Im really happy that I got this experience and that there’s a lot of support, and I hope that this could encourage other women and people, to try competition, whether it’s in weightlifting or in another sport, because it’s fun to meet people. Kulsum Abdullah 

Surely you have already read or heard about faithful determined Muslim girls and women who, under very hard and stressful conditions, have stood up and struggled for their right to observe hijab in public. The accounts of their lives and struggles, however varied might all reveal one single fact- the power of faith. Here you read about a faithful committed Muslim lady who while a weightlifter, exhibited her praiseworthy will and determination to remain committed to the decrees of her religion.Undoubtedly, such accounts serve to prove that, those who either out of ignorance or due to evil intentions claim that Muslim women are forced by their men to observe hijab and that given the freedom, they will give up their Islamic covering, are totally wrong and have to change their mind regarding the mentality and chastity of Muslim women. Let us take a look at the story of one of these committed Muslim women who cares about her faith.

Kulsum  Abdullah didn’t win, but she notched a victory for diversity at the US weightlifting championships on Friday as she competed in clothing that covered her legs, arms and head. Abdullah, whose parents immigrated from Pakistan, was born and raised in the Midwest. In her teens she chose to start wearing the hijab to keep with her family’s Muslim faith. The style, considered an expression of modesty and dignity in Islam, generally allows only the face, feet and hands to be exposed.

“I am a Muslim who tries to implement as many of Islam’s teachings as possible in my daily life,” she says. “Modesty is one of those teachings, and I choose to honor it when I cover in public.”

Abdullah’s wardrobe hasn’t slowed her down. While she was in graduate school at Georgia Tech, getting a PhD in computer networking, she reached the black belt level in taekwondo, the Korean martial art. She started lifting weights about four years ago as part of her overall training regimen. It turned into a passion.Abdullah was cleared to compete in clothing that met the standards of modesty for Muslims after the International Weightlifting Federation ruled that competitors could wear a full-body “unitard” under the customary weightlifting uniform.     Abdullah, a 35-year-old from Atlanta, Georgia, competed before a small crowd of fellow lifters, their families and friends.Wearing a black hijab and a black short-sleeved shirt with a tan, long-sleeved undershirt and long black socks, Abdullah cleared a snatch of 41 kilograms and a clean and jerk of 57 kilograms. Abdullah finished fifth out of six in her 48 kilogram senior women’s weight class.“I’m really happy that I got this experience and that there’s a lot of support, and I hope that it could encourage other women and people, whether it’s weightlifting or another sport, to try competition because it’s fun to meet people,” Abdullah said. “I think it helps when people get along.” 

Weightlifter Kulsum Abdullah fights hijab ban

Her Muslim faith requires that she cover her arms, legs and head—which violates international rules governing weightlifting attire. “I’d hate to think that just because you dress a certain way, you can’t participate in sports,” Abdullah said .

“I don’t want other women who dress like me to say, ‘I can’t get involved in that sport’ and get discouraged.

It would be nice to have an environment where it wouldn’t be an issue of how you dress or having different beliefs and faiths.”She’s right. It’s time for sports to show the rest of society how to bridge the gap between legitimate concerns and religious tolerance.

“What we hear all the time is, ‘You’ve got to empower Muslim women around the world,”’ said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which has taken up Abdullah’s cause.“Well, how can you empower a Muslim woman more than being a weightlifter?

She should be encouraged and helped along in this process. There shouldn’t be arbitrary roadblocks placed in her path.”

“I think it would just be nice that in any sport, if there’s a lady who covers her arms and legs … they could still be involved,” Abdullah said. Turning to her chosen sport, which is male-dominated, she adds: “With the dress code (as it is) Muslim women might think it’s not something they should do.”

But finally, Abdullah got a bit of good news when USA Weightlifting agreed to take her case to the IWF.

Muslim women have competed in track and field wearing neck-to-ankle bodysuits and the traditional headscarf known as a hijab, most notably Roqaya Al-Gassra of Bahrain, who made it to the semifinals of the 200 meters at the Beijing Olympics.

Abdullah isn’t trying to gain any sort of competitive edge, however.

She merely wants to abide by her beliefs when she’s snatching a bar full of weights above her head.

When first starting out, she was allowed to enter local meets wearing garb that made her comfortable on the inside and out:Loose-fitting exercise pants, a tight-fitting long-sleeve shirt with a T-shirt over it, and the head scarf.As she attempted to move up to higher-level competitions, she ran up against International Weightlifting Federation rules, which forbid suits that cover either the knees or elbows because judges must be able to see that both have been locked out to complete a lift.

Here you will read some different opinions on  “ Weightlifter Kulsum  Abdullah fights hijab ban “ , it is worth-mentioning that some of them has been uttered before announcing the new rule concerning wearing hijab on weightlifting competition.

Haya says:  Hijab is a way to protect a women’s modesty and it earns her great respect in the society. Hijab helps to save her from many sins which she can bring by exposing her body. Do not deny this fact! As far as bearded people who tease etc are concerned, well they have a flaw in their faith and will have to face the punishment but on a certain person’s wrong act you cannot accuse the whole religion to be wrong. Correct your understanding of Islam and Quran. How can you claim that the Qur’anic injunctions should be changed? Islam is a universal religion for ALL TIMES TO COME! It is unpolluted and will remain that way, and to clear any ambiguities the Qur’anic injunctions are appropriate, relevant and very much practical in all modern times if one wants to maintain a healthy society.

 Huma says:   It’s good to hear that we do have such people within us who still do think of Muslim-ism and spending their lives as said by Islam.I Salam this Women and her thought of being as power full as she can.

Syed Mauze Rehan says:  MashaAllah … This sister deserves an applause and respect for not letting go her beliefs while pursuing her dream However, it’s so sad to see these stories not given 2 mins in our hourly news.Only on the websites or some blog, we find these stories!

Rashid zaidi says:  You have to stand up for your rights especially in a country were personal rights are a big thing. If your representation is good I am sure you will get them. 

Sameer says:  Great, we pray for success of Kulsum Abdullah, and hope the rules are changed. Someone has to take initiative and glad she has taken it. If there is a will there is a way! 

Ali says:  Kulsum  bravo and all the best. I was not aware that there were Taliban in the West with the power to not allow Muslim women to participate in sports. 

Irfan says:   Wah wah, masha Allah she is great. 

Adil says: Subhan Allah, may Allah give this lady success, since it’s really great that she is carrying out the way Allah and sunnah has told to carry out activities in world… Islam is a religion to be followed by Qur’an and sunnah and if you change harm into halal so you can see what’s going these days in our society due to it, to wear hijab since its necessary for a women to cover their body and face, it’s not a limitation for a women but its helps to save her from many sins which she can bring by exposing her body.