Welcome to Gaia! ::

For reasons of personal preference and modesty I'm interested in purchasing a niqab. For reasons of upbringing and area of living, I have no clue where to begin. If any of you fine Gaians would be willing to help someone in need, I'd very much appreciate it.

I'd like a black niqab that can potentially cover the eyes, and I'd prefer it be on the less expensive side. Any links to stores that can provide this would be wonderful.

Thank you in advance.

Unless you want the niqab to be fully opaque, the one you've chosen is probably your best bet. I've seen others that aren't even the least bit sheer. Try here for other types, styles, and fabrics:

http://www.alhannah.com/niqab.html
http://www.almuhajabat.com/isapi/isapi.dll?search2 (half-face only)
http://www.jelbab.com/search.asp

Also look here for some good advice about veil buying and wearing:

http://www.modernmuslima.com/niqabhow.htm

I agree. It's amazing how much information you can find if you're willing to look for it and dig out the useful stuff from the chaff. smile Good luck, Dis!

Welcome, Zenama! Which style of hijab do you like best? I'm fond of the al-amira style -- it doesn't slip off as easily as most other styles. I do have a one-piece slip-over hijab that came with my workout gear from http://www.primomoda.com but the thing slips up and back and exposes the top/front of my hair. I hate that. I also like plain scarves tied like Grace Kelly in Roman Holiday, if that's the right movie that I'm thinking of.

I'm Jewish, but the Muslim style of head/hair covering is better for me because it doesn't slip off as easily, and keeps my neck warmer. I wear it in the wintertime that way to keep warmer, but in the summertime I'm sort of glad that Jewish law permits me to expose my neck.

There are a multiplicity of head covering styles. As a Jew, I can wear a hat, snood, scarf, cap, or (in some Jewish sub-communities) even a wide headband. That's because the Jewish commandment is "kisui rosh," which translates to "cover the head." ANYTHING that covers the head in ANY way is kosher, though some communities go more stringent. Also, our head covering is only required after a woman is married; and the majority of communities allow a woman who's divorced or widowed to uncover her hair again, to let it be known that she's single. (My community, Sephardim of North African Jewish tradition, ask that a woman who is or has been[/i[ married must keep all of her head hair hidden; she can keep her eyebrows revealed, along with ears and neck. In fact, if we cover our necks, some in our community will ask, "Are you a Jew or a Muslim?" (I often do cover my neck and ears in the winter because I'm cold, and in the summer because I sunburn easily; there's always someone who's going to confront me about it. I remind them that in all times and places, Jews have continued to cover themselves -- in the style of the surrounding culture -- and that the style is up to the individual woman.)

As a Muslim, if I understand it correctly, one must also cover the ears as well as the front and back of the neck. Some also insist that the eyebrows be covered or mostly covered; and some also include the niqab, which covers everything but the eyes. Of course, there are an amazing variety of ways to tie a scarf or shawl, so there are always more ways to play with the look and create different styles.