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Burqa

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A burqa is a long garment that covers a woman's entire body. It also covers her face.

Burqa Afghanistan 01
Burqa Afghanistan 01

Some people also call this garment a harabah. Women wear it for many different reasons. Some women choose it to show their piety or modesty. Others wear it to express their religious or cultural identity. In some places, women have been required to wear it by law. For example, it was required during the first rule of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Burqa clad Pashtun & Qizilbash women, Kabul, 1840
Burqa clad Pashtun & Qizilbash women, Kabul, 1840

How people view the burqa can vary a lot. Most modern Islamic scholars say the garment is not a religious requirement. They look at the Quran for guidance on modesty. Many scholars believe the Quran asks for modesty but does not demand a face veil. Some scholars use a tradition called a hadith to support this. One such tradition mentions that a woman can show her face and hands. However, a small group of scholars holds a different view. They believe the face should be covered when in the presence of unrelated men.

Face veils have a very long history in many cultures. They were used in the ancient Byzantine Empire and in Persia. The Greek writer Strabo wrote about Persian women veiling their faces in the 1st century AD.

Even the Bible mentions veils in the book of Genesis. In the past, Coptic Orthodox Christian women also wore veils in public. They often wore dark clothing with a head covering. Unmarried women typically wore white veils, while married women wore black.

A Coptic woman of the Poorer Class. (1918) - TIMEA
A Coptic woman of the Poorer Class. (1918) - TIMEA

Different regions have their own versions of these garments. In Central Asia, there is a similar item called a paranja. The Arab version is called a boshiya and is usually black. There are also different rules for different groups. For example, the Salafi view says covering the body is obligatory in public. In the past, scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah supported covering the face. Other scholars, like Burhan al-Din al-Marghinani, said it was important to leave the face and hands uncovered.

Burqa seller in Afghanistan
Burqa seller in Afghanistan

Today, the use of the burqa is a topic of debate in many countries. Some nations have made laws to ban the garment in public spaces.

Burka ban world map
Burka ban world map

Countries like France, Austria, and Belgium have enacted bans. In some places, like Norway or Canada, the rules only apply to certain areas. For instance, Norway has rules for nurseries and schools. Canada has a rule for the public workplace in Quebec. These laws show how different societies think about clothing and public life.

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🖼️ Images & Media (12)
File:Burqa Afghanistan 01.jpg
Burqa Afghanistan 01.jpg
File:Temple_of_baal07(js).jpg
Temple_of_baal07(js).jpg
File:A_Coptic_woman_of_the_Poorer_Class._(1918)_-_TIMEA.jpg
A_Coptic_woman_of_the_Poorer_Class._(1918)...
File:Taliban beating woman in public RAWA.jpg
Taliban beating woman in public RAWA.jpg
File:Burqa clad Pashtun & Qizilbash women, Kabul, 1840.jpg
Burqa clad Pashtun & Qizilbash women,...
File:Burqa seller in Afghanistan.jpg
Burqa seller in Afghanistan.jpg
File:Burka ban world map.svg
Burka ban world map.svg
File:Burqa women waiting, Herat, Afghanistan.jpg
Burqa women waiting, Herat, Afghanistan.jpg
File:Françoise Foliot - Afghanistan 059.jpg
Françoise Foliot - Afghanistan 059.jpg
File:Muslim and Hindu women stand in a queue to cast their votes.jpg
Muslim and Hindu women stand in a queue...
File:Shalim.JPG
Shalim.JPG
File:Full-face veils ban in Europe.svg
Full-face veils ban in Europe.svg
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