IN PROGRESS: Types of Niqab

The simplest type of niqab is the half niqab. It is a single square of fabric that is usually affixed by a string tie or an elastic that secures it across the face. It is usually worn under a hijab (square or an oblong shalya) or a gashwa/boushiya, and a vast array of colours are sold online. I like this style of niqab for the simple fact that it comes in same crazy shades (women in Morroco like to rock a bright coloured half niqab with their hooded djellaba pinned on top), but the elastic ones often stretch out so I prefer the tie ones. Also, a hijab cap can be worn to cover the eyebrows, since they have no coverage with the hijab itself usually. http://www.al-mujalbaba.com/12faceniqaab.html and http://www.hijabgirl.com/sn1002.html and http://www.sunnahstyle.com/index.php?cName=niqabs-half-niqabs
Another style of niqab is the band niqab (sometimes erringly referred to as burqa). This niqab has a band that is tied (or velcroed) behind the head and across the brow, covering the eyebrows. It may or may not come with a nose string but I neglected to show a picture of the band niqab with a nose string in my collage so I've posted one below the collage. Attached to the band is a single face covering layer of fabric, sometimes with a decorative top layer affixed to it.This is one of the oldest forms of niqab in continuous use by the Beduoin in many places in the world. I like it in the Gulf. It can slip though, if the hijab is not worn low enough, so be careful with this. It can come in other colours than black. http://www.al-mujalbaba.com/gefufaninosc.html and http://www.sunnahstyle.com/index.php?cName=niqabs-1piece-niqabs and http://caravanxpress.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi?CMD=011&PROD=1116104842 .
The next style is the flip niqab. My mother-in-law from Saudi and I here in Canada, both like this style of niqab. It consists of a band varying in width that secures behind the head, and a layer to cover the face, and a top layer (or layers) that can be thrown behind the head or worn down to cover the eyes. This style of niqab may or may not come with a nose string. It is the most widely used style because it is practical for eating and drinking and has the most coverage. I prefer a nose string to keep the band from slipping into my eyes, but I think most styles can be worn modestly and beautifully. I don't like the ones with mesh over the eyes (I prefer shayla fabric) cuz then one can kinda get this sci-fi scary fly look. Niqab is supposed to be modest, not scary... They do come in colours other than black, black, brown, olive and beige being the most common though. http://www.rayannesdesign.com/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,899/category_id,32/manufacturer_id,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,44/
and http://www.sunnahstyle.com/index.php?cName=niqabs-2piece-niqabs

A very popular niqab to style for stylish young women in the Gulf is the boushiya (known also as ghashwa). This is what my sister-in-law in Saudi wears, and Aalia in the UAE. This is a light airy breathable confection of fabric that usually worn entirely over the face resembling a bridal veil, consisting of fabric that flips down in layers to blur the facial features. They CAN become see-through though in direct sunlight, so outdoors in the daytime they are often worn with an elastic half niqab. When wearing the ghashwa with an elastic half niqab, one can also style the gashwa back so that your eyes are showing to make it look like you are wearing some special kind of niqab style. This is how Aalia sometimes wears it http://a-canadian-in-uae.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-video-tutorial-how-to-wear-ghashwa.html. I can't guarantee the quality of these but here goes http://ridaalkibriya.safewebshop.com/boushiya.html and http://caravanxpress.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi?CMD=009&DEPT=1087214356&CAT=1116719627&SUBCAT=1116719800&BACK=A0008A1B01087214356B1C01116719627C1

Cultural Hijab is Just a Scarf

P.S All, I had to remove the second pic because I didn't know it was copy-righted. Sorry Yas, I didn't know it was copy-righted. I didn't read the sidebar because generally when I visit, I am going, when I saw the site, called Hijabs-High, I saw very little hijab, and just a little scarf. If it was called "Scarf-Style" I wouldn't be in a virtual tizzy:D

The intentions of the site are sweet, to share hijab style with the rest of us, and many of the styles inspire, even if they are not Islamic, but they also confuse, if one labels them "hijab". If hijab to one is just a scarf then it is actually called "khimar" but hijab is much more than just a khimar. And khimar has to cover certain parts of the body including the chest or it just isn't Islamic khimar. When I was a new Muslim, I thought alot of things were okay to wear that are not, simply because Muslimahs wore them. Islamic hijab is allowed to be stylish, but it still has to follow what the Qu'ran and the Prophet Mohammed sallalahu allahi wa salaam said about it.

