A Look Inside and Outside Abaya

O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters, and the women of the faithful, to draw their wraps over them. They will thus be recognised and no harm will come to them. God is forgiving and kind.

                                                                                                             Quran 33:59

“Going to Saudi? Oh, my God! You’ll have to wear Burqa there...”

“Oh my God, I can’t imagine you in that unhygienic attire. You’ll be stinking in that black dress in the desert.”

“See, Saudi is quite a mad country. You will have to clad completely in Burqa. When you are outside, you can show only your eyes. Even for going from one apartment to another in the same building, you’ll have to wear Burqa. They’ll make such a fuss even if a strand of your hair is shown outside.”

“Better wear black Salwar Kameez with long sleeves when you go to Saudi. Cover you head with the scarf. Ask your husband to bring Burqa to the airport. They’ll detain you otherwise.”

When my travel plans from India to Saudi Arabia was on, these were some instructions given to me by people who had been to or heard about Saudi Arabia. Even I, who had browsed about the country that I was going to live for some years, was horrified with this bit of knowledge. As per instructions, I clad myself in black Salwar Kameez with long sleeves and set forth with all apprehensions. I had also insisted that my husband should bring Burqa to the airport.

Sreejith came with the family friends Appuetan (Thrivikraman) and Sudeep to receive me at the King Khalid international Airport. All along my time at the airport, I felt that people were staring at me for not wearing Burqa. Appuetan and Sudeep shunned away my fears. They were in Riyadh for more than 10 years and assured that there is no need to wear Abaya on the way to and back from international travels.

My fears were not completely annihilated. I was arguing with Sreejith for not buying  the head scarf and face cover (later I learnt that their names are niqāb and hijab respectively), when another family friends came in.  The woman in the gang assured me that you have to wear only Burqa as mandatory. You can wear the shawl in the neck unless or until the Mutaween spot you and ask you to cover the hair. Still, that’s not dangerous since they won’t talk to you directly but only to your husband. You never have to wear niqāb and hijab by rule.  Keerthi also updated me that in Saudi Arabia, Burqa is referred as ‘Abaya.’ 

Honestly I didn’t trust her words completely. But the same evening, we went to the super market for shopping. That very first evening in Riyadh, I started to love Abaya and realized some of its advantages. The sand storm was in its strength when we stepped out from the car. The long cloak protected our body and without anyone’s instruction or demand, we automatically covered our head and face. I sense that in the old days, Abaya must have worn by native women to protect themselves from these sand storms, which are frequent in the desert.

Inside the mall, I found out many women in Abayas and without niqāb and hijab. Soon, I got used with the garment and many months passed without any hassle about Abaya.  As of visiting the friends in the same apartment, we never concerned about wearing Abaya. Even the Islamic women from India roamed around freely in the house dress in our apartment building.

As time went I found Abaya really useful whenever I have to go the nearby department store. Imagine yourself going to the department store in your cotton pants and house T-shirt. It is possible only under the protection of Abaya. Also, I remember the time, when I had the severe rheumatic attack and could go out just by putting the Abaya around my nightdress.  Soon, Abaya made me forget about my costume selection whenever I have to go out!

Since Abaya plays a main role in Saudi, there are some Abaya stores in the country set out to create trends in these garments too. There are many designer Abayas that are quite expensive and worth a catch. The designer Abayas might entice even those who argue against it. I was quite stunned by the hues and designs on the black garment on my first visit to an Abaya shop. They come in various materials too. When it’s prohibited for Muslim women to shape their Abayas, others can do so! Also, anyone can go and stitch Abayas in accordance to their body shape too. Normally Abaya appear in black colour, but I’ve spotted some women wearing the colourful ones too. 

During our shopping extravaganzas, we found that there is a special detergent especially available to wash Abaya. The Abaya cleaner with the soothing scent became our favourite not only for Abayas but for all our black dresses.  The feeling was so fresh to wear the Abayas after a wash in this detergent.

Yet, it would be untrue if I tell that I never missed the times without Abayas. Continues