PRINTIslamic veils and headdresses
October 25, 2007 | 12:00 a.m. CST
The word hijab comes from the Arabic word for veil. It refers to the scarf Muslim women wear around their heads to cover their hair and neck. The hijab is the most common form of head covering for Muslim women living in Columbia, but it is not the only type of head covering Muslim women wear. Vox explains the variations:
Hijab
A hijab can be a square scarf pinned tightly or wrapped loosely around a woman’s head. Her face will be completely visible, and the hijab could drape low enough to cover her shoulders. Hijabs are acceptable in any color or pattern, which allows women to mix and match with their outfits.
Niqab
The niqab is a veil that covers a woman’s face from the bridge of her nose and cheeks to her neck. Most commonly found in black, it has ties or an elastic strap that goes around the back of the head to keep the veil in place. A niqab can be worn along with other head coverings but is not required of Muslim women.
Chador
In Iran, women are required to wear a chador when they leave their houses. It’s a full-body black cloak that tucks in around her waist or is held closed in the front. The chador also leaves the face exposed.
Burqa
The most conservative covering for Arab women is the burqa. Taliban rule required Afghani women to wear this full-length garment outside their homes. Often blue fabric, the burqa covers a woman completely except for a small square of netting for her to see through. Since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, women no longer are required to wear burqas.
