In Prophet Mohammad’s time, abayas were called “khimar” and were compulsory for all women. Again, the idea was to guard women’s bodies from the gazes of strange men. It is written in the ...

In Arab countries, the abaya is known by many names, such as Jalaba, Jalabiya, Omani and Qaftan, but it is basically a simple and loose garment - often black in colour - worn by women in the ...