You've all see these. Better yet, you've seen the women draped in sheets at the mosque. Now, I get using a "sheet" when you are not dressed appropriately for prayer but why use it when you are in an abaya? Isn't that traditionally what one prays in anyway?
Or better yet, why do we need to make sure we are in extra flowy clothing while praying at all? No men are around anyway and most likely the women in Muhammad's time just prayed in their regular clothes. So what is the purpose behind it? I've asked a few women and all they can give me is blank stares because, in the end, they don't actually know why (I'm getting "I don't know" from the people at school a lot lately). I've gotten that its to make sure we are praying in something clean while being in front of our Lord. Ok that I can accept, even I throw an abaya on while I'm home for that reason. But if that is the case then shouldn't it be something nice like an abaya and not a sheet? If we are going back to the idea that we are being clean and presentable for an audience with God then shouldn't we wear something nice? I think so.
I can't stand the sheets. They are so hard to pray in. I won't wear one at school (I wear abaya anyway) but so many of the women will, even with abayas. Maybe it gives them privacy in group prayer I don't know. But no one has been able to adequately explain it.
Anyone here know? Is there a reason that all prayer garments look like bed sheets?
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For me it's the patterns they put on them that make it so bad. If it was just a solid color, or maybe not such a dorky little dotty pattern...
ReplyDeleteBut, looking at that picture, that one seems sort of like a...sack. I've seen some pictures where it's in two pieces. An abaya-esque part, and then a very long khimar part.
Like this:
http://www.hijabgirl.com/po1012.html
This one's the least fugly one I've seen.
As for what the point is? Beats me. I thought that they were for, like you said, if your clothing wasn't 'proper hijab' - say you're at home and prayer time comes, and you're wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Throw on the prayer outfit, and you're all set. But, of course, the same effect can be reached with an abaya/scarf. At least that's my understanding. But I'm interested to see if anyone knows the real answer.
It's to be one size fits all, so they can sell them out quickly and make sure every woman fits.
ReplyDeleteI only use my prayer outfit when I'm at home and in something I would never wear outside. It's an easy cover-up. (: However, the scarf on mine likes to slip off my head when I move. Bleh.
In my humble opinion, I was always under the impression that those prayer outfits were meant for using inside the house. When it comes time for prayer, you just slip the outfit over whatever you're wearing (which, in the privacy of your house, could be just about anything, or maybe even nothing :) ) and you're all set. I have one of those prayer outfits and while it is extremely ugly and totally unacceptable to wear outside without looking like a hot mess, it is extremely convenient when I'm just lounging around my room and don't want to put on "real" clothes. If someone prefers to wear an abaya or jilbab while praying, that is perfectly fine, and I agree that since prayer is such a special time it's better to look nice than to throw on a sack, even if the sack offers the right coverage.
ReplyDeleteActually, I was looking up what women should wear in prayer, and while it is reprehensible (makruh) to do so, the prayer is still valid if a woman wears pants and a khimar. Basically as long as all the awrah is covered, even if the shape is showing, and a khimar is worn, the prayer is valid. This is for praying at home though; in a masjid one should wear more modest clothes that conceal the shape since there are so many other people around. But if you're at home and in a hurry, you can pray with pants, a long sleeved shirt, and a headscarf and know that your prayer is valid, Alhamdulillah.
Its a good idea to have when you're at home and not dressed to pray. When coming to the masjid though, it seems like you would be at least fairly modestly dressed, and just need to throw on a scarf. Most of the masjids I have been to had extra presewn khimars, but didn't have full prayer outfits there.
ReplyDeleteWhoa! I've never one of these before! Guess they're not famous my part of the world! Im guessing it must be manufacturing a lot out there and ppl might have taken to it cuz of convenience as mentioned by ppl above..
ReplyDeleteBut yea, its weird to wear it out! Do a lotta ppl wear it outside?!? Funny i never knew abt this..so im guessing its just cultural... As these clothes are only used during prayer time, they're usually nice and clean, so they might come in handy!
I wear a huge huge headscarf which is kinda specially made for prayer, but it ends at my waist..and im usually in pants or a shalwar for the bottom!
I dont knw...i find the pic kinda cuteee! LOL
Tehee we actually have a whole bucket of these at the mosque and sheets, actual sheets, for the women to use in the mosque. Maybe its because most women do not wear abaya that they make them available? Ive seen girls use them with abaya though, its so strange.
ReplyDeleteehhh...sheets on abayas!?!
ReplyDeleteWeird...
