KUALA LUMPUR: A flight attendant has expressed gratitude after her long-held wish to cover her aurat while on duty is set to be realised.
“I never imagined that my wish to cover my aurat (parts of the body that are obligatory to cover in Islam) while working would eventually come true,” said Nurfarahshazreen Mohamad Mustaffar, 35.
Nurfarahshazreen said she began her career as a flight attendant in 2014 but was laid off in 2020 during the implementation of the movement control order.
“When I was retrenched, I started wearing the headscarf. At that time, many things were happening in my life, including my divorce and losing my job,” she said when contacted.
She described herself as fortunate to be rehired by the same airline in 2022 and has been back in service for the past three years.
Nurfarahshazreen said she frequently applied to be rostered on Jeddah–Madinah routes, where female cabin crew are required to wear uniforms that cover the aurat.
“That is why I often requested to work on those flights, as it allowed me to observe modest dress while on duty,” she said.
She admitted that she had previously been torn between continuing her career as a flight attendant and seeking a new job that would allow her to wear the headscarf.
“I am grateful that a prayer I once made, hoping my employer would give us options in terms of attire, has been answered,” she said.
Nurfarahshazreen added that she was not alone, noting that many other flight attendants had also frequently requested the Jeddah–Madinah routes.
“It shows that many of us share the same wish, which is to cover our aurat while working,” she said, adding that the airline’s implementation of optional uniform choices is expected to begin early next year.
Earlier, Nurfarahshazreen shared a post on Threads recounting her anxiety about something happening to her while she was on duty without covering her aurat.
She said she now feels relieved that this is no longer a concern after her employer allowed flight attendants to wear uniforms that cover the aurah while on duty.
Her post went viral, garnering more than 22,000 likes, 847 comments and 881 shares to date.
Many netizens have since voiced their support, with some offering prayers and words of encouragement for her to remain steadfast in her commitment to observing modest dress.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
