Clothing for Muslims is based on the
guidelines laid down by Islamic law. Islamic law states that men and
women should lower their gaze and guard their modesty.
Women should not display their beauty
or wealth (ornaments) and draw a veil over their face and bosom.
Wives and daughters should be suitably cloaked, so as not to draw the
gaze of others.
The definition of modesty, in the case
of men, is taken to mean that the area from the belly button to the
knees must be kept covered. Women should be covered from head to toe,
leaving only hands and the face or eyes in view.
Clothing for Muslims: Widespread
Following
Regardless of which specific country or
culture they might be living in, clothing
for Muslims is almost universally based on the
principle of the ‘veil’ or ‘hijab.’ The following are
some of the more common forms of clothing for women:
Abaya: Prevalent in the Gulf
region, abayas are long black caftans or a large fabric that
extends from head to foot. Recently, abayas have been in the
limelight with famous international designers have included them in
their Gulf outlets.
Al-amira: A two-part veil
comprising a cap and a scarf.
Burqa: Covers the entire
body and has a veil made from netting.
Chador: Iranian full-length
outer clothing that does not have openings for the hands and is
simply wrapped around the body. Chadors do not include the veil.
Dupatta: Common to the
Indian sub-continent, this piece of cloth is usually part of a
salwar kameez set (tunic and pants) and is used as a veil.
Hijab: A square piece of
cloth that is folded into a triangle, covers the head and is
fastened by tying the ends under the chin.
Jilbab: General term used
for outer garments, such as cloaks and coats.
Khimar: Head covering or
scarf with variants that reach down till the waist.
Men also have prescribed clothing, as
per Muslim law. These include:
Thobe (Thawb): Long,
loose, flowing robe stitched like a shirt that extends till the
ankles. Typically white in colour, brown and grey variants are
becoming increasingly common.
Taqiyah: Crocheted skull
cap worn by men. Sometimes made out of cotton and decorated with
embroidery. Also known as a topi or kufi.
Bisht: Loose robe worn
over a Thobe.
Ihram: Clothing worn by
pilgrims during Hajj, consisting of an izar that
covers the area from the ankles to the waist and a reda that
covers the shoulders and upper body.
If you are looking for traditional
Muslim clothing, the best place to begin would be with a reputed
online store. EastEssence.com is one such store, with over a decade
of experience of offering the best quality Islamic clothing.
