Symbols That Can Be Arranged Huda Fahmy

The Hijab: Symbol of Faith, Identity, and Choice in That Can Be Arranged

In her graphic memoir That Can Be Arranged, Huda Fahmy tells the story of her arranged marriage with warmth, humor, and unflinching honesty. One of the most immediately visible elements of her narrative – both literally and symbolically – is her hijab. Rather than serving as a mere background detail, the hijab functions as a powerful symbol of faith, identity, and personal choice. Through Huda’s consistent artistic decisions and the events of her life, the hijab becomes a lens for understanding her relationship with God, her community, and herself. This analysis explores the hijab’s literal meaning, its recurrence in the memoir, its connection to major characters and themes, and offers study questions to deepen comprehension.

What the Hijab Literally Is

The hijab is a headscarf worn by many Muslim women that covers the hair and neck. In the book’s glossary, Huda defines related terms such as abaya – “the long, loose-fitting dress worn by some Muslim women” – which together with the hijab forms the modest dress code she follows in public. For Huda, the hijab is not just a piece of cloth; it is a physical expression of her religious commitment and her decision to obey God’s command regarding modesty. Crucially, Huda emphasizes in the “Dear Reader” chapter that she has made the personal choice to never draw her character without hijab, even in private settings such as sleeping or going to the salon. She clarifies that in real life she removes the hijab at home, with her husband, and in women-only spaces, but her artistic alter ego remains always covered. This deliberate inconsistency between her real-life habits and her drawn depiction highlights that the hijab in the memoir is more than an accurate wardrobe – it is an integral part of her drawn identity.

Where the Hijab Recurs in the Memoir

The hijab appears on every page where Huda’s character is present, from the opening letter to the final wedding scenes. Specific moments include:

  • Chapter 1: Dear Reader – Huda explicitly addresses why she draws herself in hijab constantly, setting the stage for the symbol’s importance.
  • Chapter 3: The Rules – Even as a five-year-old, Huda’s character is depicted in hijab, reinforcing that her faith identity predates conscious choice.
  • Chapter 8: Arranged – When Huda meets Sheikh Z for advice and later first learns about Gehad, she is always shown in hijab, marking her modesty during these serious discussions about marriage.
  • Chapter 10: Soul Meets – During chaperoned calls and emails with Gehad, Huda’s hijab is present, representing the boundaries of Islamic courtship.
  • Chapter 11: The Kitab and Walima – At the women-only party portion of the kitab, Huda draws herself without hijab in that context (consistent with her real-life practice), but in the public walima reception she is again covered.

Thus the hijab’s recurrence is constant but context-aware, mirroring real hijabi practice and reinforcing the memoir’s authenticity.

How the Meaning Changes (and Stays the Same)

Throughout the memoir, the hijab’s core meaning as an act of faith and modesty remains steady. However, its significance deepens as Huda grows. Early on, the hijab is simply the expected attire of a Muslim girl. As she enters the arranged marriage process in her twenties, the hijab becomes a tangible reminder of her submission to God’s plan (qadr, or destiny). When she meets Gehad, the hijab does not hinder their connection; rather, it signals shared values. At the women-only kitab celebration, the removal of the hijab underscores the joy and freedom of being in a safe, all-female environment – a moment where Huda’s character is shown without hijab for the only time in the book other than the explanatory meta-comment. This shift illustrates that the hijab is not a prison but a practice with clear boundaries that enhance both public modesty and private community.

Character Connections

  • Huda Fahmy – The hijab is inseparable from her drawn self. Her choice to wear it (and to depict it constantly) defines her public persona and her relationship with God.
  • Huda’s Mother – Also a hijabi, she models the practice and supports Huda’s choices. In Chapter 10, she even acts as the “CC” (Chaperone’s Copy) on emails, reinforcing the modest courtship boundaries.
  • First Suitor (Coworker) – This man attempts to pursue Huda in a way that violates Islamic etiquette (e.g., being alone together). The hijab is a visual reminder of Huda’s values that he ignores, highlighting his unsuitability.
  • Gehad – Gehad respects Huda’s hijab and shares her faith. When they meet, he does not try to date her secretly; they proceed through chaperoned channels, honoring her modesty.
  • Sheikh Z – As a religious guide, Sheikh Z embodies the community support that upholds hijab and arranged marriage practices. He never questions Huda’s hijab, treating it as a given part of her identity.

