Types of hijab

Last updated April 21, 2024

This table of types of hijab describes terminologically distinguished styles of clothing commonly associated with the word hijab .

The Arabic word hijāb can be translated as "cover, wrap, curtain, veil, screen, partition", among other meanings.^[1] In the Quran it refers to notions of separation, protection and covering in both literal and metaphorical senses.^[2] Subsequently, the word has evolved in meaning and now usually denotes a Muslim woman's veil.^[2] In English, the term refers predominantly to the head covering for women and its underlying religious precepts.^[3]^[4] Not all Muslims believe the hijab is mandated in Islam.^[5]^[6]^[7]

Name	Image	Description
Abaya عباية		Full-length, robe-like outer garment that covers the whole body except the head, feet, and hands. Usually worn with a headscarf or (especially in Saudi Arabia) gloves and niqab.
al-Amira		A two-piece veil. It consists of a close fitting cap, usually made from cotton or polyester, and an accompanying tube-like scarf.
Bushiyya		A veil that is tied on at the forehead and falls to cover the entire face but has no cut-out for the eyes; instead, the fabric is sheer enough to be seen through (Middle East, specifically Persian Gulf).
Bukhnuq بخنق		This is similar to khimār 2 (see below) but comes down just to the bosom. Sometimes called "Amira hijab" if it has embroidery at the edge.
Eastern Arabia Batula (Battoulah) برقع شرق الجزيرة العربية		Women wear it in United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Arabs of Southern Iran. This tradition has almost died out in the newer generations. Older women past 50, and those living in rural areas can still be seen wearing them.
Burqa or Chadari Bengali برقع، چادری		Traditional Central Asian ^[8] style outer garment that covers the entire body and has a grille over the face that the woman looks through. Very similar in style and function to other Central Asian styles such as the paranja. Burqa or Chadari Bengali were traditionally worn in Chechnya and Uzbekistan and transferred to Afghanistan by Salafi's.
Chador		An Iranian traditional outer garment (also worn in other countries) that covers the head and body and is a full-length semicircle of fabric but comes down to the ground. Does not have slits for the hands and is held shut with the hands, teeth or simply wrapped under the arms.
Elechek		White turban traditionally worn by Kyrgyz women, currently reserved for special occasions.^[9]^[10]
Hijāb حجاب		May refer to any head covering. See Hijab ^[11]
Jilbāb (1) جلباب	generic	The term used in the Qur'an (Suratu l-Ahzāb, āya 59) to refer to the outer garment. In Indonesia, the term jilbab refers exclusively to the head-covering.
Jilbāb (2)		A type of outer garment that looks like a long raincoat or trenchcoat.
Kalpak		Traditional headgear of unmarried woman in Kazakhstan, Karakalpakstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Kalfak (ru:Калфак, tt:Калфак)		Traditional headgear of Tatars woman.
Kashmau (ba:Ҡашмау, ru:Кашмау)		Traditional headgear of Bashkirs woman.
Kelaghayi		A traditional Azerbaijani women's headgear.
Kerudung		Although similar to the Malaysian tudong (below), the modern Indonesian kerudung usually includes a stiff visor above the eyes.
Khimār (1) خمار	generic	The term used in the Qur'an (Suratu n-Nūr, āya 31) to refer to the headscarf; the word "hijāb" is more commonly used with this meaning.
Khimār (2)		Most commonly, a circular head covering with a hole cut out for the face, which usually comes down to the waist. Note the variations bukhnuq and chador above, which are the same style but different lengths.
Kimeshek (kk:Кимешек)		Traditional headgear of married woman in Kazakhstan, Karakalpakstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Kurhars (ru:Курхарс)		Traditional headgear of unmarried woman in Ingushetia.
Lachak		Traditional festive headgear of woman, who has married sons and daughters, in Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, quite similar to Elechek and Kimeshek, worn only at party where only women are present (as at presence of men face was completely closed). https://moluch.ru/archive/47/5858/
Mukena		An Indonesian hijab worn almost exclusively for praying. It is fastened around the head with two strings. Colors are usually white or pastel.
Niqaab نقاب		A veil that covers the face and entire head but with a place cut out for the eyes (image: style worn in Yemen).
Niqaab (2)		A veil that is tied on at the bridge of the nose and falls to cover the lower face. Also called "half niqab".
Oramal (kk:Орамал)		A traditional kerchief used in Central Asia and the Caucasus (note how it is banded, the neck is usually not covered by it). In some countries like Uzbekistan it was traditionally used only at home, while in public the paranja was more popular. In other countries, like Kazakhstan, it was commonly used in public. In Kyrgyzstan, the white color is an indication that the woman is married.
Paranja		A Central Asian traditional outer garment that covers the head and body, heavy in weight and made from horsehair. Once prevalent in Uzbek and Tajik societies.
Safseri, sefseri, safsari or sefsari		Traditional Tunisian veil worn by women, composed of a large piece of cream-colored cloth covering the whole body.
Selendang		In Southeast Asia, a multi-purpose shoulder sash that can be tied around the shoulders to carry infants and groceries, or draped over the head.
Shayla		Long, rectangular scarf, wrapped around the head and tucked or pinned in place at the shoulders. Popular in Arab states of the Persian Gulf.^[12]
Taqiyah (cap)		Xinjiang - usually worn without scarf Tatarstan and Caucasus - worn always with scarf Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan, and Karkalpakstan - worn for little girls only Uzbekistan and Tajikistan - worn only at home as headgear, as in public the face is completely covered
Thawb		Typically worn by Sudanese women. a long, colorful fabric wrap typically worn over a dress or shirt and a skirt. In the past, the Toob was worn by all Sudanese women, but modern preferences have shifted towards more contemporary clothing styles.^[13]
Tudung		Headscarf worn in Malaysia and Indonesia. In Indonesia, the term kerudung (above) is much more common.
Türban		Turkish term for a headscarf pinned neatly at the sides.^[14]
Zukin		Headscarf worn in Japan. Originally meant to be for warmth, but many Japanese Muslims wear it as a hijab.

