Islam and clothing

The Arabic word hijab (حجاب) literally translates into English as "veil". Adherents of Islam believe that it was originally implemented by God in order to secure Muhammad's privacy and create a distinction between the public and private spheres of his life. The word hijab applied to both men and women in terms of protecting both their private lives from outsiders and to protect one's own honor, not in specific relation to one's sexual activity or desires.

The veil re-emerged as a topic of conversation in the 1990s when there was concern regarding potential western infiltration of Muslim practices in Islamic countries. The veil had a new purpose of shielding Muslim women from western influence. There were several religious leaders that reinforced that an additional purpose of the hijab was to protect the Islamic people and customs.

Motivation

Muslims are concerned with clothing in two contexts: clothing for everyday wear, inside and outside the house; and clothing required in specifically religious contexts.

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Latest News for: islamic dress

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A Sunday morning proves different cultures can thrive side by side | Opinion

The Columbus Dispatch 03 Apr 2025
Girls and young women dressed to the nines to compete.The same morning at the same convention center, more than a thousand people were there for the Noor Islamic Cultural Center’s Eid al-Fitr morning prayers to celebrate the end of Ramadan.
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News in pictures: Thursday April 3, 2025

The Times/The Sunday Times 03 Apr 2025
AFP/GETTY IMAGES. Spring lambs leap excitedly in the Peak District ... PHIL WILKINSON ... A young woman wearing a traditional headscarf and dress waves an Iranian flag after performing in a ceremony marking Islamic republic national day in central Tehran ... UK ... .
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How a humble courtyard iftar outshines Dubai’s flashiest Ramadan tents

Khaleejtimes 25 Mar 2025
The evening begins with hosts Noura and Hamad, dressed in traditional Emirati attire, welcoming guests and offering a brief introduction to Islamic beliefs and Ramadan customs ... “In the past, women owned just two or three dresses.
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Switzerland enforces first nationwide ‘burqa ban’ fine amid ongoing controversy

Blitz 25 Mar 2025
... and visibility of Islamic attire in public spaces ... However, Swiss authorities maintain that the law is non-discriminatory, as it applies to all face coverings and not exclusively to Islamic dress.
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How Egypt’s Al-Azhar female preachers are making history

The New Arab 24 Mar 2025
Dressed stylishly, often in bright, joyful colours and wearing the Islamic headscarf (hijab), female preachers have faced ridicule and even bullying — sometimes before anyone even approaches them with religious questions.
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Drones, informers and apps: Iran intensifies surveillance on women to enforce hijab law

The Guardian 24 Mar 2025
Iranian police are using digital tools to identify and punish women who defy the Islamic state’s harsh dress code ... ....
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Anger over advert that drapes the Eiffel Tower in a hijab

The Times/The Sunday Times 24 Mar 2025
A clothing brand specialising in Islamic dress has provoked a public row with an Instagram advertisement showing the Eiffel Tower swathed in a hijab, captioned. “The French government hates to see Merrachi coming.” ... PAULA SIERRA/GETTY IMAGES ... World ... ... .
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“Muslims Are More Disturbed Than Christians”: Rising Fears Among Syrians Over Islamic Evangelism

The Syrian Observer 23 Mar 2025
... urging men and women to adopt modest dress, to veiled women approaching others in the street encouraging them to wear Islamic attire, and even mobile loudspeakers broadcasting religious messages.
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Was Sir Hamid Patel a wise choice for Ofsted chairman?

The Times/The Sunday Times 18 Mar 2025
One of them, Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School in ... Since his appointment was announced, a picture of Patel has been circulating showing him in the Islamic clerical dress of a mufti, or Islamic jurist.
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Saudi sets up unit to combat 'immoral' begging and sex work

The New Arab 18 Mar 2025
... religious police - aimed at tackling activities viewed as contrary to Islam, such as "immodest" dress and music, but its powers were severely restricted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2016.
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Iran turns to tech to crush dissent: UN probe

The News International 15 Mar 2025
Iran was rocked by demonstrations after the September 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who had been arrested for allegedly violating the strict dress rule for women based on Islamic sharia law.
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Iran using drones and apps to enforce women's dress code

BBC News 14 Mar 2025
Iranian officials are encouraging people to report women who refuse to obey the Islamic republic's dress code, according to a UN report ... .
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Iran using drones and apps to enforce women’s dress code

Virtual Jerusalem 14 Mar 2025
Iranian officials are encouraging people to report women who refuse to obey the Islamic republic’s dress code, according to a UN report.| �Read More��BBC News ....
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Iran using drones and apps to enforce women's dress code, UN says

BBC News 14 Mar 2025
Iranian officials are encouraging people to report women who refuse to obey the Islamic republic's dress code, according to a UN report ... .
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Iran uses surveillance and informants to crash dissent, UN warns

The New Arab 14 Mar 2025
Iran was rocked by demonstrations after the September 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who had been arrested for allegedly violating the strict dress rule for women based on Islamic sharia law ... Criminalisation and surveillance ... ....
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