Theme Connections

The hijab intersects with each major theme of the memoir:

  • Arranged versus Forced Marriage – Just as Huda freely chooses to wear the hijab, she freely chooses her husband. She differentiates forcefully: “forced marriages are not allowed in Islam.” The hijab symbolizes that consent and agency are central to her religious practice.
  • Self-Worth Beyond Marriage – In Chapter 7, Huda learns to love herself rather than mold to please others. Her hijab is part of that authentic self – she wears it for God, not for a potential spouse.
  • Family and Community Expectations – The hijab is expected within her family and community, but Huda makes it her own. Her mother helps with courtship, reinforcing that the hijab is not a burden but a shared practice.
  • Trust in Divine Destiny (Qadr) – Huda trusts God’s plan, and the hijab is an act of trust – following God’s rules without knowing the outcome.
  • Chaperoned Courtship and Modern Tradition – The hijab is a physical part of the chaperoned dates; it explicitly marks the Islamic framework within which love develops.

Study Questions with Answers

1. Why does Huda choose to draw her character wearing hijab even in private settings like sleeping? What does this artistic decision convey about her identity?

Answer: Huda explains in the “Dear Reader” chapter that she considers her character an extension of herself and therefore made the personal choice never to draw her without hijab, even when sleeping or at the salon. She does this to avoid confusing readers about typical hijabi practices – she clarifies that in real life she does remove it for sleep, showers, hair appointments, and at home. This artistic decision conveys that her religious identity is so fundamental to who she is that she wants it visible in every frame. It signals to the reader that Huda’s Muslim identity is not situational; it is part of her core, even when she is vulnerable or relaxed.

2. How does the hijab function during the chaperoned courtship with Gehad? Does it affect their interactions?

Answer: During the courtship, Huda wears the hijab in all their supervised meetings, phone calls, and emailed correspondence (where the hijab is implied by her consistent self‑depiction). The hijab serves as a visible marker of her religious commitment and the boundaries they both respect. Gehad is drawn as a bearded, modest Muslim man who never expects her to remove it. The hijab does not hinder their emotional connection; instead, it affirms that their relationship is built on shared values. In Chapter 10, Huda notes that their souls seemed to have met before, and the hijab is symbolic of that preordained harmony.

3. In Chapter 11, the kitab celebration includes women letting their hair down in a women‑only hall. How does this contrast with Huda’s typical depiction in hijab, and what does it reveal about the hijab’s meaning?

Answer: For the only time in the memoir, Huda draws herself without the hijab inside the women‑only party, where all women are free to uncover. This contrasts sharply with the rest of the book, where she is always covered. The contrast reveals that the hijab is not a permanent physical constraint but a practice of modesty that is context‑dependent: it is worn when non‑mahram (marriageable) men are present, but removed in safe, all‑female spaces. This moment shows the hijab as a flexible act of worship rather than a strict uniform, and it highlights the joy and freedom women experience in private gatherings.

4. How does Huda’s relationship with her hijab reflect her journey of self‑worth beyond marriage, as seen in Chapter 7?

Answer: In Chapter 7, Huda describes turning down a potential suitor and learning to love herself. She stops asking “what was wrong with me” and begins to focus on her own relationship with God, taking religious studies classes. The hijab is a daily expression of that commitment – it is not worn for any man’s approval, but for God. By consistently showing her hijab even as she develops self‑worth, the memoir illustrates that her faith and her identity are not dependent on being married. The hijab becomes a visual anchor of her journey: she is whole on her own, and Gehad is a complementary partner, not a completion.