Related Research Articles

In modern usage, hijab generally refers to various head coverings conventionally worn by many Muslim women. It is similar to the tichel or snood worn by Orthodox Jewish women, certain headcoverings worn by some Christian women, such as the mantilla, apostolnik and wimple, and the dupatta worn by many Hindu and Sikh women. Whilst a hijab can come in many forms, it often specifically refers to a scarf wrapped around the head, covering the hair, neck and ears but leaving the face visible. The use of the hijab has been on the rise worldwide since the 1970s and is viewed by many Muslims as expressing modesty and faith; it has also been worn for purposes of adornment. There is a consensus among Islamic religious scholars that covering the head is either required or preferred, though some Muslim scholars and activists point out that it is not mandated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veil</span> Hanging cloth covering parts of a person or object

A veil is an article of clothing or hanging cloth that is intended to cover some part of the head or face, or an object of some significance. Veiling has a long history in European, Asian, and African societies. The practice has been prominent in different forms in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The practice of veiling is especially associated with women and sacred objects, though in some cultures, it is men, rather than women, who are expected to wear a veil. Besides its enduring religious significance, veiling continues to play a role in some modern secular contexts, such as wedding customs.

A burqa or a burka is an enveloping outer garment worn by some Muslim women which fully covers the body and the face. Also known as a chadaree or chaadar in Afghanistan and Pakistan, or a paranja in Central Asia, the Arab version of the burqa is called the boshiya and is usually black. The term burqa is sometimes conflated with the niqāb even though, in more precise usage, the niqab is a face veil that leaves the eyes uncovered, while a burqa covers the entire body from the top of the head to the ground, with a mesh screen which only allows the wearer to see in front of her.

A chādor, also variously spelled in English as chadah, chad(d)ar, chader, chud(d)ah, chadur, and naturalized as, is an outer garment or open cloak worn by many women in the Persian-influenced countries of Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and to a lesser extent Tajikistan, as well as in Shia communities in Iraq, Bahrain, and Qatif in Saudi Arabia in public spaces or outdoors.

Pardah or purdah is a religious and social practice of gender partition prevalent among some Muslim and Hindu communities. It takes two forms: social partition of the sexes and the requirement that women cover their bodies so as to cover their skin and conceal their form. A woman who practices purdah can be referred to as pardanashin or purdahnishan. The term purdah is sometimes applied to similar practices in other parts of the world.

