History UsefulNotes / IslamicDress

* In the rest of the Arab countries, women generally don't wear the conservative body garment, although they may wear the simple hijab, the frequency of which depends on how liberal the country is. Most [[UsefulNotes/{{Iraq}} Iraqi]] women wear it, as do the [[UsefulNotes/{{Egypt}} Egyptians]] to a lesser degree, but in UsefulNotes/{{Morocco}}, it is actually ''frowned'' upon for women to wear any headscarf, as it implies a sort of "Arab colonialism" since Berber identity is very much embraced there. Notable it is that Morocco, UsefulNotes/{{Syria}}, and UsefulNotes/{{Tunisia}} used to ban the use of any head covering for university students for secular reasons, although the law had been repealed in all countries ([[CivilWar not that the "law" matters much in Syria these days]]). Old Arab women may wear the ''khimar''; old aristocratic Arab women may continue to wear the floppy hats (except when they're praying, when they may wear a simple scarf or a ''khimar'').

* In the rest of the Arab countries, women generally don't wear the conservative body garment, although they may wear the simple hijab, the frequency of which depends on how liberal the country is. Most [[UsefulNotes/{{Iraq}} Iraqi]] women wear it, as do the [[UsefulNotes/{{Egypt}} Egyptians]] to a lesser degree, but in UsefulNotes/{{Morocco}}, it is actually ''frowned'' upon for women to wear any headscarf, as it implies a sort of "Arab colonialism" since Berber identity is very much embraced there. Notable it is that Morocco, UsefulNotes/{{Syria}}, and UsefulNotes/{{Tunisia}} used to ban the use of any head covering for university students for secular reasons, although the law had been repealed in all countries ([[CivilWar not that the "law" matters much in Syria these days]]). Old Arab women may wear the ''khimar''; old aristocratic Arab women may continue to wear the floppy hats (except when they're praying, when they may wear a simple scarf or a ''khimar''.

* In the rest of the Arab countries, women generally don't wear the conservative body garment, although they may wear the simple hijab, the frequency of which depends on how liberal the country is. Most [[UsefulNotes/{{Iraq}} Iraqi]] women wear it, as do the [[UsefulNotes/{{Egypt}} Egyptians]] to a lesser degree, but in UsefulNotes/{{Morocco}}, it is actually ''frowned'' upon for women to wear any headscarf, as it implies a sort of "Arab colonialism" since Berber identity is very much embraced there. Notable it is that Morocco, UsefulNotes/{{Syria}}, and UsefulNotes/{{Tunisia}} used to ban the use of any head covering for university students for secular reasons, although the law had been repealed in all countries ([[CivilWar not that the "law" matters much in Syria these days]]).

* In the rest of the Arab countries, women generally don't wear the conservative body garment, although they may wear the simple hijab, the frequency of which depends on how liberal the country is. Most [[UsefulNotes/{{Iraq}} Iraqi]] women wear it, as do the [[UsefulNotes/{{Egypt}} Egyptians]] to a lesser degree, but in UsefulNotes/{{Morocco}}, it is actually ''frowned'' upon for women to wear any headscarf, as it implies a sort of "Arab colonialism" since Berber identity is very much embraced there. Notable it is that Morocco, UsefulNotes/{{Syria}}, and UsefulNotes/{{Tunisia}} used to ban the use of any head covering for university students for secular reasons, although the law had been repealed in all countries.

* For immigrant communities in the rest of the world, the rule depends on what country they arise.

* In {{Iran}}, as noted above, the chador is the most commonly used hijab since the 1979 Revolution; though it is not mandated, popular culture, both in and out, has caused this trend to ignite.

This word is used in the Qur'an to refer to the modest garment used by Muslim women, and still does today, although different countries have interpret this differently. In Southeast Asia, in particular, a jilbab is used to mean a variety of hijab designed for practical use; something than one can simply throw on the head if one needs to answer the door, say. They're not usually too garishly decorated, but some styles of Jilbab has made inroads with the Muslim fashion industry.

Again, like the chador, the word is not Arabic in origin but Persian, and might have refer to a woman-specific clothing in pre-Islamic Khorasan (ancient Afghanistan).

As a style that one can be variously interpreted, different Muslim women apply the dress differently, not only according to personal opinion but whether the government sanctions them or not. Generally, the situation around the world is like this:

* In the rest of the Arab countries, women generally doesn't wear the conservative body garment, although they may wear the simple hijab, the frequency of which depends on how liberal the country is. Most [[UsefulNotes/{{Iraq}} Iraqi]] women wear it, as do the [[UsefulNotes/{{Egypt}} Egyptians]] to a lesser degree, but in UsefulNotes/{{Morocco}}, it is actually ''frowned'' upon for women to wear any headscarves, as it implies a sort of "Arab colonialism" since Berber identity is very much embraced there. Notable it is that Morocco, UsefulNotes/{{Syria}}, and UsefulNotes/{{Tunisia}} used to ban the use of any head coverings for university students for secular reasons, although the law had been repealed in all countries.

