Saturday, 5 July 2014

The Abaya Is An Example Of How Modest Islamic Clothing Is Mandatory In Some Middle East Cultures

By Rosella Campbell


Women living in the Middle East commonly wear clothing that is modest. In some of the more restrictive countries, women are legally required to be fully-covered by an abaya in public. But, in some of the Islamic countries, modest islamic clothing is pretty and trimmed in bright colors.

The holy book of Islam, the Qeran, tells that all people should dress modestly. Women wear a hijab, which is a veil that covers the head and front of the upper body. Once a girl reaches puberty, she has to wear it outside of her family home. If male visitors are in the house, women must wear it also.

The word hijab means veil in Arabic. When it refers to separating men and women in public, it is Al-hijab, which means to separate the world from Allah or God. It is a matter of both privacy and religious conformity in the Muslim world.

Some countries, Iran is one example, make it a law to wear the hijab outside the home. Another garment, the chador, is a cloak that covers the hair with a hemline that goes to the floor. In modern times, it is made of fine material to avoid the heat.

More restrictive garments are worn by women in some cultures. The Taliban are required to wear a burka in public. This garment covers all of a women except for the eyes.

There are rules for the men as well. They are required to be covered from the waist to the knees. Both genders must wear clothing that is loose. In one place the hijab is discouraged in private and state schools. Still, there are women who insist on wearing them as a sign of their religion.

There are different ages for girls to start wearing hijab in different countries. The general rule is at puberty. But, an exact age is not stated.

In the Gaza Strip, the government began to urge women to wear hijab during the 1970s and 1980s. Those who did not were harassed in the streets. It was not illegal to go without, but very discouraged.

In one country a woman can be beaten in the street for not being properly dressed. There are actually clothing police patrolling to make certain all women are wearing their burkas. Older women are somewhat fanatic about it.

Currently, there is no need for the abaya to be drab and unadorned. There are many that are quite fashionable. But, they still cover the arms to the wrists, are floor length and the head is still covered.

One abaya is trimmed in gold with a gold sequined bodice and lace around the hem. This is obviously for special occasions. Another is made of white lace and lined in black with full sleeves.

A fashionable burka might have golden beading on the front and another might be sewn of contrasting fabric. A fancier abaya has a full ruffle around the hemline and full sleeves. There is a beautiful one with green sequins on the bodice, obviously intended for a special occasion. Each Islamic country has its own dress code for women.




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