hijab

Hijab is a term used in Islam to describe modest dress, and is often understood as a head covering that hides the hair and neck while leaving the face clear. The word hijab comes from Arabic and broadly means barrier or partition. In contemporary usage, hijab can refer specifically to a headscarf or to the broader concept of modest dress, depending on context and tradition.

Styles of coverage vary widely. A hijab typically covers the hair and neck, sometimes the shoulders. Other terms describe additional covering: the khimar (covers the head and shoulders), the jilbab (an outer garment), the niqab (face veil leaving the eyes visible), and the burqa (full body covering with a mesh screen). Some Muslim women wear only a headscarf, while others use less or more covering according to personal, cultural, or legal considerations.

Religious basis and interpretation differ among scholars and communities. The Qur’an contains verses that address modesty and dress, notably 24:31 and 33:59, but there is no universal agreement on whether hijab is mandatory or recommended. Practices range from viewing hijab as a mandatory obligation to a voluntary expression of faith or culture; some Muslim women choose not to wear any head covering.

Cultural and legal contexts influence practice. In many Muslim-majority countries, modest dress is common and in some places legally mandated; in others, secular or liberal policies restrict religious apparel in public institutions or workplaces. Worldwide, debates about hijab intersect with issues of religious freedom, gender equality, secularism, and personal autonomy, reflecting a spectrum of beliefs and experiences within Muslim communities.