* In UsefulNotes/{{Afghanistan}} and UsefulNotes/{{Pakistan}}, the hijab or khimar is traditionally used, alongside a traditional clothing called ''salwar kameez'', which has both styles for women and men. Worth noting is that any hijab used usually doesn't completely cover the hair (as in the case with Pakistan's PM Benazir Bhutto), which is an unusual exception for the "everywhere but the face" rule. In areas where legacy of fundamentalist groups (read: the Taliban) exist, however, the ultra-conservative burka may be used as well.
* In UsefulNotes/{{India}}, UsefulNotes/{{Bangladesh}}, and the non-Arab African countries, such as UsefulNotes/{{Senegal}} or UsefulNotes/{{Mali}}, the hijab (in the Arab sense) is generally not used and other traditional covering prevails.
* In Southeast and East Asian Muslims, if hijab is used at all, it is usually of the jilbab variety, which is very flexible to wear.

The hijab is, in theory, the generic word for "modest dress" in Islam. Indeed,in the Qur'an, the term applies to modest dress for men as well as women; the Qur'anic term for a head covering for women is ''jilbab''. However, over time, Muslims have come to use the word hijab to mean a head-covering. It can generically mean any old head covering, including all of the ones listed below; most commonly, however, the word is used to mean a relatively simple scarf that leaves the whole face uncovered. There are hundreds of ways to wrap and fasten these around the head, with the result that a woman's hijab can be very personalized indeed: loosely wrapped, tightly wrapped, showing a bit of hair, one-piece (a single cloth wrapped around the head) or two-piece (a common form in the Arab World and Turkey, with a tubular under-scarf worn rather like a hat, over which is layered a fairly thin scarf going over the back two-thirds or so of the under-scarf for a sort of two-tone effect), stuffed with starched fabric, and so on. The actual material can also vary widely, and can be quite prettily decorated indeed (for instance, rows upon rows of sequins are a perpetually popular decoration among young women). These have drawn criticism from conservative clerics on the ground that the decoration is immodest and therefore defeats the purpose of the exercise. The same criticism is, [[EnemyMine oddly]], often levied by Muslim feminists who want to ditch the hijab altogether. The same odd alliance also critiques the fairly common practice among young Muslims in the West and among the rising middle classes of the Muslim world of wearing this sort of hijab with clothes that technically fulfill the requirement of covering everything while still being quite revealing of one's figure (e.g. skinny jeans and tight long-sleeved T-shirts). As you might have guessed, this is the least conservative sort of hijab in most communities, asides from some old-fashioned ones that look like ordinary if floppy women's hats and for the most part went out of style decades ago.

A slightly more old-fashioned and conservative sort of hijab, consisting of a square or circular piece of cloth with a hole in the middle for the woman's face, leaving it (again) totally uncovered, but with cloth nearly to the navel in some cases. Usually light-colored.

An UsefulNotes/{{Iran}}-specific version of the khimar, with the difference of being much larger and usually black. It reaches all the way to the ground, and thus fulfills the Iranian government's modesty requirement; however, it is not required by law as is often stated in foreign media.

A variant of the hijab usually worn by South-East Asian Muslims. Some of them are long-flowing, but usually refers to quick and practical headscarf one can simply throw on the head if one needs to answer the door, say. They're not usually too garishly decorated, but some styles of Jilbab has made inroads with the Muslim fashion industry.

[[SpellMyNameWithAnS Or burqa or burkha...]]. Traditionally associated with Afghanistan, this garment is much like a chador, but rather than leaving the face clear, it covers the whole face, leaving a net or mesh of cloth around the eyes so the woman can see. This is by far the most conservative garment of the bunch, and one of the most controversial[[note]]Partly because of the tendency of people unfamiliar with Islamic dress to refer to any Islamic female costume as "burkas"[[/note]]; several Muslim countries have banned it in schools or even outright. It is also banned in France, as a result of banning anything that wholly conceals one's face.

