A common question foreigners moving to or working in the Middle East ask at cultural awareness training sessions is, "Why do the men wear the headdress?"
Great question!
So let's discover more about the reasons behind it.
The traditional Arab headdress or headgear, worn by men of all ages at all levels of society, is most common in The Gulf region, i.e. Saudi Arabia, UAE,BahrainandKuwait, although it is also widely worn by Arabs in other parts of the Middle East.
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What is the Head Gear called?
The rectangular cloth, which is made from cotton, is commonly referred to as theghutra or kufiyah.
The cord that holds it in place to stop it blowing about in the wind or falling off, is known as the iqal.
Why do they Wear the Head Gear?
The light colour of the headgear helps to reflect the heat of the sun and cool the body, while the cover it gives to the neck and face helps to prevent sunburn.
During cooler temperatures, heavier headdresses can fulfil the reverse function and keep the body warm. As such, in the prevailing desert climates of the Middle East, this piece of clothing is essential to protecting people from the sun, sandstorms and the dramatic drop in temperature overnight.
When encountering a sandstorm, what better way to protect the head and face than the ghutra? As with all cultures, our clothing is heavily shaped by the environments we live in.
Photo taken by Kathleen in Wadi Rum (Jordan) - Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
What About the Arab Culture?
However, the headdress doesn’t just serve a practical purpose.
It’s also an important part of Middle Easternculture which helps to connect men to the traditions and customs of their native country.
For example, in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the headdress is typically worn with a long white shirt that reaches the ankle, known as a thobe, or dishdasha / kandoora.
Together, the thobe, ghutra and iqal make up the national dress.
Most Saudis and Emiratis wear their national dress with pride. The thobe is typically well ironed and clean when donned. With the concept of ‘honour’ playing a key role in Middle Eastern culture, wearing a thobe with even the smallest stain would impact the reputation of the wearer.
In Saudi Arabia, wearing the ghutra is a must! It's worn by almost all men, each with their individual little tweaks.
The ghutra and thobe are also an important part of Islamic culture as they enable the wearer to dress modestly.
In Islam, it’s not only women who are required to dress modestly, men are also required to adhere to a dress code and cover all part of the body between the waist and the knees.
Wearing a loose-fitting thobe ensures men are properly covered and modest in their attire. It also ensures that they are suitably dressed for the Islamic prayer which is read five times per day.
Even in highly modernized countries such as Dubai in the UAE, the headdress is still worn by the vast majority of locals.
It’s believed that the ghutra has traditionally always been plain white as there are no accounts, photos or pictures to suggest otherwise. The red and white checked headdress seems to be a recent cultural innovation, although this is debated by some.
Due to the diversity of Middle Eastern countries and differences in the cultures and ethnicities of people living in the region, you will see a vast array of headdresses and clothing.
However, despite these differences, all pieces of clothing serve a practical purpose relating to the environment whilst also adhering to the Islamic religious requirements
If you are an expat relocating to the Middle East, (in particular Saudi Arabia or the UAE) then be aware that locals are very proud of their national dress.
Wearing it as a joke, or laughing as you put it on, would be perceived very negatively and damage your reputation.
Likewise, wearing stained or creased thobes or ghutras would also be perceived negatively as this would be considered disrespectful. If you choose to wear any parts of the national dress, then do so with respect and ensure it’s worn properly.
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Main image by World Economic Forum on Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) Copyright World Economic Forum (www.weforum.org) swiss-image.ch/Photo by Remy Steinegger
The Arabs wore it as a head covering to protect them from the sun and sand. They also used it to wipe away their sweat sometimes. It became something that is part of Arab culture
Arab culture
Arab culture is the culture of the Arabs, from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the east, and from the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean in the southeast.
Why do they Wear the Head Gear? The light colour of the headgear helps to reflect the heat of the sun and cool the body, while the cover it gives to the neck and face helps to prevent sunburn. During cooler temperatures, heavier headdresses can fulfil the reverse function and keep the body warm.
Men in Hijab is a movement in Iran and other parts of the Persian world in which men wear the hijab, or female headscarf, as a show of solidarity with their female relatives and wives. It seeks to end the requirement of women to wear the hijab outdoors.