Legit sheets? That is pretty strange. Is there a large population of Iranians at your masjid? They might be chadors, which can look a lot like sheets. But even so, wearing that over a jilbab and khimar seems really unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteIt seems useless to wear it over an abaya! I've never seen it used that way though. I have one I use at home and I find it convenient, even if it really is ugly! I usually would rather get an abaya and take the extra step of a separate scarf with pins just to be more presentable but this works well and definitely covers well!
ReplyDeleteIn Egypt, my husband's cousin would put one on too, only at home, and his mom has a khimar she uses only to pray at home. I think it's a convenient tradition to have a certain garment that is used for prayer at home.
School's mosque is Iranian, other one is Koja (Indian?) and Pakistani. They are legit sheets, with flowers LOL.
ReplyDeleteIts so weird O_O
I have a kimar for at home too. The pull over your head scarf that is no work then I just use a button abaya and button the top button so it stays on.
i have a few of these for at home
ReplyDeleteI would never wear them outside, but I have seen people bring them to the masjid if they will be there for along time without their jilbab and khimar on.
Out masjid is also our community center, so upstairs the women often "de-hijab" and walk around, then when it is time to pray, we throw the sheets on.
I find it more convenient to pray in these because you KNOW it is clean, while your abaya has been out and around outside and might have picked up something.
NeverEver: Hmmm maybe thats it. That makes some sense at least.
ReplyDeleteI loooove them actually. They are more like chadors though, not sheets (although I get the similarities hehe).
ReplyDeleteFor me, it's because I used to hate putting on abaya then finding an extra long hijab, etc etc, so I wear that to pray at home. Mine is more like a massive sheet with a small cut out for the head hahah! I think they're pretty cute >.<
Anyway, to me they're a special item reserved for prayer. I wouldn't wear them outside the house, unless it was culturally normal to do so.
Ellen: No really the ones at my mosque are sheets. really, truly sheets. The women tie them or pin them to keep them on!
ReplyDeleteYeah I see what you mean about having an item special for prayer. Maybe I will make one after all....I just don't want to wear a sheet! lol
BTW Do men have to throw something clean on before they pray? Oh I bet they don't!
ReplyDeleteI don't think women really have to cover like that either but it's only a good habit to be as clean as possible. I know some men who have good habits like that too, but they don't have to cover quite as much...
ReplyDeleteCadice: haha men never have to do "Quite as much" although I have a lot of respect for those that make small efforts, even if it is in only their actions and not their dress.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I know, everyone (men, women, and kids) need to be in a state of wudu and in clean clothes before they pray. If a guy comes back from his construction job, he needs to change out of his nasty sweaty shirt and pants and put something clean on. I wouldn't want to stand before ALLAH when my clothes are sticking to me from all the sweat.
ReplyDeleteAnd I totally know what you mean about not wanting to pray in a straight-up sheet. Sheets are for beds, not for wearing. :P
It also seems kind of degrading that the masjid just gathered bedsheets and put them out for women to wear. What, we're not good enough to get actual robes or long skirts (they can get the more complete prayer outfits, i.e. skirt and khimar, for pretty cheap, or they can ask women to donate old ones so they don't have to use sheets).
ReplyDeleteAnne: Most of these masjids are pretty poor aka no money. Im sure that is why. And 95% of the women will not come in an abaya. The Pakistani/Indian mosque they always wear shalwar kameez. The Iranian one they will wear Chadoor. I find those to be kinda weird...they remind me of the scary women in Persepolis. But even in Chadoor, they use a sheet.
ReplyDeleteLol, the scary pasdar in Persepolis. Best book series/movie ever. <3
ReplyDeleteYou're right, most masjids are lacking in funds. I should have been more sympathetic in my comment, Astaghfirullah. It would be nice, though, if they did have money and could buy real prayer clothes for women (and men too--thobes and kufis or turbans).
When I went to the mosque, there were few women who wore prayer garments. Most just wore abayas and scarves, and that sufficed.
ReplyDeleteLol Anne "sheets are for beds" :-P
ReplyDeleteI dunno why they would wear them if they were already wearing abaya though... lol still kinda weird, but whatever makes them comfy I guess
These sheets are used in the Arab world only to be used inside homes only for praying or in mosques for women who don't wear hijab. Inside their homes Arab women wear clothes that don't cover their legs or arms and so a sheet is necessary and in mosques women like me who don't wear hijab use these sheets instead of carrying one around with us.
ReplyDeleteBut no one wears them over abaya. I never heard that before.