An Emirati burqa is a classic style of women’s modesty in the United Arab Emirates. This woven accessory, made of delicate silk, is typically worn by wedding women to differentiate between married couples and women without marriage. Burqa’a craftsmen Quraizah Burqa’a have gained their livelihood for generations by sewing burqas and know-how handed down from mother to daughter. The fabric fitting, called Al Sheel or Kashf Al Mah’atta, is an essential component of the Burqa. It was historically shipped from India, and the cost and quality were varied. Red was the costliest that the rich women were looking for.
Now the question arises: What are burqas and the importance of the Burqa in Islam?
What is Burqa?
A Burqa UAE is an article of outer clothing women in Islamic cultures use to cover their bodies and ears. It’s worn often when a woman leaves her home and is expected to wear it up to her return. The Burqa is worn all over the Middle East, with specific liberal or progressive regimes less restrictive regarding its use, as most Muslim nations worldwide. Turkey, where secular ideas prevail and people have freedom of choice, is a famous example. Women must wear Emirati Burqa in stricter countries; if this is not done, they may be beaten, abused, or worse. The Burqa is the UAE Traditional Dress of women.
Girls are not obliged to wear burqas before they reach maturity. Still, the definition is not followed as girls as young as six are obliged to wear burqas to train them for adulthood physically and psychologically.
Burqa in Different Nations
In different nations, the Burqa UAE comes under the classification of hijab. It’s an Arabic term that means veiling or covering, and it refers to the head and body of a woman. Saudi Arabian women wear an abaya and a niqab, while Muslim women prefer to wear a headscarf only in Tunisia or Turkey. They step forward in Iran, and as they leave the country, the “fashion police” force all women, preferably a black or a white dress, to wear a full facial veil or scarf. The emirate men wear Ghutra on their heads. The Afghanistan burqa, backed by the Taliban, is one of the Emirati Burqa’s extremities.
Burqa History
The root of the Emirati Burqa is unknown, but UAE women have worn it for centuries, and even some make it themselves. Muza al Muhairi has been wearing the Burqa since she was 12 years old and is best known as Umm Nasser. Forty-seven years since she has worn hundreds of the typical UAE face masks and still manufactures them when they are out of stock. The Gulf Burqa is a standard red or golden split red towel used to cover most of the forehead, somewhat distinct from the one-piece head-to-toe cover used in Afghanistan, also called the Burqa, and for Emirati men, wear kandura. Today, the elderly population primarily bears it.
The Burqa in UAE has nevertheless impacted more than the Arab culture; some of the older styles have left their imprint on the nose, according to Umm Nasser, although the wearer has been able to change their form forever. The mask’s origin is unsure, and the speculation has come in different directions from Yemen, Oman, or even from the Muslim cultures in India, because of the absence of any documentation of the history of the Burqa. The metal finish has been applied to the Arab tribes of the Gulf, a development that has now gone down in time but has been passed over many decades.
Why Wearing of Burqa
It is clear that both bureaucracy and Niqab have an Islamic origin and are observed and accepted widely by Muslims throughout history. It is evident from Islamic texts that Muslim people must practice the hijab. Therefore, Islamic scholars accepted that the Burqa and Niqab constitute part of Islam but disagreed on whether they were mandatory or optional acts of virtue. Few Muslim women wear hijab because of this, while others decide to wear Niqab or Burqa in UAE.
Burqa Designs
The nature of an Emirati burqa depends on the part of the UAE where its owner originated. A narrow top and broad, curved bottom are the Dubai “Sabeel cut,” worn in Abu Dhabi. Both the top and bottom of the Al Ain Design are narrow. The Burqa in Sharjah is similar to that in Zabeel but is built to raise the top of the mask forward. In Oman and Fujairah, it is vast, wider at the top, with a tip that goes over the forehead. Bahraini is a square burkha, and Qatari burka is large. Instead, in Saudi Arabia, the Niqab is worn – the black scarf that hides the face and exposes the eyes.
Making of Burqa
‘Al Seif’ is a tiny palm tree, bamboo, or other local timber, which acts as a nose-living burqa’s bridge. ‘Al Shubuq’ means the red wool or cotton cord or yellow or silver button on the back of the head. Gold or silver thread is used instead of red thread for marriages and other special occasions. At a wedding, rings and stars made of gold are included to decorate the bride’s Burqa. The craftsman starts with an Al-Sheel piece wide enough to cover the whole face.
In the middle of the cloth, the al-Seif wood is located to the nose, indicating the correct place for the eye holes to be cut off. Then the front of the Burqa UAE is towed, and the assorted parts are sewn. The adornments are then sewn on with circles and stars.
Facts of Controversies and Allegations
The Burqa and Niqab became a raging debate and controversial issue. Some countries have forbidden religious clothes, while others have envisaged restricting or limiting their use. There have been several claims about Emirati Burqa and Niqab, arguing that they are anti-social, backward, discriminatory, and not Islamic. The booklet addresses from an Islamic perspective the Burqa and Niqab and addresses the various complaints and accusations regarding the wear of these clothes.
Why do people fear the Burqa?
There’s no question that it’s unusual for many to see people wearing the Burqa. It is not a familiar sight since it is worn by only a minority of Muslims and is thus unknown to anyone. This is not something that the Burqa should be scared of or despised. The fierce media campaign of terror against the Burqa has led many people to judge this Islamic tradition without understanding its value. Who gains from this harmful propaganda should be taken into consideration. To make electoral gains, for example, certain political parties prey on the misunderstandings and prejudices of people.
Freedom and Liberty
Democracy and freedom in western society are established and permit their representatives to exercise and dress openly. Banning the Burqa in UAE is a sort of hypocrisy and double standards against these simple principles. Also, prohibiting a religious object focused only on emotional rhetoric could lead to more discrimination and human rights violations. It should be remembered that Nazi Germany started with soft bigotry against Jews and other minorities, followed by more extreme persecution when admitted.
Banning on wearing Burqa
The ban on wearing the Burqa not only breaks international law but is inherently restrictive and has various negative social implications. It helps to disgrace Muslim cultures and foster mistrust among Muslims and their communities. While they claim to protect Muslim women, a ban will destroy those wearing Emirati Burqa and compel them to decide whether to challenge their convictions by merely leaving home. Also, the ban will reflect two principles: other religious icons and vestments, such as nuns, Buddhist monks, Orthodox priests, and rabbis, are accepted and revered.
Variations in Burqa
Over the years, the Burqa UAE has evolved considerably. Historically, the Burqa was very large and protected the bulk of the chest, and the Burqa wore the old and young women all day long. Today’s fabrics and designs are distinct, but these variations are more prominent in younger women in Burqa’as. Elderly burqa women look like the old ones. Young women wearing burqas highlight their appearance, which is entirely different from what women may have worn in past generations.
Conclusion.
It is a fact that the Burqa is not patriarchal or anti-social. There are no safety threats or obstacles for the consumer and community. Instead, women wish to become close to God and be treated. It is the personal preference of women. Discussing why a religious tradition should be banned is oppressive and contrary to the same principles that should be covered.