The keffiyeh or kufiyya (Arabic: كُوفِيَّة, romanized: kūfīyya, lit. 'relating to Kufa'), also known in Arabic as a ghutrah (غُترَة), shemagh (شُمَاغ šumāġ), or ḥaṭṭah (حَطَّة), is a traditional headdress worn by men from parts of the Middle East.
The white robe, called thoub/thobe, dishdasha, or andura, is the main item of clothing for Gulf men and is generally worn with a pair of loose-fitting trousers called sirwal, either long or short. While the keffiah is also used in Palestine and Jordan, the dishdasha remains the Gulf men's fashion landmark.
The cloth is called a Ghutra. It is worn by most Saudis. The black Iqal is used to keep it on the head. As far as I know, the bedouins used Ghutra as a protection against the sun's heat.
Within Islam, the veil or covering the face is most closely associated with modesty, which is an extremely important value for both Muslim women and men (“A Brief History of the Veil in Islam”).
One should not force someone to wear the hijab no matter how old they are, though one can suggest it and tell them how it's a good thing. Ultimately, though, it is a matter for the people and their own personal choices.
Wearing a hijab can be a fashion trend or a way of protecting your hair from the elements. It doesn't necessarily have to relate to religion. Although it's a common practice for Muslim women, non-Muslims can wear it too if they want.
In Iran, since 1981, after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the hijab has become compulsory. All women are required to wear loose-fitting clothing and a headscarf in public. During the Middle Ages, Turkic nomadic tribes from Central Asia arrived, whose women did not wear headscarves.
When alone in a room or at home, Muslim women are permitted to remove their Hijabs. When a Muslim woman is not wearing the hijab, she must cover her hair, even if she is not praying. Once they have completed praying or if they are not praying, they are free to take off their hijab.
For Muslim women, the hijab serves as an identity that reflects their modesty and strong beliefs or what is called the 'Imaan'. Hijab or a veil or headscarf is a piece of clothing worn by Muslim women to cover themselves from head to feet.
The Ghutra Dubai and Thobe are significant parts of the Islamic community as they encourage the wearer to dress modestly. It also means that the Islamic prayer, read five times a day, is appropriately dressed.
“Shoes had to be taken off during prayer times, which is five times a day, hence they had to be easy to slip on and slip off. Weather conditions played a huge role in their design as well. Arab sandals were made open-toed because wearing socks and enclosed shoes is not comfortable in hot, humid climates.
The thawb is commonly worn by men in the Arabian Peninsula. It is normally made of cotton, but heavier materials such as sheep's wool can also be used, especially in colder climates in Iraq and Syria. The style of the thawb varies slightly among the various regions in the area.
The area where this is normal have major heat climates and desert conditions. By layerindgcotton, linen and other materials loosely they absorb sweat, prevent fluid loss and act as air conditioning by providing cooler area closer to body surface under out robe and also prevent heat prostration and heat stroke as well.
The answer is yes. Women can even travel solo to Saudi Arabia. However, it is important to bear in mind that there is still a broad gender separation throughout the Saudi Arabian society that will influence and determine your travel.
Religion. The public practice of any form of religion other than Islam is illegal; as is an intention to convert others. However, the Saudi authorities accept the private practice of religions other than Islam, and you can bring a religious text into the country as long as it is for your personal use.
The amount of heat gained by a Bedouin exposed to desert heat is the same whether he or she wears a black robe or a white one. The additional heat absorbed by the black robe is lost before it reaches the skin and drives convection under the black robe, making it more comfortable than a white robe.
In some Middle Eastern countries, eye contact between members of the same gender is a sign of trust while direct eye contact between a man and a woman is considered inappropriate and flirtatious. Also, keep in mind that non-native English speakers could avoid eye contact in order to focus on the conversation.
One of the top causes for dark circles is genetics. People of color, such as those of African descent, Asian, Indian and Middle Eastern backgrounds, can suffer from severe dark circles under the eyes due to pigmentation problems caused by the excess melanin they have in their skin.
Unlike many other forms of livestock, pigs are omnivorous scavengers, eating virtually anything they come across, including carrion and refuse, which was deemed unclean. Furthermore, a Middle Eastern society keeping large stocks of pigs could destroy their ecosystem.
