Muslim Attire Sydney Rowell

Why? “Rules regarding Muslim women's (and men's) attire are derived from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In the Quran, God states: “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty...And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and adornments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers...(a list of exceptions)” [Chapter 24, verses 30-31] Also, "O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons...that they should be known and not molested." [Chapter 33, verse 59]’”

Muslim Women versus Muslim Men Clothing must cover the entire body, with the exception of the face and the hands. The attire should not be form fitting, sheer or so eye-catching as to attract undue attention or reveal the shape of the body. Men A Muslim man must always be covered from the navel to the knees. A Muslim man should similarly not wear tight, sheer, revealing, or eye-catching clothing. In addition, a Muslim man is prohibited from wearing silk clothing (except for medical reasons) or gold jewelry. A Muslim woman may wear silk or gold.

Different Types of Clothing for Women Hijab Khimar Abaya Chador Jilbab Niqab Burqa Shalwar Kameez

The Hijab This word is sometimes used to generally describe a Muslim women’s modest dress. It refers to a square or rectangular piece of fabric which is folded, placed over the head, and fastened under the chin as a head scarf. Depending on location and style, it can also be called a shaylah or tarhah.

The Khimar A general term for a woman’s head and/or face veil. This word sometimes used to describe a particular style that drapes over the entire top half of a woman’s body, to the waist.

The Abaya Common in the Arab Gulf countries, a cloak for women which is worn over other clothing when in public. The abaya is usually made of black synthetic fiber, sometimes decorated with colored embroidery or sequins. The abaya may be worn from the top to the head to the ground, or over the shoulders. It us usually fastened closed. It may be combined with a head scarf or face veil.

The Chador An enveloping cloak worn by women, from the top of the head to the ground. Usually worn in Iran without a face veil. Unlike the abaya, the chador is sometimes not fastened in the front.

The Jilbab Sometimes used as a general term, quoted from the Quran 33:59, for an over-garment or cloak worn by Muslim women when in public. Sometimes refers to a specific style of cloak, similar to the abaya but more fitted, and in wider variety of fabrics and colors. It looks more similar to a long tailored coat.

The Niqab A face veil worn by some Muslim women which may or may not leave the eyes uncovered.

The Burqa This type of veil and body covering conceals all of a woman’s body including the eyes, which are covered with a mesh screen. Common in Afghanistan; sometimes refers to the “niqab” face veil described earlier.

The Shalwar Kameez Worn by both men and women primarily in the Indian Subcontinent, loose trousers that are worn with a long tunic.

Different Types of Clothing for Men Shalwar Kameez Thobe Ghutra and Egal Bisht

The Shalwar Kameez Same as the women, mostly in India; loose trousers that are worn with a long tunic.

The Thobe A long robe worn by Muslim men. The top is usually tailored like a shirt, but it is ankle-length and loose. The thobe is usually white but may be found in other colors especially in winter. The term may also be used to describe any type of loose dress worn by men or women.

The Ghutra and Egal A square or rectangular head scarf worn by men, along with a rope band (usually black) to fasten it in place. The ghutra (head scarf) is usually white, or checkered red/white or black/white. In some countries, this is called a shemagh or kuffiyeh.

The Bisht A dressier men’s cloak which is sometimes worn over the thobe, often by high-level government or religious leaders.

The Perception of Muslim Attire in Western Culture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeQbuTigFos

Questions What did you think of the different Islamic garb? If you were an employer, would you hire someone who wore these clothes if your business had no dress code? What was your reaction to the video? Have you seen this type of profiling before?

Work Cited Hickerson, Christine. "Watch Police Frisk Man in Muslim Dress - Moments after Letting Him Walk past in Western Clothes." YouTube. YouTube, 20 Oct. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. "HIJAB IN THE WORKPLACE." Hijab: Question and Answer. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. Huba. "The Most Common Types of Islamic Clothing Defined.” About Religion. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.