the.com/niqab
A face veil worn by some Muslim women for religious, cultural, or personal reasons.
means A cloth veil covering the face, worn by some Muslim women, typically leaving only the eyes visible.
from From Arabic niqāb, from the verb naqaba meaning 'to pierce' or 'to perforate' — a nod to the slit left for the eyes. It's part of a family of Arabic veiling terms (hijab, burqa, chador) each naming a different garment and a different degree of covering, though Western usage often blurs them together.
- not quran-mandated
- scholars debate it is cultural, not scriptural requirement
- eyes only
- leaves a gap for eyes, unlike the full burqa
- banned in parts
- france, belgium restrict it in public spaces since 2010s
- distinct from hijab
- hijab covers hair, niqab covers the face too