Muslim Women Abaya Definition
Abaya is a loose garment that Arab Muslim women usually wear. The word abaya is from Arabic, it means "Cloak". Abayas dress cover the entire body except hands, face, and feet. Using an abaya will be perfect if a hijab covers the head. Abayas generally use black fabric colors. Muslim world like Arabian Peninsula, Middle East, South East Asia, and North Africa usually wear abaya dress.
Most Muslim women will use the abaya as daily clothing when going to:
- Mosque,
- Praying five times,
- Celebrating Eid al-Fitr & Eid al-Adha, and
- Muslim women also wear abayas when performing Hajj or Umrah.
Why do Muslim Women Wear Abayas?
Every Muslim woman and man is commanded to keep the awrah (private area of her body parts.) Exposing the private area of the body is sinful in Islam because Quran instructs the covering of male and female genitals and for adult females the breasts. The way Muslim women cover their awrah is to dress modestly and wear loose clothing such as abayas and hijab. Hijab is head covering shawl that muslim women wear in public.
The recommendations and orders are in accordance with the Quran letter:
- “O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters, and all believing women, to cover their bodies with cloaks. That will be better than being known and harassed. Allah is Forgiving and Mercifull.” (Quran 33:59).
- “And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear therof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons, or their women or the servants whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex, and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O you Believers, turn you all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss.” (Quran 24:31).
Styles of Abaya
Traditionally, the plain black abaya is the forerunner of the abaya design that is still widely used today. But nowadays, plain black abaya designs can be combined with embroidery, shiny diamond accents, lace, and ribbons. Abaya models vary widely. There are abaya models that are open or closed. An open abaya is often used as an outer abaya for women who want to look stylish. The use of an open abaya is preceded by the use of the previous inner dress. A closed abaya gives the impression of being more polite and suitable for use when worshiping.
Where can I Find and Buy Abaya?
You can easily find abaya online at Amazon, Etsy, or muslim clothing store near you. You can also buy women's abaya at our store Zhaviah.com. There are so many beautiful abaya styles you can wear it!