What is Hijab?

Hijab - is a piece of cloth used to cover the head of a Muslim Woman Is also called "Khumur".

Khumur is the plural of Arabic word "Khimar", which means head cover. This means that the head cover should be drawn over the neck and to be extended so as to cover the bosom. 

It was stated on the Holy Qur'an that the believing woman should wear hijab to protect modesty and purity, and should no be molested.

"And say to the believing woman, that they lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husband sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right posses, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And Oh ye Believers! turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss."

[Surah Al-Nur, 4:31]

"O Prophet! tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing woman, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

[Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:59]

Prohpet Muhammad (SAW) say:

"If the woman reaches the age of puberty, no (parts of her body) should be seen but this - and he pointed to his face and hands."

All parts of a woman's body is "Awrah" It should be covered all the time. "Awrah" refers to the part of the body that should be cover at all time unless there is an excemption. The covering of "Awrah" is also a condition for the validity of prayers.