What is the difference between niqab and hijab

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Manage Print Subscription. Main Menu Search montrealgazette. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Share this Story: What's the difference between a hijab, chador, niqab and burka? Islamic women wear these cloths as a form of protection. They also act as a sign of modesty. Many claim that this clothing is decreed by the Islamic religion, culture and norms.

Hence, many are times women are forced to wear these clothing in front of men by the social norms, elders and peers. However, many women choose to wear these clothing to represent their own belief in their religion and culture.

They are worn by Muslim women as a symbol of modesty, privacy, and morality. A niqab or ruband is a part of the sartorial hijab and covers only the face. It is a form of a veil that covers the face including the ears and the hair. The scarves used for the hijab also vary in fabric colour and material, and this is also based entirely on personal preference.

The burka is worn by Muslim women in Central Asia and is a long, voluminous outer garment that covers the entire body, with a grille covering the face. It has been worn by Pashtun women in Afghanistan and West Pakistan since pre-Islamic times, when it was considered a symbol of respect and stature in society. The niqab is a veil that covers the face, and is usually black. Women often pair it with a headscarf and an abaya, or another style of loose robe that covers their bodies.

The way this veil is worn varies from region to region, but there are two main styles. This style is often worn in South Asia and North Africa. It includes a tight cap and a tube-like scarf worn over it, which also covers the neck. The shayla is a long, rectangular scarf wrapped around the head, worn by women in the Gulf states. A Shayla can be worn with an abaya or other clothing, depending on preference, and the cloth is available in a variety of fabrics and colours.

The khimar looks similar to the al-amira and is essentially a veil with a hole cut out for the face. The garment covers the hair, neck and shoulders completely. There are a variety of lengths for the khimar; while it commonly hangs down to the waist, some women prefer longer lengths that may reach the knees.

It is popular among Egyptian women. The chador has been worn by women in Iran as well as some other countries — particularly those with large Shia populations for centuries. It is a shawl-like fabric that is draped over the head and around the body completely. The chador is not fastened with pins or tucked in, but simply wrapped around the body or held shut with hands at all times.