Were the Hijab Comes From

Traditions of modest Islamic dress and the Hijab are extremely wide-ranging and are interpreted in many different ways by different Muslim traditions. Here we have outlined the basic definition of Hijab. This is a very loose outline of Hijab as it applies to the products on this site, and may be interpreted differently by varying Muslim communities.

The concept of Hijab is derived from passages in the Qu'ran, on the appropriate behaviour for the wives of Mohammed. It has developed over many thousands of years and is practiced in endless different ways by Muslims all over the world. Hijab applies to both men and women, describing modest dress for both sexes.

Definition of the word 'Hijab'

The word 'Hijab' comes from the Arabic word 'haya' which means 'cover' or 'modesty'. It is used in two distinct ways:

1. Hijab refers to modest Islamic dress as a whole.
2. Hijab is commonly used to refer to a headscarf worn by a Muslim woman.

On this website, we will use Hijab with a capital 'H' to refer to the overall concept of modest Islamic dress, and hijab with a lowercase 'h' to refer to a headscarf.

Hijab for Women

Hijab for women states that women should dress in a modest fashion that does not arouse sexual interest. This is interpreted in various different ways by different Muslim traditions. The majority of Muslim women cover their bodies apart from the face, hands and feet. Some also cover their faces, some their hands and some their entire bodies including the eyes.

Although Hijab can apply to the whole body, the iconic Hijab garment is the headscarf. Most Muslim women wear a headscarf, which must cover their hair. There are many different names for headscarves and hijabs - for more clarity please see our page on Definition of Hijab Terms

Hijab for Men

The Islamic dress code for men is much less defined than the dress code for women. It is generally accepted that Muslim men should cover themselves from the navel to the knees. There are also guidelines that men should not wear silks or display their wealth ostentatiously, although these are interpreted in various ways by different Muslim communities. On the whole, are encouraged not to display too much flesh and to dress modestly.

View Our Plain Silk Hijab Range

View Our Square Cotton Hijabs Range