View source for Jilbāb

{{short description|Long loose garment worn by some Muslim women}}

{{distinguish|Jellabiya}}
{{distinguish|Djellaba}}

{{Over-quotation|date=November 2023}}
{{Islamic female dress}}
The term '''{{transliteration|ar|jilbāb}}''' (also '''{{transliteration|ar|jilbaab}}''', '''{{transliteration|ar|jubbah}}''' or '''{{transliteration|ar|jilaabah}}''') ({{langx|ar|جِلْبَاب}}) refers to any long and loose-fit coat or outer [[garment]] worn by [[Muslim]] women. Wearers believe that this definition of {{transliteration|ar|jilbāb}} fulfills the [[Quran]]ic choice for a [[hijab]]. The {{transliteration|ar|jilbāb}} is also known as {{transliteration|fa|[[chador]]}} by [[Persian language|Persian]] speakers in [[Iran]] and [[Afghanistan]]. The modern {{transliteration|ar|jilbāb}} covers the entire body except the face and hands. Some women will also cover the hands with gloves and the face along with a [[niqāb]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Affairs |first=Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World |title=Carolyn Barnett on Women Veiling in Egypt |url=https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/posts/carolyn-barnett-on-women-veiling-in-egypt |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=berkleycenter.georgetown.edu |language=en}}</ref>
 [[File:Jilbab_.gif|thumb|Jilbab]]

==Qur'an and hadith==
{{Islamic Culture}}

A mention of the plural term of {{transliteration|ar|jilbāb}}, {{transliteration|ar|jalabib}}, is found in the [[Qur'an]], verse 33:59 (Surah [[Al-Ahzab]]). A popular translation by [[Abdullah Yusuf Ali|Yusuf Ali]] of the transliterated Arabic goes:

{{blockquote|{{transliteration|ar|Yā 'ay-yuha n-Nabiy-yu qul li'azwājika wabanātika wa nisā'i l-mu'minīna yudnīna 'alayhin-na min jalābībihin-na; dhālika adnā an yu'rafna falā yu'dhayn. Wakāna l-lāhu Ghafūra(n) r-Rahīmā(n)}}}}

{{blockquote|O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their [{{transliteration|ar|jalabib}}] {{transliteration|ar|(Jilbabs)}} over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.}}

A number of [[hadith]] commenting on the above verse of the Qur'an (33:59) mention the {{transliteration|ar|jilbāb}}.

{{blockquote|Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu'minin: When the verse "That they should cast their outer garments over their persons" was revealed, the women of Ansar came out as if they had crows over their heads by wearing outer garments.|Sunan Abi Dawud, Book 33, Number #4090 (Classified as 'Sahih' by Al-Albani)}}

{{blockquote|Narrated Umm Atiyya: We were ordered to bring out our menstruating women and screened women to the religious gatherings and invocation of the Muslims on the two Eid festivals. These menstruating women were to keep away from the musalla. A woman asked, "O Messenger of Allah! What about one who does not have a {{transliteration|ar|jilbab}}?". He said, "Let her borrow the {{transliteration|ar|jilbab}} of her companion".|Sahih Bukhari, Book 8, #347}}

==Definition and extent==
[[File:Jilbab.svg|thumb|The jilbab is a coat. It is rather loose-fitting, and resembles a long raincoat or trenchcoat.]]

Since there are no pictures of 7th-century {{transliteration|ar|jilbāb}}, nor any surviving garments, it is not at all clear if the modern {{transliteration|ar|jilbāb}} is the same garment as that referred to in the [[Qur'an]]. 

The root of the word "Jilbab" itself is [جلب]. According to [[Mu'jam Maqayees Al-Lugha]] by [[Ibn Faris]], the root has two meanings:<blockquote>[Two meanings]: One of them is the arrival with something from place to place, and the other is something that covers something...<ref>{{Cite book |author=Ibn Faris |title=Mu'jam Maqayees Al-Lugha}}</ref></blockquote>



[[Al-Shawkani]] was of the view that a woman must cover her face with a Jilbab in front of [[Mahram|non-Mahram]] men, and he takes this from a Hadith about pilgrimage and comments about its meaning. He also provides the views of both [[Ahmad ibn Hanbal]] and [[Al-Shafi'i]]:<blockquote>...[A'isha said:] "The caravan would pass by us while we were with the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, in a state of consecration (i.e., during the pilgrimage). When they came close to us, one of us would lower her jilbab from her head over her face, and when they passed by us, we would uncover it."...</blockquote>

==Sportswear==
A type of athletic {{transliteration|ar|jilbāb}} was developed by Nike in 2006,<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=24 March 2006 |title=Muslim girls don sporting jilbabs |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4838480.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120726173059/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4838480.stm |archive-date=26 July 2012 |access-date=11 May 2023}}</ref> allowing women to play volleyball while still respecting a traditional clothing style.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cutraro |first=Jennifer |date=27 April 2006 |title=Muslim Athletic Wear Covers Skin Without Cramping Style |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/04/0427_060424_muslim_sports.html?source=rss |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731111737/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/04/0427_060424_muslim_sports.html?source=rss |archive-date=31 July 2012 |access-date=11 May 2023}}</ref>

==In Indonesia==
In [[Indonesia]], the term {{lang|id|jilbāb}} refers to a headscarf rather than a long and loose overgarment.<ref>(Geertz)</ref>{{better source needed|date=January 2025}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Islam|Fashion}}
* [[Hijab]]
* [[Thawb]]
* [[bisht (clothing)|Bisht]]
* [[Izaar|Izar]]
* [[Shabina Begum]]
* [[Islam and clothing]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book |last=El Guindi |first=Fadwa |title=Veil: Modesty, Privacy, and Resistance |publisher=Berg |date=1999}}
* {{cite book |last=Geertz |first=Clifford |title=Available Light: Anthropological Reflections on Philosophical Topics |publisher=Princeton University Press |date=2000}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Jilbab}}

{{Folk costume}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jilbab}}
[[Category:Islamic female clothing]]
[[Category:Arabic clothing]]
[[Category:Middle Eastern clothing]]
[[Category:Dresses]]
[[Category:Scarves]]
[[Category:Headgear]]
[[Category:Purdah]]
[[Category:Religious headgear]]