Jilbāb

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The term jilbāb (also jilbaab, jubbah or jilaabah) (Arabic: جِلْبَاب) refers to any long and loose-fit coat or outer garment worn by Muslim women. Wearers believe that this definition of jilbāb fulfills the Quranic choice for a hijab. The jilbāb is also known as chador by Persian speakers in Iran and Afghanistan. The modern jilbāb covers the entire body except the face and hands. Some women will also cover the hands with gloves and the face along with a niqāb.^[1]

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A mention of the plural term of jilbāb, jalabib, is found in the Qur'an, verse 33:59 (Surah Al-Ahzab). A popular translation by Yusuf Ali of the transliterated Arabic goes:

Yā 'ay-yuha n-Nabiy-yu qul li'azwājika wabanātika wa nisā'i l-mu'minīna yudnīna 'alayhin-na min jalābībihin-na; dhālika adnā an yu'rafna falā yu'dhayn. Wakāna l-lāhu Ghafūra(n) r-Rahīmā(n)

O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their [jalabib] (Jilbabs) over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

A number of hadith commenting on the above verse of the Qur'an (33:59) mention the jilbāb.

Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu'minin: When the verse "That they should cast their outer garments over their persons" was revealed, the women of Ansar came out as if they had crows over their heads by wearing outer garments.

— Sunan Abi Dawud, Book 33, Number #4090 (Classified as 'Sahih' by Al-Albani)

Narrated Umm Atiyya: We were ordered to bring out our menstruating women and screened women to the religious gatherings and invocation of the Muslims on the two Eid festivals. These menstruating women were to keep away from the musalla. A woman asked, "O Messenger of Allah! What about one who does not have a jilbab?". He said, "Let her borrow the jilbab of her companion".

— Sahih Bukhari, Book 8, #347

Since there are no pictures of 7th-century jilbāb, nor any surviving garments, it is not at all clear if the modern jilbāb is the same garment as that referred to in the Qur'an. In general terms, jilbāb is a garment/sheet that is worn on the head, draped around the body and that totally covers the body of the woman.

The root of the word "Jilbab" itself is [جلب]. According to Mu'jam Maqayees Al-Lugha by Ibn Faris, the root has two meanings:

[Two meanings]: One of them is the arrival with something from place to place, and the other is something that covers something...^[2]

The word "Jilbab" expresses both of these meanings, as the outer garment itself is used to cover from head to toe, hence the arrival with something [i.e., the cloth] from place [the head] to place [the feet]. It is also used to cover a woman, hence its secondary meaning. The etymology of the word "Jilbab" is exaggerated. The word's Maṣdar is "jalbeb" [جلْبَب], and there's a long vowel alif in the middle of the word to add emphasis to the meaning. Due to this emphasis from the vowel, the word then linguistically refers to a full-body cover, or a one-piece that covers the entire body and does not expose even a bit of it. This is also why past scholars, such as Ibn Hazm, the great Zahiri jurist, described the Jilbab as something that covers the entire body:

...The jilbab, in the Arabic language, with which the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, addressed us [i.e., the same Arabic that was spoken by him and in which the Quran was revealed, namely Classical Arabic], is what covers the entire body, not just some of it [or a part of it]...^[3]

According to Al-Shawkani, another famous jurist that denied Qiyas and had Zahiri leanings, he relates in his book Fath Al-Qadeer on his commentary of Quran 33:59 the opinions of some scholars on the extent of the Jilbab. It is obvious that some pre-modern scholars don't take the linguistic approach when defining the Jilbab:

...Al-Jawhari said: It [the Jilbab] is a Milhafa [a bed cover that is used to cover the body]. It is also said that it is a Qanna' [something that covers all or part of the face to hide it]. It is also said that it is a garment that covers a woman's body completely, as is affirmed in an authentic Hadith from Umm Atiyyah, that she said: "Oh, Messenger of God! One of us [from amongst the women] do not have a jilbab", so he said, "Let her sister clothe her from her Jilbab."... Al-Wahidi said: "The commentators [in defining the Jilbab] said: 'The women must cover their faces and heads except for one eye'"... Al-Hasan said: "It [the Jilbab] covers half of the face"...^[4]

What is interesting are the views of the Zahiri jurists, or at least those who were Zahiri-leaning. According to both Al-Shawkani and Ibn Hazm, the face and hands of the woman are not considered Awrah. However, when interpreting Quran 33:59, Al-Shawkani is of the view that, although a woman's face and hands aren't Awrah, they still have to be covered with the Jilbab. Ibn Hazm implies the same view with his interpretation of the jilbab, although he never fully and clearly explained if a woman's face and hands should be covered with it. Al-Shawkani was of the view that a woman must cover her face with a Jilbab in front of non-Mahram men, and he takes this from a Hadith about pilgrimage and comments about its meaning. He also provides the views of both Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Al-Shafi'i:

...[A'isha said:] "The caravan would pass by us while we were with the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, in a state of consecration (i.e., during the pilgrimage). When they came close to us, one of us would lower her jilbab from her head over her face, and when they passed by us, we would uncover it."...

[Al-Shawkani comments:] Ahmad held on to this Hadith, and he said: "She should only let it hang down over her head", and he used this hadith as evidence that it is permissible for a woman, when she needs to cover her face from men passing closely by her, to hang her garment over her head onto her face. Because a woman needs to cover her face, it is not absolutely forbidden for her to cover it [during Ihram, when covering with the Niqab, or full-face veil, is forbidden for a woman], unlike the Awrah, but when she lets it hang down, the garment should be away from her face so that it does not touch her skin. This is what the followers of Imam Shafi'i and others said.

