Religions and Beliefs/ Contents

Islamic dress

Siti Zainon Ismail

When the Malays converted to Islam, there arose the need to define a manner of dress that adhered to the requirements of Islam. As a result, the clothing of both men and women was modified so that it covered the aurat (the parts of the body that should not be exposed in public). Middle Eastern influences can be seen from the traditional kebaya to the popularity of the ankle-length Arab-style robe called jubah. In recent years, it has become a trend among Muslim women in Malaysia to wear a headscarf commonly called the tudung.

  • Information in the full article includes
  • Islamic influence in traditional Malay dress
  • Covering the aurat
  • The jubah
  • The sarong
Tudung

As Muslim women in Malaysia first become concious of the Islamic requirements with regard to the female aurat, the tudung or scarf became increasingly popular.