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Burqa

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A burqa, also known as a harabah, is an enveloping outer garment. It is worn by some Muslim women to fully cover the body and the face.

Burqa Afghanistan 01
Burqa Afghanistan 01

This garment is a significant part of various cultural and religious expressions. For many women, wearing a burqa represents modesty, piety, and cultural identity. Others choose it as a personal or religious commitment. However, the reasons for wearing it can vary widely. Some women may wear it due to compulsion, such as during the first Taliban rule in Afghanistan.

Taliban beating woman in public RAWA
Taliban beating woman in public RAWA

The mechanism of the burqa involves total body coverage. It acts as a shield for the wearer's physical presence in public spaces. While the specific construction can vary, it serves to conceal the wearer's form and face. In some contexts, it is used to ensure modesty in the presence of non-related males. This practice aligns with certain principles of Islamic jurisprudence. These principles also require men to observe modesty by lowering their gaze.

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

Different regions and traditions have distinct versions of this garment. In Central Asia, a similar garment is called a paranja. The Arab version is known as the boshiya, which is usually black.

Burqa seller in Afghanistan
Burqa seller in Afghanistan

Historical traditions also show variations in color and style. For example, in 19th-century Egypt, upper-class Christian and Muslim women wore the harabah. In the Coptic Orthodox Christian tradition, unmarried women typically wore white veils. Married women traditionally wore black veils.

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

The history of face veiling extends long before the rise of Islam. Ancient cultures used face veils in various ways. The Byzantine Empire and Persia both documented the use of such coverings. The Greek geographer Strabo wrote in the 1st century AD about Persian women veiling their faces.

Biblical references in the book of Genesis also mention the use of veils. Early Christian writers, such as Tertullian in the third century, described women in Arabia wearing veils that covered the entire face. These sources show that veiling was a practice in Persia, Egypt, Arabia, and ancient Israel.

In Islamic scholarship, the requirement of the burqa is a subject of significant debate. Most contemporary scholars and jurists agree that the burqa is not obligatory. They look to the Quran for guidance on modesty. While verses 24:31 and 33:59 are often discussed, their exact meaning is debated. Verse 33:59, known as the "mantle verse," is often interpreted as a way to provide security for women. Some scholars use a hadith, or authentic tradition, to argue that women may show their face and hands.

Françoise Foliot - Afghanistan 059
Françoise Foliot - Afghanistan 059

However, a minority of scholars in Islamic jurisprudence, or fiqh, consider it obligatory in the presence of unrelated men.

Different legal schools, known as madhabs, have held different views throughout history. During the medieval era, Maliki and Hanafi jurists often held that women should cover everything except their faces. In contrast, many Hanbali and Shafi'i jurists believed the face should also be veiled, leaving only the eyes visible. The Hanbali scholar Ibn Taymiyyah was a famous proponent of this view. On the other hand, the Hanafi scholar Burhan al-Din al-Marghinani argued that women should leave their faces and hands uncovered during business. The Shi'a Ja'fari school also holds that covering the face is not obligatory.

Today, the use of the burqa is subject to various legal restrictions around the world. Several countries have enacted full or partial bans on its use in public.

Burka ban world map
Burka ban world map

Austria, France, Belgium, and Denmark have implemented such bans. In some nations, the restrictions are specific to certain locations. For example, Norway has bans in nurseries and public schools. Canada has a ban on the garment in the Quebec public workplace. Other countries like Turkey, Egypt, and Algeria also have specific rules regarding its use in public institutions or workplaces. These laws reflect complex debates about religious freedom 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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