Vida, 29, said a decision by her and two of her friends to no longer cover their hair in public is about more than headscarves. “This is a message for the government, leave us alone,” she said. Iran and neighboring Taliban-controlled Afghanistan are the only countries where the hijab remains mandatory for women.
Exposing the intimate parts of the body is unlawful in Islam as the Quran instructs the covering of male and female genitals, and for adult females the breasts. Exposing them is normally considered sinful. Exposing intimate parts when needed, such as going to the toilet or bathing, falls under a specific set of rules.
Under the law, “public accommodations” cannot turn you away because of your hijab or headscarf, or demand that you remove them in order to obtain goods or services.
No, you shouldn't show any hair while wearing a hijab, nor should you show your neck or any skin other than your face and hands. To wear a hijab, you need to wear your clothes modestly, making sure they're loose enough not to show your body's details.
"The Holy Quran does not mandate wearing of hijab or headgear for Muslim women. Whatever is stated in the above sūras, we say, is only directory , because of absence of prescription of penalty or penance for not wearing hijab, the linguistic structure of verses supports this view", the Court observed.
This sinful Muslim will be subject to the will of Allah in the Hereafter; if He wills He will punish him, and if He wills He will forgive him. If he enters Hell in the Hereafter, he will not abide there forever.
The experts recalled that under the current version of Iran's Islamic Penal Code, any act deemed “offensive” to public decency is punishable by 10 days to two months in prison or 74 lashes. Women seen in public without a veil could be sentenced to between 10 days and two months in prison or a fine.
Niqab: Essentially, the niqab is a veil that covers the face, but leaves the eye area uncovered. An eye veil may accompany it. Usually, it is worn with a headscarf. It is often worn by Muslim women as part of the hijab.
The hijab remains the official law in Iran. But these days, all around the country, many women are going about their business hair uncovered. It's a vivid reminder of the public uproar and anti-government protests that erupted after Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, was killed in police custody in September.
However, the dominant belief in Islam is that, not only is the consumption of alcohol in any of its forms forbidden, but Muslims should avoid even indirect association with alcohol.
Issuing the fatwa, the department has said that Islam does not permit hair cut and eye-brow threading and if a woman does this, it is against Islam. "This is included in the list of ten prohibitions for women, because hair is considered the beauty if women.
The First Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, however the current sociopolitical and legal climate has allowed for various restrictions on hijab, the headscarf worn by Muslim women.
Hijab, niqab, burka - there are lots of different kinds of coverings worn by Muslim women all over the world. Some women wear a headscarf to cover their head and hair, while others wear a burka or niqab, which also covers up their face.
a symbol of oppression; a religious identity vs. a political statement — the controversial fabric is, in fact, all the above and a bit more. The hijab remains compulsory by law in Iran and Afghanistan. In Saudi Arabia, the traditional abaya, an open gown worn over clothes, was mandatory for women until recently.
White ihram clothing is intended to make everyone appear the same, to signify that in front of God there is no difference between a prince and a pauper. Ihram also contributes to a feeling of unity that pilgrims have when they are in the city of Mecca, that they are all brothers and sisters joined to worship Allah.
Saudi men and boys, whatever their job or social status, wear the traditional dress called a thobe or thawb, which has been called the "Arabic dress". During warm and hot weather, Saudi men and boys wear white thobes. During the cool weather, wool thobes in dark colors are not uncommon.
Wearing. A man in the state of ihram must not tie any knots or wear any stitched items. Sandals and flip flops must not be stitched either and should allow the ankle and back of foot to be exposed (some other schools of thought also agree that the front of the foot must be shown as well).
In the Arab world, no shoes are allowed indoors, as the shoes' soles are seen as dirty and unsanitary. Arab Muslims are required to remove their shoes when entering a mosque, as are all adherents of Islam. While it is not mandatory in Judaism, many Israeli Jews remove their shoes at home.
Apart from covering our private parts (ideally including a woman's breasts ) and urging us to wear beautiful outfits in general, the Qur'an is neutral on clothing for women and men alike.
The keffiyeh or kufiyya (Arabic: كُوفِيَّة, romanized: kūfīyya, lit. 'relating to Kufa'), also known in Arabic as a ghutrah (غُترَة), shemagh (شُمَاغ šumāġ), or ḥaṭṭah (حَطَّة), is a traditional headdress worn by men from parts of the Middle East.