Islamic clothing is clothing that is interpreted as being in accordance with the teachings of Islam. Muslims wear a wide variety of clothing, which is influenced not only by religious considerations, but also by practical, cultural, social, and political factors. In modern times, some Muslims have adopted clothing based on Western traditions, while others wear modern forms of traditional Muslim dress, which over the centuries has typically included long, flowing garments. Besides its practical advantages in the climate of the Middle East, loose-fitting clothing is also generally regarded as conforming to Islamic teachings, which stipulate that body areas which are sexual in nature must be hidden from public view. Traditional dress for Muslim men has typically covered at least the head and the area between the waist and the knees, while women's islamic dress is to conceal the hair and the body from the ankles to the neck. Some Muslim women also cover their face. However, other Muslims believe that the Quran does not mandate that women need to wear a hijab or a burqa.

A niqāb or niqaab, also known as a ruband, is a long garment worn by some Muslim women in order to cover their entire body and face, excluding their eyes. It is an interpretation in Islam of the concept of hijab, and is worn in public and in all other places where a woman may encounter non-mahram men. Most prevalent in the Arabian Peninsula, the niqab is a controversial clothing item in many parts of the world, including in some Muslim-majority countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Headscarf</span> Piece of cloth worn on ones head

A headscarf is a scarf covering most or all of the top of a person's, usually women's, hair and head, leaving the face uncovered. A headscarf is formed of a triangular cloth or a square cloth folded into a triangle, with which the head is covered.

The intimate parts of the human body must, according to Islam, be covered by clothing. Most of modern Islamic scholars agree that the 'awrah of a man is the area between the navel and the knees, and the 'awrah of a woman is the entire body except the face, hand; exposing the 'awrah of the body is against Islamic law.

The term jilbāb refers to any long and loose-fit coat or outer garment worn by some Muslim women. Wearers believe that this definition of jilbāb fulfills the Quranic choice for a hijab. The jilbāb is also known as chador by Persian speakers in Iran and Afghanistan. The modern jilbāb covers the entire body. Some women will also cover the hands with gloves and the face along with a niqāb. In recent years, a short visor is often included to protect the face from the tropical sun.

In France, there is an ongoing social, political, and legal debate concerning the wearing of the hijab and other forms of Islamic coverings in public. The cultural framework of the controversy can be traced to France's history of colonization in North Africa, but escalated into a significant public debate in 1989 when three girls were suspended from school for refusing to remove their headscarves. That incident, referred to in France as l'affaire du foulard or l'affaire du voile, initially focused the controversy on the wearing of the hijab in French public schools. Because of the wide-ranging social debates caused by the controversy, l'affaire du foulard has been compared to the Dreyfus affair in its impact on French culture.

The tudong is a style of headscarf, worn as interpretation of the Islamic hijab, prevalent amongst many Muslim women in the Malay-speaking world; Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore. Today, the tudong forms part of the standard dress code for many offices in Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as in school uniforms and formal occasions. Though initially considered a conservative form of dress, it is worn today by most moderate Muslim women in Malaysia and Indonesia.

The British debate over veils began in October 2006 when the MP and government minister Jack Straw wrote in his local newspaper, the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, that, while he did not want to be "prescriptive", he preferred talking to women who did not wear a niqab as he could see their face, and asked women who were wearing such items to remove them when they spoke to him, making clear that they could decline his request and that a female member of staff was in the room.

Hijab and burka controversies in Europe revolve around the variety of headdresses worn by Muslim women, which have become prominent symbols of the presence of Islam in especially Western Europe. In several countries, the adherence to hijab has led to political controversies and proposals for a legal partial or full ban in some or all circumstances. Some countries already have laws banning the wearing of masks in public, which can be applied to veils that conceal the face. Other countries are debating similar legislation, or have more limited prohibitions. Some of them apply only to face-covering clothing such as the burqa, boushiya, or niqab; some apply to any clothing with an Islamic religious symbolism such as the khimar, a type of headscarf. The issue has different names in different countries, and "the veil" or hijab may be used as general terms for the debate, representing more than just the veil itself, or the concept of modesty embodied in Hijab.

Various styles of head coverings, most notably the khimar, hijab, chador, niqab, paranja, yashmak, tudong, shayla, safseri, carşaf, haik, dupatta, boshiya and burqa, are worn by Muslim women around the world, where the practice varies from mandatory to optional or restricted in different majority Muslim and non-Muslim countries.

World Hijab Day is an annual event founded by Nazma Khan in 2013, taking place on 1 February each year in 140 countries worldwide. Its stated purpose is to encourage women of all religions and backgrounds to wear and experience the hijab for a day and to educate and spread awareness on why hijab is worn. Nazma Khan said her goal was also to normalize hijab wearing.

