What do Muslims wear?

There is no one dress code prescribed for Muslims. This is simply due to the fact that there are more than one billion Muslims around the world living under different climates.  Islam stresses the relationship between physical body and spirituality.

Generally, Islam requires modesty both for men and women in dress, with arms and legs covered. Clothes should be loose and the curves of the body should not be discernible, especially in public. Muslim men are also required to be modest in their dress and cover their body, however covering hair is encouraged during formal prayers.

Due to the nature of roles for women and men in families and a great emphasis on chastity, Islam lays more stress on dress suggestions  for women. The Holy Qur’an instructs women to wear an outer covering and to draw their head coverings over their bosoms. It also advises them to cover their faces. Cultural dress for Muslims is dependent on family origin and background. As such, there is no one type of dress that is compulsory for all Muslim women. The form of the veil adopted varies from country to country. For example, Pakistani women wear a long coat with a head scarf that can cover the face, known as a “burqa.“ Women in the Middle East wear a head covering over long dresses.

For Ahmadi Muslim women, the Supreme Head of the Ahmadiyya Movement has defined “minimum Islamic purdah” as wearing a loose fitting outer garment and a head scarf. The face may be uncovered, but without makeup. It is emphasized that Islamic “purdah”, is not just covering ones face or head, it is part of a total package of preserving chastity and righteousness. For example segregation of males and females is also part of this scheme of “purdah”.