What is abaya, hijab and niqab and what does Islam say about women dress code and it’s faith.

Abaya – it’s a one piece of clothing dress which is loose-fit dress and it covers the whole body except the face, hands and feet. Abaya a symbol of modesty and cultural faith and belief by over 2 billion of the Muslim population in the world.

• Long, loose-fitting robe worn over clothing
• Covers entire body except face, hands, feet

Hijab– A general term meaning ‘ to cover or veil’ most commonly known as a headscarf that covers the hair and neck but neither the face nor the whole body

Niqab– A veil that covers the head and face but not the eyes it is usually worn with a long abaya.

Origin of Abaya and its Cultural Identification and Faith.

The word “Abaya” comes from an Arabic language in the Arab-Middle Eastern country and the term abaya describes a loose-fitting dress

The abaya is generally linked with Islamic tradition and it is usually worn by Muslim women as a modest clothing choice it represents a part of the Islamic faith as well as cultural traditions and some religious and cultural groups have traditions about attire that relate to cultural identification and modesty. Many Muslim women wear it as a symbol of modesty, grace, and devotion and as a cultural or religious expression and they think that the abaya is a way of protecting themself from unwanted attention also many Muslim women believe that Modesty is a part of faith and they wear it by choice to define faith and it bring them close to the Allah.

Abayas come in various styles and colors and they can be worn for everyday activities or special occasions even in schools, offices, parties, working professionals etc.

What Quran and hadith say about abaya, hijab and niqab?

Allah commanded the believers of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam about the garments for women in The Holy Quran and Hadith

A Muslim woman must be careful to cover her hijab and the entire body to keep away from unwanted attention and suspicion. Allah the Almighty said:

 (يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ الله غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا).

 O Prophet, tell your wives, your daughters and the women of the believers to draw down on them some of their cloaks. That is better, and they should be recognized as modest and not be harmed… (Surah Al-Ahzaab, verse :59)

The purpose of the hijab is to cover the whole body and not display adornment and remain chastity, so the Hijab should have specific characteristics that fulfil the purpose of the Hijab for which the hijab was imposed, as Allah says in the holy Qur’an  -:

(وَلا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا),

 they should not display their adornment except for what is apparent.  Surah Al-noor,  verse : 31

Conclusion-
There is no proof in The Holy Quran and Hadith about any specific type of dress code to wear such as an abaya, hijab or niqab you can dress up in any type of loose-fitting cloth except tight-fitting dress which tells your figure and Allah Says in The Holy Quran O’ Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam tells your wives, your daughters and the believers of Muslim women to keep your eyes down and dress up modest or decent cloth and cover your head whenever go outside from home and wear the loose-fit dress to not display or show off your body to attract any unwanted person because Allah is merciful and he knows that when women and girls wear tight and revealing cloth it will attract to the men and spread evil in the society because the girls body is too attractive and appealing as compared to the man.

What is an Islamic point of view about dress code?

in Islam, people are advised to dress modestly and humbly and avoid tight or revealing clothes, while women are encouraged to cover their bodies, including their hair because women and girls are precious and they have value and dignity. The goal is to promote humility and avoid showing off. The specific clothing styles may vary across cultures, but the central idea is to maintain modesty and show respect. the reason behind not allowing to wear tight clothes is to stop the spread of evil such as nudity, sexuality and obscenity from society.

Can non- Muslim wear abaya, hijab and niqab ?

Yes anyone can wear it, there is no restriction to wearing an abaya it depends on your choice of whatever you want to wear because an abaya is neither a symbol of Islam nor an identification of culture it’s a choice of modesty and faith that’s why many Muslim women and girls cover themselves and don’t want any unwanted-haram attention or show off in a public place, party, working place etc that’s is the reason many Muslim women and girls like to wear abaya hijab and niqab or veil without any force.

Are Muslim Men forcing women and girls to wear an abaya, hijab and niqab?

No, the majority of Muslim women and girls adopt it willingly as a personal expression of faith and spirituality and they choose it by choice so the question is Muslim men force women and girls to wear an abaya or niqab forcefully is irrelevant and irrespective. Muslim men cannot be force to wear any specific type of clothing or dress. I want to add one quote here Muslims believe that Women and girls are a diamond and diamonds cannot be show on the roadside.

Is it mandatory or compulsory for Muslim women to wear an Abaya and hijab at home?

No, it’s not compulsory to wear an abaya when you are at home but it’s a personal choice if you want to cover yourself you can do it but Allah says in the Holy Quran when you are home don’t cover or wear hijab on front of father, brother, husband, nephew, father-in-law, and uncle you don’t need to cover except other you must to cover and wear modest and decent cloth

Traditional abayas usually were black and simple but in the modern era, there are many colors and patterns available in the market and online at https://indianfashionstore.com normally abaya only cover the body but some abaya comes with an attached veil or niqab.

How to wear an abaya and hijab in a good manner?

• Choose the correct abaya and hijab garment which you like and is comfortable in your weather.
• advisable to wear modest undergarments, such as a long-sleeves top and long pants or a full-length dress, like a kurta, or a salwar suit that does not show through the abaya.
• Wear under cap or headband or head cap which you prefer because the under cap appropriately covers your hair in a good way.
• then wear an abaya .
• Put the hijab or stole or scarf on the head.
• Take the longer portion of the hijab and wrap it around your head so that it covers your neck and remaining hair make sure your hijab properly covers your hair, neck, and bust or chest area and pin the hijab properly to prevent any inappropriate movement.