Islamic Fashion as a phenomenon stemmed from the combination of a set of Islamic practices and of the rising need and desire to include these specific clothing items in a broader fashion industry. The global growth of “an Islamic consumer sector, which explicitly forges links between religiosity and fashion, encouraging Muslims to be both covered and fashionable, modest and beautiful,” is relatively fresh: Islamic Fashion as a particular phenomenon started appearing toward the 1980s.

Hijabophobia is a type of religious and cultural discrimination against Muslim women who wear the hijab. The discrimination has had manifestations in public, working and educational places.

Islamic feminist views on dress codes include views on issues surrounding women's dress codes in Islam, especially on the hijab and niqāb.

The burqa is worn by women in various countries. Some countries have banned it in government offices, schools, or in public places and streets.

References

↑ El Guindi, Fadwa; Sherifa Zahur (2009). Hijab. The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. doi:10.1093/acref/9780195305135.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-530513-5.
1 2 Siddiqui, Mona (2006). "Veil" . In Jane Dammen McAuliffe (ed.). Encyclopaedia of the Qurʾān. Brill.
↑ Hijab in Merriam-Webster
↑ Hijab at Oxford Dictionaries
↑ "unicornsorg". Archived from the original on 21 December 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
↑ "Moroccoworldnews.com". Archived from the original on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
↑ Nomani, Asra Q.; Arafa, Hala (21 December 2015). "Opinion: As Muslim women, we actually ask you not to wear the hijab in the name of interfaith solidarity". Washington Post. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
↑ Abu-Lughod, Lila (2002). "Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? Anthropological Reflections on Cultural Relativism and Its Others". American Anthropologist. 104 (3): 783–790. doi:10.1525/aa.2002.104.3.783.
↑ BBC Trending (13 August 2016). "Kyrgyzstan president: 'Women in mini skirts don't become suicide bombers'". BBC.
↑ Bradley Mayhew; Greg Bloom; Paul Clammer; Michael Kohn (2010). Central Asia. Lonely Planet. p. 63. ISBN 978-1-74179-148-8.
↑ Al-Haqthobes. (13 August 2022). Butterfly Abaya "100% Premium Chiffon, Creating a Perfectly Coordinated Look". Retrieved 2023-08-19.
↑ BBC, In graphics: Muslim veils
↑ karim (2021-11-21). "Sudanese Traditional Clothing -" . Retrieved 2023-05-16.
↑ Rainsford, Sarah (November 7, 2006). "Headscarf issue challenges Turkey". BBC News.

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[El_Guindi-1] El Guindi, Fadwa; Sherifa Zahur (2009). Hijab. The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. doi:10.1093/acref/9780195305135.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-530513-5.

[EoQ-2] 1 2 Siddiqui, Mona (2006). "Veil" . In Jane Dammen McAuliffe (ed.). Encyclopaedia of the Qurʾān. Brill.

[3] Hijab in Merriam-Webster

[4] Hijab at Oxford Dictionaries

[5] "unicornsorg". Archived from the original on 21 December 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.

[6] "Moroccoworldnews.com". Archived from the original on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.

[Asra-2015-7] Nomani, Asra Q.; Arafa, Hala (21 December 2015). "Opinion: As Muslim women, we actually ask you not to wear the hijab in the name of interfaith solidarity". Washington Post. Retrieved 22 December 2022.

[8] Abu-Lughod, Lila (2002). "Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? Anthropological Reflections on Cultural Relativism and Its Others". American Anthropologist. 104 (3): 783–790. doi:10.1525/aa.2002.104.3.783.

[9] BBC Trending (13 August 2016). "Kyrgyzstan president: 'Women in mini skirts don't become suicide bombers'". BBC.

[10] Bradley Mayhew; Greg Bloom; Paul Clammer; Michael Kohn (2010). Central Asia. Lonely Planet. p. 63. ISBN 978-1-74179-148-8.

[11] Al-Haqthobes. (13 August 2022). Butterfly Abaya "100% Premium Chiffon, Creating a Perfectly Coordinated Look". Retrieved 2023-08-19.

[12] BBC, In graphics: Muslim veils

[:0-13] rim (2021-11-21). "Sudanese Traditional Clothing -" . Retrieved 2023-05-16.

[14] Rainsford, Sarah (November 7, 2006). "Headscarf issue challenges Turkey". BBC News.

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Types of hijab

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