Why do women in the Arab world wear black abayas?

For most women in the Middle East, the abaya symbolizes respect, dignity, modesty, and is a simple and comfortable garment that is in line with Islamic teachings. They wear it over their everyday dress when they go out, writes Nabila for I love Qatar.

The abaya was also common in pre-Islamic times, worn to protect the body from heat and sand. It keeps the body cool in the summer heat and protects from the winds in the winter. The abaya is complemented by a headscarf called a sheila or hijab. Some women also wear a niqab , which covers both the head and face. This is mainly a matter of personal choice or tradition.

Although there are abayas of different colors, the most common are black. What is the reason for this? There are even legends about it.

Merchant and poet

As the legend goes, during the Abbasid era, a few decades after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), a merchant brought a large collection of headscarves of different colors from Persia or Iraq to Medina. He managed to sell all of them except the black ones.

Wanting to sell his wares, the merchant went to a famous poet of the time named Darimi and asked him to write a poem for him that would make women buy up his scarves. The poet fulfilled his request, creating the following lines:

Tell me, beauty in a black veil,

What have you done to the pious worshipper?

He was rolling up his sleeves, preparing for prayer, when you stopped him at the door of the mosque.

You stole his religion and confidence from him and left him confused, without guidance…

In no time, stories spread throughout Medina about a believer who had changed his pious way of life because of a woman dressed in black, whose beauty and the mystery that surrounded her had smitten him.

When a market vendor began shouting these verses, many women rushed to his stall, eager to buy black scarves. In the blink of an eye, they were sold out!

From that day on, according to legend, women in the Arab world began to prefer black abayas and head coverings. Over the centuries, the tradition has not changed and continues to this day.

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Black goats

There is another legend on this topic. In ancient times, when life was simple and resources were limited, women had to create their outfits from whatever was available. Since black goats were often kept then , abayas were made from their wool. Over time, this became a tradition.

Legends are legends, but there are very practical reasons why women prefer black abayas.

Reason 1: Convenience

Black fabric is generally less translucent than other colors, so even in bright light, the contours of the body will not be visible through clothing of this color.

Reason 2: Local traditions

Black abayas have been worn in the Middle East for hundreds of years, and many Muslim women adhere to the traditions they grew up with and are accustomed to.

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Reason 3: Invisibility

According to Islamic teachings, women should not wear clothes that draw attention to them. Since most women wear black clothes, a colored abaya stands out, and for those who want to remain inconspicuous, a black abaya is the best choice.

Reason 4: Relief from the heat

Although black absorbs more heat, studies have shown that it allows for better air convection under clothing in the summer heat. Therefore, a woman in a black abaya feels as comfortable as a man in a white thobe (a long men's shirt that covers the arms, neck and entire body).

Reason 5: Fashion

Another reason that cannot be ignored is that black is always in fashion. Not only does it look elegant, but it also makes the figure look slimmer. For women, this is a pretty good reason.