Many Muslim women wear the hijab as an expression of faith, modesty, and identity, based on interpretations of the Quran. Practice and choice vary widely.
Reasons
Many Muslim women wear hijab as an expression of faith, modesty, obedience to God and identity. They base it on interpretations of the Quran (24:31 and 33:59) and hadith.
Variation
Practices vary. Some women wear a headscarf, some a niqab or burqa, and many don’t cover. Scholars differ about whether it’s required.
Choice
Some choose to wear it. In some countries (Iran, Afghanistan) laws require it. In others, such as France, bans on certain coverings are debated as matters of rights.
Meaning
The word hijab means “cover” or “barrier” in Arabic.
Numbers
About 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide (Pew, 2020).
Types
Hijab, niqab, burqa, chador and khimar.
Religious basis
Many Muslim scholars cite the Quran verses 24:31 and 33:59, which instruct believers to draw their cloths over their chests and mention outer garments. Interpretations differ, and scholars and communities differ on whether it is required and in what form.
Meaning to women who wear it
Reasons women give include faith, modesty, obedience to God, identity and culture, and a personal choice. Some say it is a daily act of worship, and others see it as protection from unwanted attention or a symbol of solidarity with their community.
Types of coverings
- Hijab: a scarf covering hair and neck.
- Niqab: a face veil with an eye opening.
- Burqa: a full body covering with a mesh over the eyes, common in Afghanistan.
- Chador: a full length cloak, common in Iran.
- Al-amira, shayla and khimar: regional styles.
How common
Pew Research Center surveys across Muslim majority countries find large differences. In some countries like Egypt and Tunisia, most women wear a head covering, while in others, such as Turkey, a smaller share does.
Legal situations
Some countries require covering (Iran, Afghanistan under Taliban rule), and others restrict it in certain places (France bans face coverings in public and religious symbols in public schools). Many women and human rights organizations say that choice should rest with the woman.
Not all Muslim women cover
Many Muslim women choose not to cover, and many hold both covering and not covering as legitimate religious positions.
Related practices
Modesty also applies to men in Islamic teachings, who are told to lower their gaze and dress modestly.
Other religions
Head covering is also practiced by Orthodox Jewish married women, Sikh men with turbans and Christian nuns, among others.
Types of covering and laws
Muslim women’s coverings include the hijab (headscarf), niqab (face veil with eye opening), burqa (full body with mesh over the eyes), chador (full length cloak common in Iran), khimar and the shayla. Choices vary by culture and personal preference. Iran has required head covering by law since the 1979 revolution, while France banned conspicuous religious symbols in public schools in 2004 and face coverings in public in 2011. In Saudi Arabia, officials said in 2018 that women are not legally required to wear the black abaya. In the United States, religious dress is protected by the First Amendment and Title VII, and employers must reasonably accommodate it unless it causes undue hardship.
Variation among Muslim women
Many Muslim women do not cover their hair, and Pew Research surveys show large differences by country. Women who wear it often describe it as an act of faith, modesty, identity or cultural belonging, while some report family or social pressure. Scholars interpret the verses on modesty in the Quran (24:31 and 33:59) in different ways. Respecting each woman’s own decision matters. Women who wear head coverings in some Western countries report higher rates of discrimination in employment and public spaces.
Based on data from Pew Research Center and the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