The traditional dress of Emirati men is a Dishdasha or a Kandura. This is a single-piece ankle-length garment. In their homes, they sometimes wear half-sleeved Kanduras, but formal Kanduras are always full-sleeved.
"Holding hands is the warmest expression of affection between men," said Samir Khalaf, a sociology professor at American University of Beirut in Lebanon. "It's a sign of solidarity and kinship." In fact, if a man chooses not to touch another in a greeting, it can be interpreted as a sign of distance or disdain.
Wearing a loose-fitting thobe ensures men are properly covered and modest in their attire. It also ensures that they are suitably dressed for the Islamic prayer which is read five times per day. Even in highly modernized countries such as Dubai in the UAE, the headdress is still worn by the vast majority of locals.
Among Sikhs, the turban has traditionally been worn by men, while women cover their heads with a long scarf called a chunni or dupatta. However, many Sikh women have adopted the turban as their head covering as well.
Keffiyeh— a traditional headdress of the Middle East, made of a square cloth, folded and wrapped into various styles around the head. There are many local variations of the keffiyeh. Some wearers wrap the keffiyeh into a turban, while others wear it loosely draped around the back and shoulders.
The agal, once a simple rope that doubled as a camel hobble among Arab Bedouin, now functions to hold the keffiyeh in place on the head. The gold and silk wrapped around strands of wool (originally camel hair) indicate wealth and elite status.
Kaffiyeh is used to refer to a large square head cloth, or a long rectangular head cloth, or neck scarf worn by men in the Arab world. The same term is used to refer to checkered red and white or black and white head cloths and to plain white ones.
In Hinduism, it's part of the Suhāg or lucky trousseau at marriages and is affixed to the girl's forehead on her wedding and thereafter always worn. Unmarried girls optionally wore small ornamental spangles on their foreheads. A widow was not allowed to wear bindi or any ornamentation associated with married women.
The turban protects the hair and keeps it clean. As Sikhs form 1.7% of India's population and 1.5% of Canada's population, their turbans help identify them. When he institutionalized the turban as a part of the Sikh identity, Guru Gobind Singh said, "My Sikh will be recognized among millions".
It can mean anything from "good" to "I understand." Indians who do not speak English will often rely on a head wobble to communicate with foreign tourists. The head wobble is most commonly used as a sign to show that what's being said is understood.
WHY IS A HEADDRESS IMPORTANT? The Native American headdress is a well-known symbol of strength and bravery to the indigenous people of North America. Headdresses are important because they have been worn by the most powerful and influential members of the tribe.
Some Muslim women cover their heads based on religious belief and the Islamic requirement to dress modestly. They may wear a full head covering called a hijab or a scarf over their hair. The scarf may be plain or decorated. Some Muslim men wear a skull cap called a kufi based on religious tradition.
An agal (Arabic: عِقَال; also spelled iqal, egal, or igal) is an Arab men's clothing accessory. It is a black cord, worn doubled, used to keep a ghutrah in place on the wearer's head. It is traditionally made of goat hair.
To these faithful Muslims, the hijab is not just a covering. It is a way of life. It includes the internalized qualities of modesty, chastity, and faith embodied and reflected in a symbolic garment.
As the hijab—the headscarf worn by many Muslim women—has become increasingly visible in global metropolises, it has also become increasingly politicized. Many people are surprised to learn that the hijab, in the sense of a head-covering appears nowhere in the Qur'an.
… Arab headdress has been the kaffiyeh. It is still worn today, although it may now accompany a business suit. Basically, the kaffiyeh is a square of cotton, linen, wool, or silk, either plain or patterned, that is folded into a triangle and placed upon the head so that one point…
The traditional hat that Muslim men wear is known as the Taqiyah, which is a raised and rounded skullcap. Muslim men wear this hat because they believe that Muhammad always had his head covered, making it a recommended act for members of the religion today to also cover their head.
keffiyeh or shemagh, the traditional square cotton scarf
A majority of Arab males wear a keffiyeh or shemagh. It is a traditional square cotton scarf, which they put on their heads and then hold it in place it with strong cord, known as agal .
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