Abaya – A Traditional Islamic Attire For Muslim Women

“O Prophet! Ask your wives, daughters, and believing women to draw their cloaks over their bodies. In this way, it is more likely that they will be recognised as virtuous and not be harassed. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful”

Surah Al-Ahzab (33:59)

Islam teaches us how to live life. Islam has rules for both men and women, where men are guided to lower their eyes and avoid seeing non-Mahram women, and women are guided to cover their bodies and protect themselves from exposure to non-Mahram. In the Holy Quran, Muslim women are obliged by Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala to cover themselves. The veil is a critical practice and is followed in multiple other religions. Not only Islam but other religions and cultures also embrace this practice and understand its significance. 

One can cover herself and follow this Surah through multiple ways. In the market, various options are available to cover our bodies, but only some of them are as convenient and easy to carry as the Abaya is. 

In this post, we will discuss Abaya in detail and how it is becoming a modern fashion statement globally.

Purpose Of Abaya In Islam

As we have discussed in the earlier paragraphs, Muslim women shall cover themselves, and the veil from Non-Mahram and Abaya is an ideal way to practise it. Abaya has become a significant part of most of the practising women’s lives because of its wide use case. Many times, when we perform Salah, we are not sure whether our dress covers us correctly; the combination of Abaya and Hijab is an ideal Salah attire for many Muslim women. There are specific Islamic prayer abayas available in the market to make it convenient to become Salah-ready. 

Another primary usage of the Abaya is while performing sacred acts like Hajj and Umrah. While performing Hajj and Umrah, you will see almost every female pilgrim wearing an abaya to cover herself modestly. The abayas for Hajj and Umrah are a popular modest clothing category.

So, the purpose of the Abaya in Islam is broad, and people use it on multiple occasions, including wearing it as their daily attire.

Abaya – A Modest Fashion Statement

Abaya is an integral part of Muslim culture, especially Arab culture. Earlier, Arab women started wearing abayas, and later, it became a trend among all Muslim women worldwide to wear abayas while going out or on multiple occasions to cover themselves. People started linking abayas with Islam and treating it as religious attire. Now, this belief is changing, and the Abaya is transforming into a modest fashion statement. Women across different countries, not only related to Islam, are embracing its modesty and opting to wear it.

Many big brands have started to organise special abaya theme fashion shows to promote modest clothing and establish a new fashion trend of modest dress. Clothing items like Abayas, Hijabs, and Thobes were earlier used to be considered for only Muslims; now, this perspective is changing, and people around the world are opting for modest clothing. As a result of this, we have seen a drastic change in the design pattern and colour availability of abayas, and more people are adopting abayas in their daily lives.

Types of Abaya

Abayas come in a variety of designs, a few of them are as follows:

Basic Abaya

Abaya comes in numerous designs and colours. However, many people still prefer a simple and basic abaya without any fancy design or colour combination. It is an ideal choice for those who want to keep modest clothing simple.

Jersey Abaya

It is a unique fabric abaya. Jersey fabric abayas are soft and stretchy. They are a comfortable choice to wear over your everyday dress. It will cover you adequately without compromising comfort. Its stretchable feature allows you to move with ease.

Satin Abaya

Satin abaya is an ideal alternative for people looking for silk abayas. If pure silk abayas are not within your budget or are not available in the market, you can opt for satin abayas; they feel and look like silk and are available at a comparatively lower price than silk abayas.

Embroidered Abaya

Embroidered Abaya is a design type. Abayas are available in multiple designs, and embroidery is one of them. Embroidered abayas come with various material options and are suitable for wide occasions.

Sequence Zipped Abaya

Sequence Zipped Abayas are easy to wear and provide great comfort to the wearer. One can quickly wear and remove them, and they look good. Sequence-zipped abayas are the common choice of many Muslims for going out.

Linen Open Abaya

Linen Open Abaya comes with a matching belt and pockets. It looks elegant and is an ideal choice for daily wear. With the help of its belt, one can easily adjust its size according to their body shape.

Pleated Abaya

Pleated Abaya comes with a liner design and is available in different colour combinations. It gives your attire an attractive look and is ideal for people opting for modest fashion. This Abaya is popular, and you must have seen other people wearing it.

One Piece Jilbab

It is a one-piece cloth attire, similar to an abaya, and is used to cover the whole body, excluding hands, feet, and face. One Piece Jilbab is popular in countries like Iran and Afghanistan.

Two Piece Jilbab 

Two-piece Jilbab is the set of Abaya and long Khimar. You can wear them together or alone, depending on the location. Generally, it is available with fewer design options. However, multiple colour options for two-piece Jilbab are available on the market.

Amsons – An Ideal Place To Shop Abaya In The UK

Abaya is a loose-fitting, long-sleeved outer attire worn by Muslim women and is now gaining popularity globally, which makes its market proliferating. Abayas are versatile and come in a variety of design and colour options. At Amsons Islamic Store UK, we have a comprehensive collection of abayas, which are suitable for multiple purposes. We ship our orders to all locations in the UK. So, whether you want to purchase an Islamic abaya for Salah or want to upscale your modest fashion, our exclusive abaya collection is the right choice for you. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is It Mandatory For Muslim Women To Wear Abaya?

No, it is not mandatory for Muslim women to wear an abaya; what is obligatory is that they need to cover their bodies and hide their beauty from non-Mahram. This can be achieved through numerous ways, and a variety of clothes, from simple cloth sheets to Abaya, can be used.

Who Are Non-Mahram?

In simple words, Non-Mahram are all those men with whom a Muslim woman is allowed to marry. In the Holy Quran, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala mentioned the name of all Mahram men in the Surah An-Nur (24:31), and the Surah is as follows:

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments except what normally appears. Let them draw their veils over their chests, and not reveal their ˹hidden˺ adornments except to their husbands, their fathers, their fathers-in-law, their sons, their stepsons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons or sisters’ sons, their fellow women, those ˹bondwomen˺ in their possession, male attendants with no desire, or children who are still unaware of women’s nakedness. Let them not stomp their feet, drawing attention to their hidden adornments. Turn to Allah in repentance altogether, O believers, so that you may be successful.”

Are Abaya And Burqa Same?

No, they both are different. Abayas don’t cover your whole body and leave your face open, while Burqa covers you from head to toe and gauze is used around the eyes for visibility. Abaya is popular and widely used in Arab and Western countries, while Burqa is more prevalent in Asian countries.

Conclusion

Wearing modest clothes and covering the body is an integral part of Islamic culture. The Holy Quran guides Muslim women to veil their bodies from non-Mahram people. There are multiple ways to perform this guidance, and wearing an abaya is one of them. Abayas are available in numerous varieties and are gaining popularity worldwide because of their comfort and modest look. At our Islamic store in the UK, we have a wide range of abayas with multiple designs and colour choices. So, don’t forget to check out our impressive Islamic abaya collection.