the.com/hijab
A head covering some Muslim women wear as a personal expression of faith and modesty.
means A head covering worn by many Muslim women as an expression of modesty and faith.
from From Arabic 'hijab' (حجاب), meaning 'veil,' 'curtain,' or 'screen' — rooted in the verb 'hajaba,' to hide or shield from view. The word appears in the Quran referring broadly to a partition or barrier, not originally a specific garment, and over centuries came to denote the headscarf itself. Its deeper sense of 'that which separates or conceals' still echoes in related Arabic words for things kept out of sight.
- origin word
- arabic for curtain or barrier
- not monolithic
- styles vary wildly by country and personal taste
- legal battlegrounds
- banned in some places, mandatory in others
- personal choice
- many wearers call it empowering, not oppressive