Although we do not agree to the bad treatment of Muslim women, we do not ask them about our views. Do we know what their outfit means to them?
The outfit of Muslim women is very expressive and characteristic. It is also closely related to their religion, which makes it sometimes controversial. It is also often the subject of political debates. As a result, it is forbidden to wear, for example, burqas in public spaces. Some people point out that while we do not agree to the mistreatment of Islamic women, we do not ask them about our views and motivations. Because do we really know what is the meaning of their dress for Muslim women?
Life in Arabic
Emire Khidayer in her book "Life in Arabic" stated that: one of the first things we pay attention to in the Arab world - and which at first glance differs from Arabs - is clothing .
Is right. In Muslim culture, religion has the greatest impact on all areas of life and everyday functioning followers of Islam. Certain rules also apply to the dress code. Its appearance depends not only on the climatic conditions, occasion or place. It depends primarily on the traditions, culture and the degree of orthodoxy of a given country. Although both men's and women's outfits are heavily codified, the latter seem to be more restrictive .
In Muslim culture, religion has the greatest impact on all areas of life and the daily functioning of the followers of Islam.
In individual Arab countries, clothes differ in color, material used, cut, ornaments or form. And contrary to appearances, the streets are not dominated by black coats covering the entire body. Muslim dress is also determined by economic factors, which we often forget. For the inhabitants of poor villages will look different than wealthy men and women from the rich countries of the Persian Gulf. Of course, it is religion and culture that influence the appearance the most, but the place of birth and material status are also important.
"Hide from sight, behind the veil"
The custom of covering hair and face, known today among Muslim women, probably dates back to pre-Muslim times. In ancient Assyria, Babylonia and Persia, free women covered faces, slaves had no right to do so . In the eighth century, the Abbasid caliphs introduced the practice of women covering their faces. However, only upper-class Muslim women dressed according to such top-down recommendations.
There are no detailed descriptions of what a Muslim woman should look like in the Koran. It is emphasized that must be modest and cover the body, especially the private parts . Muslims consider intimate not only breasts, buttocks or genitals, but also, for example, hair . Hence, this culture adopts the practice of covering them due to "attracting male eyes" and their "alluring character". Feminine garments cannot emphasize shapes and be expensive or made of transparent materials, and they should be different from men's and non-Muslim garments.
There are no detailed descriptions of what a Muslim woman should look like in the Koran.
Although the followers of Islam do not intend to question the words written in their Holy Book, they interpret them differently, which translates into differences and nuances in women's clothing in individual regions. However, there is one element of clothing that is strongly associated with the appearance of Muslim women. I am talking about the hijab, i.e. a scarf that covers the hair. Hijab means "to hide from sight, behind a veil." This veil is a staple of women's Muslim fashion.
However, the hijab cannot be treated as a religious symbol, such as, for example, a cross. It is an expression of identification with specific values and customs present in Islamic culture and a moral system dominated by broadly understood - and respected - modesty. Muslim women themselves emphasize that the hijab helps them express themselves and your beliefs. It is an important element not only of their religious - or sometimes political - affiliation, but also of their cultural and social identity.
Not only hijab - types of Muslim headgear
The scarves worn by Muslim women are commonly referred to as "hijab". However, the hats used by adherents of Islam are more varied - and culturally determined in individual regions. As a result, they are called differently. Thus, among the traditional elements of female Muslim attire, we can distinguish such headgear as:shayla, hijab, al-amira, chimar, chador, niqab and burqa.
Szajla is a scarf that covers the head, but may reveal the hair slightly, is thrown over the shoulder. Hijab covers hair, neck, ears, and often breasts, only the face is visible. Al-amira It consists of two scarves - one covers the head, the other covers the arms. Chimar it does not cover the face, but covers the upper body - head and shoulders, reaches the waist area. Chador it resembles a cape in the form of a semicircle that covers the entire woman, it shows only a fragment of her face. Nikab it is a scarf that covers the entire head and face of a woman, only the eyes are visible. Burke can be considered the most restrictive women's Muslim dress. It covers the whole body, often including the eyes - then the vision is enabled by a sewn-in mesh.
The scarves worn by Muslim women are commonly referred to as "hijab". However, the hats used by Muslims are more varied
The introduction of burkini is considered a breakthrough in Muslim women's fashion - a beach outfit combining elements of a burqa and bathing suits. The Burkini, designed by Libanka Aheda Zanetti, covers the entire figure, revealing only the face, hands and feet. This outfit is also very controversial. However, it may be important and necessary for the followers of Islam if it helps them express their identity.
The importance of the hijab for Muslim women
Women's Muslim dress is often misunderstood. It is controversial and appears as a symbol of oppression and enslavement. Beliefs about it sometimes arise on the basis of Western European stereotypes that do not take into account the views of Muslim women themselves.
Meanwhile, followers of Islam often emphasize that such clothes help them emphasize their identity , show who they are and what they believe in. They claim that they would not want to give it up, because it is an important element of the culture and traditions in which they grew up and with which they feel connected. And even if they travel or live in the West, they continue to wear characteristic headgear. Their costumes are made of various, also noble, fabrics and sparkle with many colors, patterns and ornaments. Contemporary Muslim women are also eager to follow fashion trends and are more open to them than older generations. 
On the other hand, it should not be forgotten that there are still areas where Muslim women are sentenced to penalties for showing themselves in inappropriate clothes, for example flogging. Then one should ask the question whether the customs related to dress, resulting not only from religious but also social and cultural traditions, are not too far-reaching and yet restrictive - or even oppressive and enslaving.
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