Islamic clothings glossary

Islamic clothings glossary

Khimar

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

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 of the head to the ground (like the chador below), or over the shoulders. It is usually fastened closed. It may be combined with a head scarf or face veil.

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 above, the chador is sometimes not fastened in the front.

Jilbab

Sometimes used as a general term, quoted from the Qur'an 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 a wider variety of fabrics and colors. It looks more similar to a long tailored coat.

Niqab

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

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 above.

Shalwar Kameez

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

Thobe ( dishdasha or kandoora )

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.

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.

Bisht

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