The hijab is, in theory, the generic word for "modest dress" in Islam. Indeed,in the Qur'an, the term applies to modest dress for men as well as women; the Qur'anic term for a head covering for women is ''jilbab''. However, over time, Muslims have come to use the word hijab to mean a head-covering. It can generically mean any old head covering, including all of the ones listed below; most commonly, however, the word is used to mean a relatively simple scarf that leaves the whole face uncovered. There are hundreds of ways to wrap and fasten these around the head, with the result that a woman's hijab can be very personalized indeed: loosely wrapped, tightly wrapped, showing a bit of hair, one-piece (a single cloth wrapped around the head) or two-piece (a common form in the Arab World and Turkey, with a tubular under-scarf worn rather like a hat, over which is layered a fairly thin scarf going over the back two-thirds or so of the under-scarf for a sort of two-tone effect), stuffed with starched fabric, and so on. The actual material can also vary widely, and can be quite prettily decorated indeed (for instance, rows upon rows of sequins are a perpetually popular decoration among young women). These have drawn criticism from conservative clerics on the ground that the decoration is immodest and therefore defeats the purpose of the exercise. The same criticism is, [[EnemyMine oddly]], often levied by Muslim feminists who want to ditch the hijab altogether. The same odd alliance also critiques the fairly common practice among young Muslims in the West and among the rising middle classes of the Muslim world of wearing this sort of hijab with clothes that technically fulfill the requirement of covering everything while still being quite revealing (e.g. skinny jeans and tight long-sleeved T-shirts). As you might have guessed, this is the least conservative sort of hijab in most communities, asides from some old-fashioned ones that look like ordinary if floppy women's hats and for the most part went out of style decades ago.

The hijab is, in theory, the generic word for "modest dress" in Islam. Indeed,in the Qur'an, the term applies to modest dress for men as well as women; the Qur'anic term for a head covering for women is ''jilbab''. However, over time, Muslims have come to use the word hijab to mean a head-covering. It can generically mean any old head covering, including all of the ones listed below; most commonly, however, the word is used to mean a relatively simple scarf that leaves the whole face uncovered. There are hundreds of ways to wrap and fasten these around the head, with the result that a woman's hijab can be very personalized indeed: loosely wrapped, tightly wrapped, showing a bit of hair, stuffed with starched fabric, and so on. These have drawn criticism from conservative clerics on the ground that the decoration is immodest and therefore defeats the purpose of the exercise. The same criticism is, [[EnemyMine oddly]], often levied by Muslim feminists who want to ditch the hijab altogether. The same odd alliance also critiques the fairly common practice among young Muslims in the West and among the rising middle classes of the Muslim world of wearing this sort of hijab with clothes that technically fulfill the requirement of covering everything while still being quite revealing (e.g. skinny jeans and tight long-sleeved T-shirts). As you might have guessed, this is the least conservative sort of hijab in most communities, asides from some old-fashioned ones that look like ordinary if floppy women's hats and for the most part went out of style decades ago.

Before we begin, we should note that Islam requires modesty of both men and women; it's simply that the requirements for men are rather more clear-cut and a bit more revealing than requirements for women. Men are required to cover at least everything "from navel to knee"; shorts are therefore technically banned. Most Muslim societies tend to frown on men going bare-chested in public, as well. For example, some particularly fervent Muslim men opt to play sports wearing tracksuits. Furthermore, many men see it as ''sunnah'' (commendable tradition of TheProphetMuhammad) to wear some kind of head covering; this usually takes the form of a kind of skullcap called a ''taqiya'' which looks rather like a large [[UsefulNotes/{{Judaism}} yarmulke]].

[[SpellMyNameWithAnS Or burqa or burkha...]]. Traditionally associated with Afghanistan, this garment is much like a chador, but rather than leaving the face clear, it covers the whole face, leaving a net or mesh of cloth around the eyes so the woman can see. This is by far the most conservative garment of the bunch, and one of the most controversial[[note]]Partly because of the tendency of anti-Muslim bigots to refer to any Islamic female costume, or even the women who wear them, as "burkas"[[/note]]; several Muslim countries have banned it in schools or even outright. It is also banned in France, as a result of banning anything that wholly conceals one's face.

Before we begin, we should note that Islam requires modesty of both men and women; it's simply that the requirements for men are rather more clear-cut and a bit more revealing than requirements for women. Men are required to cover at least everything "from navel to knee"; shorts are therefore technically banned. Most Muslim societies tend to frown on men going bare-chested in public, as well. As an example, some particularly fervent Muslim men opt to play sports wearing tracksuits. Furthermore, many men see it as ''sunnah'' (commendable tradition of TheProphetMuhammad) to wear some kind of head covering; this usually takes the form of a kind of skullcap called a ''taqiya'' which looks rather like a large [[UsefulNotes/{{Judaism}} yarmulke]].

