The term (also , or ) () refers to any long and loose-fit coat or outer
garment
Clothing (also known as clothes, garments, dress, apparel, or attire) is any item worn on a human human body, body. Typically, clothing is made of fabrics or textiles, but over time it has included garments made from animal skin and other thin s ...
worn by
Muslim
Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
women. Wearers believe that this definition of fulfills the
Quran
The Quran, also Romanization, romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a Waḥy, revelation directly from God in Islam, God (''Allah, Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which ...
ic choice for a
hijab
Hijab (, ) refers to head coverings worn by Women in Islam, Muslim women. Similar to the mitpaḥat/tichel or Snood (headgear), snood worn by religious married Jewish women, certain Christian head covering, headcoverings worn by some Christian w ...
. The is also known as by
Persian speakers in
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
and
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...
. The modern covers the entire body except the face and hands. Some women will also cover the hands with gloves and the face along with a
niqāb.
Qur'an and hadith
A mention of the plural term of , , is found in the
Qur'an
The Quran, also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation directly from God ('' Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which consist of individual verses ('). Besides ...
, verse 33:59 (Surah
Al-Ahzab). A popular translation by
Yusuf Ali of the transliterated Arabic goes:
A number of
hadith
Hadith is the Arabic word for a 'report' or an 'account f an event and refers to the Islamic oral tradition of anecdotes containing the purported words, actions, and the silent approvals of the Islamic prophet Muhammad or his immediate circle ...
commenting on the above verse of the Qur'an (33:59) mention the .
Definition and extent

Since there are no pictures of 7th-century , nor any surviving garments, it is not at all clear if the modern is the same garment as that referred to in the
Qur'an
The Quran, also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation directly from God ('' Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which consist of individual verses ('). Besides ...
.
The root of the word "Jilbab" itself is
�لب According to
Mu'jam Maqayees Al-Lugha by
Ibn Faris
Ibn Faris (, , died Ray, Iran 395/1004) was a Persians, Persian linguist, scribe, scholar, philologist and lexicographer, As well as bearing the epithet ''al-Rāzī'' ('meaning 'from Ray'), ibn Fāris was also known variously by the epithets al-S ...
, the root has two meanings:
wo meanings One of them is the arrival with something from place to place, and the other is something that covers something...
Al-Shawkani
Muḥammad ibn Ali ibn Muḥammad ibn Abd Allah, better known as al-Shawkānī () (1759–1834) was a prominent Yemeni Sunni Islamic scholar, jurist, theologian and reformer. Shawkani was one of the most influential proponents of Athari theolo ...
was of the view that a woman must cover her face with a Jilbab in front of
non-Mahram men, and he takes this from a Hadith about pilgrimage and comments about its meaning. He also provides the views of both
Ahmad ibn Hanbal
Ahmad ibn Hanbal (; (164-241 AH; 780 – 855 CE) was an Arab Muslim scholar, jurist, theologian, traditionist, ascetic and eponym of the Hanbali school of Islamic jurisprudence—one of the four major orthodox legal schools of Sunni Islam.
T ...
and
Al-Shafi'i
Al-Shafi'i (; ;767–820 CE) was a Muslim scholar, jurist, muhaddith, traditionist, theologian, ascetic, and eponym of the Shafi'i school of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence. He is known to be the first to write a book upon the principles ...
:
... 'isha said:"The caravan would pass by us while we were with the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, in a state of consecration (i.e., during the pilgrimage). When they came close to us, one of us would lower her jilbab from her head over her face, and when they passed by us, we would uncover it."...
Sportswear
A type of athletic was developed by Nike in 2006, allowing women to play volleyball while still respecting a traditional clothing style.
In Indonesia
In
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...
, the term refers to a headscarf rather than a long and loose overgarment.
[(Geertz)]
See also
*
Hijab
Hijab (, ) refers to head coverings worn by Women in Islam, Muslim women. Similar to the mitpaḥat/tichel or Snood (headgear), snood worn by religious married Jewish women, certain Christian head covering, headcoverings worn by some Christian w ...
*
Thawb
*
Bisht
*
Izar
*
Shabina Begum
*
Islam and clothing
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 ...
Notes
References
*
*
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jilbab
Islamic female clothing
Arabic clothing
Middle Eastern clothing
Dresses
Scarves
Headgear
Purdah
Religious headgear