An Introduction to Clothing for Muslims

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:

1. 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.

2. Al-amira: A two-part veil comprising a cap and a scarf.

3. Burqa: Covers the entire body and has a veil made from netting.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Jilbab: General term used for outer garments, such as cloaks and coats.

8. Khimar: Head covering or scarf with variants that reach down till the waist.

Men also have prescribed clothing, as per Muslim law. These include:

1. 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.

2. Taqiyah: Crocheted skull cap worn by men. Sometimes made out of cotton and decorated with embroidery. Also known as a topi or kufi.

3. Bisht: Loose robe worn over a Thobe.

4. 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.

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