What is the Hijab and Muslim Dress All About

All About Hijab and Muslim Dress

By Dilshad D. Ali

In donning pink hijabs (headscarves) as they marched in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Washington D.C. in June, 2008, a group of women from the Council on American-Islamic Relations turned one of the most prominent and misunderstood Islamic badges into a symbol of activism.

Muslim women around the world adhere to Islamic requirements of modest dressing with a variety of styles and types, from headscarves to face veils to body-hiding robes.

But what does modest Muslim dress exactly entail? What are the different styles? How do some women adapt the hijab to different aspects of their lives? Is modesty just for women? And when did hijab become a symbol of oppression for many non-Muslims? Check out this gallery for the types of Muslim dress and answers to these questions.