The apparent [Zahir/literal] meaning of the hadith contradicts this because the hanging garment is almost free from skin being touched. If avoidance was a condition, the Prophet - peace be upon him - would have clarified it...^[5]

Elsewhere, when asked about when women should cover their faces, Al-Shawkani said:

As for covering the face of a woman, they used to uncover their faces when it was not obligatory to cover them, and they would cover them when there was someone from whom it was obligatory to cover.^[6]

Based on the Hadith provided by Al-Shawkani with Aisha and the oncoming caravan, it seems that the jilbab has an opening for both the hands and the face, as the women were able to bring down a portion of their jilbabs down over their faces, and their faces were exposed. This is also what is implied in the command in verse 59 of Surah Al-Ahzab:

O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw close [yudneena] over themselves ['alayhinna] some [min] of their outer garments [jalaabibihinna]. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.

Here is what the verse means according to the words bolded:

1. "Yudneena" comes from the word "daniya", which comes from the root "d-n-y" [دني]. According to Ibn Faris in his lexicon Mu'jam Maqayees Al-Lugha, the root means "the bringing close of something".
2. "'Alayhinna" means "on them" or "over them". In this verse, it is implied that whatever is being brought close is being brought close from the head.
3. "Min" here in this verse means "some [of]" or "portion [of]". This is linked with the next word, which is:
4. "Jalaabibihinna", which is the plural of Jilbab, which is the full-body one-piece.

The verse implies that women were wearing jilbabs before its revelation, but they were showing parts of themselves to men. Thus, whatever was shown was to be covered, and whatever was shown was from the head down. Whatever of the jilbaab was uncovering the woman was to be drawn close to what was uncovering them, so as to conceal their bodies fully. All of this refers to the face, and it is clear that the Islamic jilbaab has a face opening so that a woman can cover herself whenever a non-Mahram man passes by.

Some scholars and commentators say that a woman must cover everything except for one eye so that she can see, such as Ibn Abbas, Al-Jalalayn, 'Ubaydah As-Salmani, Abdullah ibn Salam, and others. However, there is no authentic report from the Prophet Muhammad proving this, and this led to the linguistic meaning being a legitimate interpretation the jilbab.

Some modern Muslims insist that the contemporary jilbāb and the garment described in the Qur'an and the hadith are exactly the same, and that the Qur'an therefore requires the believer to wear these garments. Some scholars say that a veil is not compulsory in front of blind, asexual or gay men.^[7]

The Encyclopedia of Islam identifies over a hundred terms for dress parts, many of which are used for "veiling".^[8] Some of these and related Arabic terms are burqu, 'abayah, tarhah, bumus, jilbab, jellabah, hayik, milayah, gallabiyyah, dishdasha, gargush, gins', mungub, lithma, yashmik, habarah, izar. A few terms refer to items used as face covers only. These are qina, burqu, niqab, lithma. Others refer to headcovers that are situationally held by the individual to cover part of the face. These are khimar, sitara, abayah or inrrah.^[9]

It is incorrect to say that the jilbab is one particular style, and different cultures have developed their own variations and styles of the one-piece. However, in recent times, the jilbab has lost its original meaning and fewer women wear it. This has led to confusion about what popular modern styles are considered to fall under the category of jilbab. Most do not, including the following:

• Hijab – According traditionally to Islamic jurisprudence, the word hijab is just a general term that means the dress code for women in the presence of non-mahram men. Nowadays, it is in reference to the headscarf that covers the hair and neck. This popular style has received controversy due to its lack of concealment for what is prescribed. This is not considered a jilbab, as it does not cover the body completely.
• Khimar – Linguistically, the word khimar just generally referred to a cover. However, in the Islamic context, it refers to a headcover that extends to the cleavage and covers the hair, neck, sides and back of the head. It is an issue of dispute as to whether the khimar that is commanded should cover the face as well. Nevertheless, the khimar is exclusive to the head, and cannot be considered a jilbab.
• Niqab – The niqab is a specific style head covering that covers everything on the head except the eyes. Unlike what others may claim, the Niqab is not something that is considered cultural, but has basis in Islamic sources and law. The majority of scholars from the Hanbali school, for example, say that it is mandatory. However, it does not fall under jilbab, as it is only a head covering.
• Chador – The chador is a Persian garment that stretches from head to toe and covers everything of a woman except for the face and hands. Although this is similar to the jilbab, it does not fall under its category, as it always uncovers the face, and there is not an opening that draws it down over the face.
• The Burqa. It is considered an issue of dispute as to whether the Burqa is actually a jilbab or not. Some have argued that the Burqa actually comes under the same heading as the Niqab,^[10] as there isn't a face opening. Technically, it may linguistically refer to a jilbab, but it lacks the special head opening.

According to Islamic law, the jilbab is nothing more than an outer garment to be worn specifically around non-Mahrams. An "outer garment" refers to a piece of clothing worn outside of someone's primary clothing [e.g., a jacket over a shirt]. There is nothing wrong in taking it off when alone, or when around other women, or when around her Mahrams. Generally, a woman is allowed to wear whatever she wants underneath, but she cannot show anything off to non-Mahrams.^[11]

A type of athletic jilbāb was developed by Nike in 2006,^[12] allowing women to play volleyball while still respecting a traditional clothing style.^[13]

In Indonesia, the term jilbāb refers to a headscarf rather than a long and loose overgarment.^[14]

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• El Guindi, Fadwa (1999). Veil: Modesty, Privacy, and Resistance. Berg.
• Geertz, Clifford (2000). Available Light: Anthropological Reflections on Philosophical Topics. Princeton University Press.