That said, it is true that the rules for women are rather more restrictive. Consensus among traditionalist clerics is that Muslim women must, while in public and while praying, cover their whole body except for the hands and the face. Some clerics are of the opinion that the hands and face except the eyes must be covered; others are of the opinion that feet up to the ankle can be shown (a relief in many Muslim countries where some poor folk cannot afford shoes). More liberal/reformist muftis are of the opinion that modesty must be determined relative to the society and can change over time; thus, in some countries, liberal but observant women might not wear a head covering in most situations, but carry one around for prayer and entering mosques (it is undisputed that Muslim women must cover their hair while praying; Jewish doctrine is much the same, and Catholicism required this well into the 20th century). And of course, Islam can be quite a personal religion; theoretically, anyone can interpret Literature/TheQuran and other religious texts for him or herself.

Before we begin, we should note that Islam requires modesty of both men and women; it's simply that the requirements for men are rather more clear-cut and a bit more revealing than requirements for women. Men are required to cover at least everything "from navel to knee"; shorts are theoretically banned. Most Muslim societies tend to frown on men going bare-chested in public, as well. Furthermore, many men see it as ''sunnah'' (commendable tradition of TheProphetMuhammad) to wear some kind of head covering; this usually takes the form of a kind of skullcap called a ''taqiya'' which looks rather like a large [[UsefulNotes/{{Judaism}} yarmulke]].

A Western-inspired garment that fulfills the requirements for hijab, other than the head. It's just a long overcoat that conceals the legs and covers the arms. A headscarf and manteau is liberal public dress for women in Iran; they are also common among observant UsefulNotes/{{Syria}}n women.

And finally, we'd be remiss in not mentioning: [[HidingInAHijab these garments are really good for disguising your appearance. Even ordinary headscarves can make a woman look totally different.

[[SpellMyNameWithAnS Or burqa or burkha...]]. Traditionally associated with Afghanistan, this garment is much like a chador, but rather than leaving the face clear, it covers the whole face, leaving a net or mesh of cloth around the eyes so the woman can see. This is by far the most conservative garment of the bunch, and one of the most controversial; several Muslim countries have banned it in schools or even outright. It is also banned in France, as a result of banning anything that wholly conceals one's face.

[[SpellMyNameWithAnS Or burqa or burkha...]]. Traditionally associated with Afghanistan, this garment is much like a chador, but rather than leaving the face clear, it covers the whole face, leaving a net or mesh of cloth around the eyes so the woman can see. This is by far the most conservative garment of the bunch, and one of the most controversial; several Muslim countries have banned it in schools or even outright. It is also banned in France.[[note]]The law also banned [[MalevolentMaskedMan ski]] [[BlatantBurglar masks]], other masks except in certain situations, and face-concealing helmets when not being worn for safety purposes. One wonders what [[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 the Spy]] would think of that.[[/note]]

That said, it is true that the rules for women are rather more restrictive. Consensus among traditionalist clerics is that Muslim women must, while in public and while praying, cover their whole body except for the hands and the face. Some clerics are of the opinion that the hands and face except the eyes must be covered; others are of the opinion that feet up to the ankle can be shown (a relief in many Muslim countries where some poor folk cannot afford shoes). More liberal/reformist muftis are of the opinion that modesty must be determined relative to the society and can change over time; thus, in some countries, liberal but observant women might not wear a head covering in most situations, but carry one around for prayer and entering mosques (it is undisputed that Muslim women must cover their hair while praying; Jewish and Catholic doctrine are much the same). And of course, Islam can be quite a personal religion; theoretically, anyone can interpret Literature/TheQuran and other religious texts for him or herself.

[[SpellMyNameWithAnS Or burqa or burkha...]]. Traditionally associated with Afghanistan, this garment is much like a chador, but rather than leaving the face clear, it covers the whole face, leaving a net or mesh of cloth around the eyes so the woman can see. This is by far the most conservative garment of the bunch, and one of the most controversial; several Muslim countries have banned it in schools or even outright. It is also banned in France.[[note]]The law also banned [[MalevolentMaskedMan ski]] [[BlatantBurgler masks]], other masks except in certain situations, and face-concealing helmets when not being worn for safety purposes. One wonders what [[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 the Spy]] would think of that.[[/note]]

A veil for the face, covering everything below the eyes, connected to a headscarf in various different ways. These are controversial even among relatively conservative Muslims, as the idea that women's faces must be covered is not particularly widespread. They are actually banned in some Muslim countries as a threat to public safety (not being able to see the face is a serious problem, after all), and one leading ''religious university'' UsefulNotes/{{Egypt}}'s Al-Azhar, actually banned them on campus; on the other hand, the Saudi religious police are known to harass women who do not cover their faces, even though it is technically legal. They have also caused problems for Muslims in the West; a woman in America who tried to get her driver's license photo while wearing one was denied for obvious reasons, and France, citing both cultural and security concerns, banned them entirely. The Niqab is only slightly more widespread in the Gulf, and they are more closely associated with traditional-leaning women.

