092: Thawb

I went to my hospital placement on Thursday. This is the hospital that I want to be placed at when I enter the workforce in several months time. It is close to my house, junior doctors say good things about the training, and the medical teams seem well supported and definitely less stressed than teams in other hospitals that I have been to. It also helps that a lot of the senior doctors are themselves non-British. Doctors and nurses from diverse backgrounds are caring for an equally diverse group of patients. If Brexit were to kick immigrants out, there would be no staff at this hospital.

On Thursday, I went to the Acute Medical Unit to examine patients with interesting signs. Upon arriving, I saw a tall, lanky man with a bushy beard, his hospital ID badge hanging from his neck. His tanned skin colour suggests he is from either Bangladeshi or Pakistani origin. It was not his beard that caught my attention first, it was his outfit. As he spoke with a British accent, I was left staring at his black thawb (an ankle length robe commonly worn as a cultural dress by Arabs). My eyes moved on to his head, as on top of his well quaffed hair, sat a kufi. If he wanted to be instantly recognised as a Muslim, he can't dress any better than a woman in a headscarf. I would find out later that he was also a consultant physician.

My first thoughts were:
a) Is that attire even allowed?
b) He is so brave.

It takes a level of conviction in one's beliefs and identity to be brave enough to portray them openly to the public. Especially in times when outwardly expressing one's faith will often not be received well. I wonder whether he thought twice on whether it was a risky move when he donned the thawb that morning as he looked at himself in the mirror. Maybe to him, the thawb is what a hijab is to me. Risky, yes. But also necessary - like a limb is to a body. However, unlike women in hijab, Muslim men can easily hide their faith from onlookers. I know of many Mohammads who would rather call themselves Mo for instance. A Muslim man with or without a beard, can don a suit and no ones the wiser. Some women in hijab try to blend in to their surroundings too. Yes, there is a scarf on my head, but most of the time, my outfit is very much Western. A buttoned down shirt and loose trousers are my staple. I guess I'm trying to portray a woman who on the one hand is Muslim, but on the other, a woman who is also very much like any other. Or in other words, a person who is trying to assimilate.

But as Muslim men have the choice to disclose or hide, I think a conscious effort to wear a thawb and kufi to work in England says something quite bold. To me, he is saying: I am a Muslim and I am not afraid, but proud to let you know that I am. When I see that consultant, I feel that his Muslim identity is so strong that it shone through to his appearance. On observation, there is no doubt that he is Muslim - portraying his total conviction within his heart. His light and his bravery shone through too - unknowingly emanating them to the most unlikely of observers - me. If he is brave, I can be too.