If you adopt that lifestyle, wear the Hijab, why would you be mad to be referred to as a Hijabi?

As for negative connotations, do you mean that you are afraid that the term Hijabi is being used as a symbol of backwardness? It really depends on the person using it.

I do not really like any form of religious symbols to be honest, my mother is a Hijabi as well, and I really wished that she wasn’t. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t respect Hijabi women, I respect them all, and I never interfere to ask them why do they wear the Hijab. It’s their personal choice and preference.

And by the way, have you ever heard of the term “Kassiyyatoun 3areyyat”? Well, Sheikhs use that term, I think it is to describe women that are practically Hijabi, but are sort of more revealing as if they were naked. I think that is an obviously negative connotation, because it basically attacks any woman who doesn’t wear the Jilbab. That’s what I really find insulting, because it’s as if he describes all women as mere sexual objects, I find that insulting.

If it is not one thing it’s another, people will find a reason to box you with hundreds of others who have nothing in common with you but one visible thing. it makes it easy for them they can build all the prejudices based on one thing and claim to know you.

a group of Christian girls who happen to wear a cross did something bad. Some guy tells the story: “those cross girls (or even worse, he says crusaders)always throw their cigarette butts on the floor. They’re shameless”.

I want you guys to know that one year ago, I had no problem with using that term, but my personal experience tells me that people are using it to discriminate against veiled women in their subtle or not so subtle ways. I’m not saying that Maha or Iman mean anything bad when they use it, I KNOW they don’t. But I think since some people do, and since it’s a new western term that I’m sure we could do without, then why continue to use it?

Alia, thanks for your comment. This was a point I was trying to make but most probably failed to

The fact that she’s a hijabi is totally irrelevant to the conversation but some people use it to insinuate something without actually verbalizing it..I’ve heard it so many times and it makes me angry when people use it in that context, and I usually find myself asking the person outright, “so what’s her being a hijabi got to do with it?”…it’s always interesting how people respond to that…

I never saw it as a term of alienation or one that draws negative connotation anymore than the term “mit7ajba” does, and this is really the first time I ever heard of someone having a problem with that word for those reasons.

I think I understand your frustration … but
A Hijabi may be considered a slang word, or a relatively newly introduced word, however -again and again - it is not meant to be fanatical, offend or degrade. Westerns (at least those I deal with) are familiar with the term and its use.

According to the definition I copied, a Hijabi is a woman who wears a Hijab in public and since we all agree that Hijab is the headscarf worn by Muslim women, then a Hijabi is most likely going to be a Muslim woman! (if this than that type of logic).

The veil, whether we like to admit it or not, IS associated with certain characteristics. I have plenty to say about that…and will be doing so soon.

Wearing the veil is a personal choice to practice an Islamic teaching. And even though some Muslims don’t think wearing the veil is an obligation , and some don’t think it’s Islamic to start with; women wearing the veil is not a new thing to Arabic and Muslim societies, as a matter of fact, the veil existed before Islam exists; whereas the term “hijabi” is brand new.

What I’m objecting to is the following: 1) young Arabs and even Muslims are using it to label a certain group of the society and associate the veil with certain characteristics, in other words, they’re abusing the new term, which was originally made by non-Muslims. Most likely in the west. 2) (and most important) is that we don’t need to further divide the society. giving women who wear the veil a name alienates them, as if “hijabi” women and Muslim women are totally different.

Iman, according to the Web definition you copied, we’re not Muslims! which is exactly what I just said above, “hijabi” women are Muslim women, hijab is not a new religion or an extremist religious group’s symbol. If I’m a westerner and I read about “hijabi” women, I’d think they’re a bunch of extremists, who very possibly have their own religious stream.

I mean what’s next? “masjid” guys and “Quraani” people?