However I've now started working part-time and our child is in preschool a few days a week so I feel more focused on the outside world and what I wear.
Pleasingly my wonderful teacher in Islam Imam Afroz Ali has released his eBook UNVEILING HIJAB: An Explanation of the Head Veil of the Muslim Woman. He was able to release the book for free through the support of Knowledge without Barriers who financially support the Islamic educational provider SeekersGuidance and their aim to enable everyone, everywhere to benefit from Islamic knowledge by making all their courses and educational services completely free.
This is a fascinating book explaining some of the differences among the interpretations about hijab, khimar and jilbab. But it does explain clearly that wearing a headscarf covering the head and chest is obligatory upon Muslim women.
SeekersGuidance also have a very good Questions and Answers section where they address one of the questions that plagues many hijabis: Should I Remove the Hijab Because I Am a Bad Example for Others?. It is easy to feel that we are not worthy of being the ambassadors of Islam that wearing hijab makes us. But as Shaykh Faraz Rabbani states in his answer "Though we pray that Allah makes us good examples for others, this is neither our goal nor the basis of what we are held accountable for. Rather, we are held accountable for the obligations due upon us towards our Lord and His creation."
