijab restricts the same way it liberates. And hijab is assertion of a Muslim woman. The book deals with an insight of hijab - the way they're portrayed & dealt in the society. People basically impose several restrictions upon women just on pretext of hijab culture.
The term 'Hijasbistan' comes from the worrd root 'Hijab' - which means 'Veil' or constrictions. Plot is generally based on Pakistan where females have to cover themselves in Hijab & Abaya. They personify the beauty of a girl in terms of male chauvinism, according to which it's not meant to be shown to everyone except her husband.
The book has certain drawbacks. It could have been written better. It impersonates the pain of women. However, at the same time, it fails to touch the readers' hearts. At certain nuisances, I felt the book can leave good enough impact on the soul. But I was deeply disappointed with the outcome. The overwhelming amount of sexual abuse, gratification & the astonishment it causes leads to a total letdown when it comes to a good read.
Language is simple, good & easy to understand. Narration is okay. A good onetime read.
June 26, 2020
Hijabistan by Sabyn Javeri a collection of short stories; all of them touching the topic of hijab or veil in one way or other.
You might get the wrong idea by its cover like I and one of my colleagues did that this book is going to represent hijab as a symbol of oppression from a feminist perspective. But it completely does not...
The stories are all about women. Some of them are oppressed and are forced to wear the veil or Abaya like in “The Urge” but that Abaya doesn’t make her a pious girl as she steals lipstick hiding in her Abaya and flashes her body to men to attract them. The story ironically highlights that the girl was not actually a victim of oppression but a slave to her Nafs, her desires and her urge to fulfil them.
The other girl in “The Date” wears Abaya and Hijab just to pretend that she is wearing it to ward off all the harassment and save herself from prying men but actually she feels empowered through Physical intimacy. She simply does not understand that the veil is not a physical thing to wear but a symbolic thing as well. The veil must be drawn not only to face but across the lustful desires.
And then there are girls in the story like “A good wife” where the girl is not forced to wear Hijab but she chooses to do so as she finds it a part of her muslim identity in London and she is not ashamed of it. She is comfortable in her own way.
Saira, another character from a story, wears Abaya and feels liberated. She calls it her own private world where no one knows “what I look like, What I wear, how I style my hair...”
For some, Hijab is a restriction forced on them by patriarchy or society but for some, hijab is their power house, their invisibility cloak.
Javeri in this book, through multiple stories represent that hijab is not simply another piece of garment to cover the head or veil the face but, it is a cultural symbol. An identification for Muslim women (so that they could be recognised that they are noble Muslim women as says Quran).
You might get the wrong idea by its cover like I and one of my colleagues did that this book is going to represent hijab as a symbol of oppression from a feminist perspective. But it completely does not...
The stories are all about women. Some of them are oppressed and are forced to wear the veil or Abaya like in “The Urge” but that Abaya doesn’t make her a pious girl as she steals lipstick hiding in her Abaya and flashes her body to men to attract them. The story ironically highlights that the girl was not actually a victim of oppression but a slave to her Nafs, her desires and her urge to fulfil them.
The other girl in “The Date” wears Abaya and Hijab just to pretend that she is wearing it to ward off all the harassment and save herself from prying men but actually she feels empowered through Physical intimacy. She simply does not understand that the veil is not a physical thing to wear but a symbolic thing as well. The veil must be drawn not only to face but across the lustful desires.
And then there are girls in the story like “A good wife” where the girl is not forced to wear Hijab but she chooses to do so as she finds it a part of her muslim identity in London and she is not ashamed of it. She is comfortable in her own way.
Saira, another character from a story, wears Abaya and feels liberated. She calls it her own private world where no one knows “what I look like, What I wear, how I style my hair...”
For some, Hijab is a restriction forced on them by patriarchy or society but for some, hijab is their power house, their invisibility cloak.
Javeri in this book, through multiple stories represent that hijab is not simply another piece of garment to cover the head or veil the face but, it is a cultural symbol. An identification for Muslim women (so that they could be recognised that they are noble Muslim women as says Quran).
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