Here is the pic I had posted http://hijabshigh.blogspot.com/2009/04/st-edmunds-college-cambridge.html(tights, skinny jeans, and boots and skirt, are not hijab---no ifs or ands about it). You can wear these things under your hijab, but not as hijab. I am tempted to take a picture of it, because the girl's style is REALLY REALLY cute, but the bottom half of her body is Islamically clothed-but-naked. (I TOTALLY wore this sort of outfit out before I converted to Islam). And If I took a picture of a picture, it isn't copyrighted. The face of the Mona Lisa is everywhere even though the postcard is owned by the Musuem for a reason. But, too much effort. If the girl was only wearing a skirt or even wide leg trousers I wouldn't even bring it up. But I wanted to because she is so close and yet so far. My Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala accept her intentions.

Anonymous, I don't post anonymous comments since I require anonymous users to read the comment box before commenting and it says that there:D On these posts I am not picking on the girls. I am aware, many girls might wear hijab (a scarf---not actually hijab) to please someone other than Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala: their family, men, or their country. That is wrong because then, as I said, it is just a scarf, and not a hijab at all, if it is not worn for the sake of Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala, in the way precribed by Him, sometimes explained by His messenger. Also, I acknowledge, that maybe the girl's don't have the proper knowledge. Nowadays we are bombarded by so many faux-fatwas that correct hijab can be difficult for the person that does not use the sunnah for guidance. I and many others are posting this online, that skirts with tights and knee length boots do not constitute anything accepted by Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala because it does not meet the requirement of modest, loose fitting, opaque clothing, that show nothing but the face and hands, and in one madhab, the feet. This is from the authentic sunnah. Read this post for the daleel http://beyoutifulhijabi.blogspot.com/2009/05/hijab-rehab-this-is-not-hijab.html

Again, cultural (or fashion for the sake of fashion rather than fashion for the sake of Islam) is just a scarf.

Hijab Accessory: Flower Pins

Jana over at Hijab Style recently posted about flower pins as a hijab accessory. I DO really love this Turkish bridal style, but, well, it's not hijab, it's a headscarf. But looking at it, I was thinking, I coul TOTALLY ROCK that style with a niqab. I sometimes wear my flip niqab the side. It blows that way anyway since I am almost always losing my top stick pin by the end of the day (to the hazard of people everywhere---sorry Boxie's Mom for the pins I left in your airmcahir and habibi for the crystal encrusted hijab pin that impaled your fancy new sneaks). Anyways, I'd just sort of flip the niqab a little to the side and then slide a brooch or flower pin in as if I was wearing it at my ear. Makes a black niqab less scary to non-muslims who might not know whether I am a funeral-goer or not (cuz I love my black abayas and shaylas and niqabs). To me, it is very flamenco.

i love these gloves

I love to wear gloves (purely as a fashion accessory). I don't think they have ANYTHING to do with hijab of the sunnah. To me, they really ARE a cultural thing, but I don't look down on anyone who claims to be wearing them for Islamic purposes, because hey, I think gloves are pretty. Alot of the Turkish hijab styles use them to great effect. I'd pair these pink ones with light pinks, golds, pastel shades of yellow, and of course black. From http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=FOREVER21&category%5Fname=acc%5Fscarf%5Fgloves&product%5Fid=1061185742&Page=all for $6.80 USD.

Look Alikes: Paisley Hijab

Paisley Scarf for $6.80 USD

http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=FOREVER21&category%5Fname=acc%5Fscarf%5Fgloves&product%5Fid=1059813827&Page=all#

How to wrap a shayla as niqab video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUU9j53kQDs&feature=related

How to wear a two-toned niqab video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGw-FfbLYXM&feature=related

Dear sisters, I do recommend you do this style with a pashmina a light non-see-through shayla instead of piece of see-through lace because the Prophet sallalahu allahi wa sallam did say that see through clothing was to be one of reasons women would be in Jahanum (hell). Much love to ya`ll for the sake of Allah subhanhu wa ta`ala!

****In the video this sister mentions make-up being halal. This sister is correct, the Prophet`s wives did wear eye-liner, but not mascara (the Prophet sallalhu alahi wa salaam never went on about the health benefits of mascara-he did with kohl), so it is halal to wear kohl since one of the companions was also of the opinion that this was allowed to show on a woman, but remember, they did not line their eyes into cat`s eyes, they applied the kohl to the inner rim of their eyes, and when they left their home, they only had one eye showing, not two, in their jilbab, may Allah be pleased with them. They pulled the jilbab so it covered everything of their bodies but what was necessary to see the way. On the status of daleel, it is halal to wear, but safer not to is the consensus of the ulema. Allah subhanhu wa ta `ala knows best. I personally feel fine with modest make up, since some of the companions were of the opinion that this was allowed to show. Others were not, so both opinions to me are valid. Crazy party sexy make up make-up though, ruins the WHOLE point of hijab, so bear that in mind.