The jilbab is a garment worn by Muslim women to conform to Quranic restrictions on female concealment in public places. It covers the entire body except for the feet and hands, but does not hide the face like the hijab. It is available in various colors and fabrics, and is less controversial than the burqa. Sunni Muslim women are more likely to wear the jilbab, while Shia Muslim women wear the hijab.
Many Muslim women wear the jilbab to conform to the Quran’s restrictions on female concealment in public places. It’s a slightly less stealthy uniform than the standard black hijab, a garment that has become infamous for many women’s rights groups around the world. The jilbab is like the hijab, or burqa, in that it covers the entire body from the neck down, leaving only the feet and hands exposed. However, this garment is available in various colors and does not hide the face like the hijab, allowing only a small slit for the eyes.
The jilbab can even be found in more form-fitting styles than the hijab, which falls straight from the shoulders, with no narrowing at the waist or arms. Some “jalabib”, which is the plural form of the word, have an attached hood; however, these will only cover the head and neck. Although these less conservative coats are usually done in a solid color, some designers have added ribbing in a complementary shade. They can be found in a range of colors and fabrics, a diversity lacking in hijab wraps.
The hijab is worn mainly by Shia Muslim women, a more conservative sect of Middle Eastern religion. Sunni Muslim women, by contrast, are more likely to be seen wearing the jilbab, which is usually worn in concert with a scarf of different patterns. The wearer of the latter garment will cover the head and neck with the scarf, but will leave the face fully exposed.
Some countries like Afghanistan, Iran, or Saudi Arabia will have more concentrated Shiite populations, where the hijab will be the standard female attire. Other countries like Jordan, Egypt or Morocco will have more women wearing the jilbab. The style and even color of the jilbab may be regionally specific or chosen by family elders to be worn by all women in a particular household.
There is apparently less controversy over the wearing of the jilbab than over the burqa, which conceals a woman’s face and identity in a much more drastic way. A range of jilbab styles walk the line between what the Qur’an calls for and what is needed for comfort. This garment comes in varieties for work and sport, in cotton and corduroy, as well as fine fabrics like silk or wool for a night out on the town.
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