While the opposite can be argued, I feel that “Just One Night” addresses an otherness felt by some of the young Muslims in the West. It has an opening scene with two hijabi friends trying to fix their headscarves in a manner that makes them stand out less in the bathroom of a bar where they are to try something new because one of them has a birthday. Once they are ready, the seemingly more nervous birthday girl (BG) asks her friend if the turban style is too revealing as a woman walks past in a mini skirt and tank top. The friend replies “No you are good”. This scene right away proposes that the standards of Muslims and their non-Muslim society are at odds with each other. Some long to be able to attend what many non-Muslims in the West would consider a normal night out, but restrictions to alcohol and diet don’t allow it. Such religious obligations can make those trying to find their place in society feel lonelier, because it is not as easy to maintain religious decorum and feel included at times.
The video presents one friend clearly struggling with feelings of invisibility, under-appreciation, and missing out on activities such as going on in the bar like flirtation and casual relationships while the BG trying to extoll the benefits of wearing hijab as a way to be unseen by predators and unseemly men. However, it gets more complicated as the story goes on with BG finding her friend dancing closely with a man in addition to a picture of her on the wall slamming drinks.
Feeling out of place with a sense of betrayal that her friend is not who she thought she was, BG ends up having an argument with her. Eventually she pulls the hijab off of her friend’s head, runs from the bar visibly upset also with her own actions and just stands outside. Her friend not wearing the hijab anymore joins her. They look at each other, smile, and hold hands leaning in for a cuddle.
It is like each woman sees the other and her struggles in this life. Though they are different, they can connect and support each other. They can see the struggle of being another in a Western society and understand that despite having chosen different paths. They are both still Muslim women connected by Islam and the restrictions/joys it brings to them. I believe it also helps to show that we should not judge each other too harshly as we all have our struggles in life and Muslim women are no exceptions to this. We can embrace a newer lifestyle or hold strongly to our values and culture whichever is easier depending on our individual choices. Either way, our choices won’t make us bad Muslims as the bar regular friend tells the BG towards the end of the video.
_________________________________________________________________________
Abigail Leonard is a graduate of Indiana University, mom, and “rescuer” of any animal she can get her hands on. She likes plants and living her absolute best single life.
********************
Disclaimer: Any views and/or opinions represented in this blog solely belong to the author. Muslim Voices Public Scholarship Project is not liable for the opinions presented.
Leave a Reply