What is veiling? by ISBN: 9780748696826
- Clothing styles in the MENA region are influenced by regional, cultural and religious factors.
- Traditionally, both men and women wear garments that cover much of the body, with each type of clothing serving a specific purpose. Some key examples:
- Thobes: full length loose-fitting garments worn by men
- Abayas: full length loose-fitting garment worn by women.
- Keffiyah/Shmagh and Agal: a men's head-dress, with distinctive variations in color and styling across different countries.
- Shayla and Khimar: Among the various types of head coverings worn by women, often referred to collectively as "hijabs"
- Niqab: A face veil worn by some Muslim women.
- The term hijab actually means "cover", and embodies the broader Islamic Modesty Guidelines which include clothing, behavior, and character of both men and women. In Islam, hijab represents a broader principle of modesty for both men and women in behavior, speech, and dress.
- For women, it includes covering the body with loose-fitting clothing and a headscarf, leaving the face and hands visible. Some follow the opinion that the face and/or hands should be covered as well, or simply choose to cover them for extra modesty.
- For men, hijab means dressing modestly by covering from the navel to the knees with loose clothing. It also includes lowering the gaze, or not intentionally looking at strange women, regardless of how they are dressed, as a sign of respect.
- Beyond dress, hijab also encompasses respectful interactions, humility, and a sense of dignity in how one presents oneself.
- Clothing choices are influenced not only by religious principles, which emphasize modesty, but also by practical needs such as protection from the sun and staying cool.
- Ultimately, the way people dress in the Middle East and North Africa reflects a blend of religious rules, regional norms, family traditions, and personal preference.