Hijab (Arabic: حجاب, romanized: ḥijāb, pronounced [ħɪˈdʒaːb]) refers to head coverings worn by Muslim women. Similar to the mitpaḥat/tichel or snood worn by religiously observing married Jewish women, certain headcoverings worn by some Christian women, such as the hanging veil, apostolnik and kapp, and the dupatta favored by many North Indian Hindu and Sikh women, the hijab comes in various forms. The term describes a scarf that is wrapped around the head, covering the hair, neck, and ears while leaving the face visible. The use of the hijab, voluntarily and involuntarily, has grown globally since the 1970s, with religious Muslims viewing it as a symbol of modesty and faith; it is also worn as a form of adornment. There is consensus among mainstream Islamic religious scholars that covering the head is required.
The term ḥijāb was originally used to denote a partition and was sometimes used for Islamic rules of modesty. The Qur'an never uses the word hijab (lit. 'barrier') to refer to women's clothing, but rather discusses the attire of women using other terms Jilbāb and khimār (generic headscarf).
There is variation in interpretations regarding the extent of covering required. Some legal systems accept the hijab as an order to cover everything except the face and hands, whilst others accept it as an order to cover the whole body, including the face and hands, via niqab. These guidelines are found in texts of hadith and fiqh developed after the revelation of the Qur'an. Some state that these guidelines are aligned with Qur'anic verses (ayahs) about hijab.
Islamic veiling practices vary globally based on local laws and customs. In some regions, the hijab is mandated by law, while in others, its use is subject to restrictions or bans.
Women currently face pressure from other people, schools, and world governments, western or otherwise, regarding their choice to wear or not wear the hijab.
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