Burqa

Rare card · No. 41644

A burqa, also known as harabah, is a type of enveloping outer garment worn by some Muslim women which fully covers the body and the face. The use of face veils has been documented in various ancient cultures, including the Byzantine Empire, Persia, and Arabia. Historical sources mention women’s practices of face veiling. Additionally, Biblical references in Genesis highlight the use of veils. Oriental Orthodox Christian women traditionally wore dark garments with veils, white for the unmarried and black for the married. Face veiling has not been regarded as a religious requirement by most Islamic scholars, either historically or currently. Quranic verses such as 24:31 and 33:59 are interpreted as encouraging modesty and security for women, and most scholars agree that full-face covering is not required. Women who wear the burqa view it as a symbol of modesty, piety, and cultural identity, while others choose it as an expression of personal or religious commitment. A minority of scholars...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Steve Evans from India and USA, CC BY 2.0