A veil for the face, covering everything below the eyes, connected to a headscarf in various different ways. These are controversial even among relatively conservative Muslims, as the idea that women's faces must be covered is not particularly widespread. They are actually banned in some Muslim countries as a threat to public safety (not being able to see the face is a serious problem, after all), and one leading ''religious university'' UsefulNotes/{{Egypt}}'s Al-Azhar, actually banned them on campus; on the other hand, the Saudi religious police are known to harass women who do not cover their faces, even though it is technically legal. They have also caused problems for Muslims in the West; a woman in America who tried to get her driver's license photo while wearing one was denied for obvious reasons, and France, citing both cultural and security concerns, banned them entirely.

[[SpellMyNameWithAnS Or burqa or burkha...]]. Traditionally associated with Afghanistan, this garment is much like a chador, but rather than leaving the face clear, it covers the whole face, leaving a net or mesh of cloth around the eyes so the woman can see. This is by far the most conservative garment of the bunch, and one of the most controversial; several Muslim countries have banned it in schools or even outright. It is also banned in France.[[hottip:*:The law also banned [[MalevolentMaskedMan ski]] [[BlatantBurgler masks]], other masks except in certain situations, and face-concealing helmets when not being worn for safety purposes. One wonders what [[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 the Spy]] would think of that.]]

That said, it is true that the rules for women are rather more restrictive. Consensus among traditionalist clerics is that Muslim women must, while in public and while praying, cover their whole body except for the hands and the face. Some clerics are of the opinion that the hands and face except the eyes must be covered; others are of the opinion that feet up to the ankle can be shown (a relief in many Muslim countries where some poor folk cannot afford shoes). More liberal/reformist muftis are of the opinion that modesty must be determined relative to the society and can change over time; thus, in some countries, liberal but observant women might not wear a head covering in most situations, but carry one around for prayer and entering mosques (it is undisputed that Muslim women must cover their hair while praying). And of course, Islam can be quite a personal religion; theoretically, anyone can interpret Literature/TheQuran and other religious texts for him or herself.

That said, it is true that the rules for women are rather more restrictive. Consensus among traditionalist clerics is that Muslim women must, while in public and while praying, cover their whole body except for the hands and the face. Some clerics are of the opinion that the hands and face except the eyes must be covered; others are of the opinion that feet up to the ankle can be shown (a relief in many Muslim countries where some poor folk cannot afford shoes). More liberal/reformist muftis are of the opinion that modesty must be determined relative to the society and can change over time; thus, in some countries, liberal but observant women might not wear a head covering in most situations, but carry one around for prayer and entering mosques. And of course, Islam can be quite a personal religion; theoretically, anyone can interpret Literature/TheQuran and other religious texts for him or herself.

That said, it is true that the rules for women are rather more restrictive. Consensus among traditionalist clerics is that Muslim women must, while in public and while praying, cover their whole body except for the hands and the face. Some clerics are of the opinion that the hands and face except the eyes must be covered; others are of the opinion that feet up to the ankle can be shown (a relief in many Muslim countries where some poor folk cannot afford shoes). More liberal/reformist muftis are of the opinion that modesty must be determined relative to the society and can change over time; thus, in some countries, liberal but observant women might not wear a head covering in most situations, but carry one around for prayer and entering mosques. And of course, Islam can be quite a personal religion; theoretically, anyone can interpret TheQuran and other religious texts for him or herself.

[[SpellMyNameWithAnS Or burqa or burkha...]]. Traditionally associated with Afghanistan, this garment is much like a chador, but rather than leaving the face clear, it covers the whole face, leaving a net or mesh of cloth around the eyes so the woman can see. This is by far the most conservative garment of the bunch, and one of the most controversial; several Muslim countries have banned it in schools or even outright. It is also banned in France.[[hottip:*:The law also banned [[MalevolentMaskedMan ski]] [[BlatantBurgler masks]], other masks except in certain situations, and face-concealing helmets when not being worn for safety purposes. One wonders what [[TeamFortress2 the Spy]] would think of that.]]

A Western-inspired garment that fulfills the requirements for hijab, other than the head. It's just a long overcoat that conceals the legs and covers the arms. A headscarf and manteau is liberal public dress for women in Iran; they are also common among observant UsefulNotes{{Syria}}n women.