How to Pronounce niqab

Meaning and Context

The niqab (نِقَاب) is a specific form of Islamic face veil that covers the entire face, leaving only a narrow opening for the eyes. It is worn by some Muslim women as an extension of the broader concept of hijab, which encompasses principles of modesty, privacy, and moral conduct in Islam. The practice finds its roots in interpretations of religious texts and scholarly traditions, varying significantly across different Islamic cultures and schools of thought, from the Gulf region to parts of South Asia and North Africa. As a visible symbol of faith, the niqab is deeply intertwined with personal religious identity and devotion, yet it frequently occupies a contentious space in global discourse. It sparks complex debates at the intersection of women's agency, religious freedom, and secular laws, particularly in Western countries where bans on face coverings in public spaces have been enacted. These discussions often grapple with themes of cultural expression, integration, and the politics of visibility, making the niqab a potent garment loaded with both spiritual significance and socio-political weight.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The standard and most widely recognized transliteration from Arabic is "niqab." A common alternative spelling is "niqaab," which uses a double 'a' to more emphatically represent the long vowel sound in the original Arabic. Frequent misspellings and typos include "nigab," "niqap," "nikaab," and "nicab." These errors often arise from phonetic guessing or confusion with other terms like "hijab." It is also sometimes incorrectly conflated with the "burqa," which is a distinct garment that covers the entire face with a mesh screen over the eyes. Another point of confusion is the plural form; while "niqabs" is commonly accepted in English, the Arabic plural is "naqab" (نُقُب). Ensuring correct spelling is important for respectful discourse and accurate information retrieval.

Example Sentences

While visiting Cairo, she observed that the style of niqab varied, with some women wearing a two-piece version that included a separate headscarf and face veil.

The decision to wear the niqab is often a deeply personal one, reflecting an individual's interpretation of Islamic modesty.

Public debates about banning the niqab in European legislatures frequently center on conflicting values of security and religious liberty.

Scholars of contemporary Islamic practice note that the niqab has become a focal point for discussions on identity in diaspora communities.

Her research paper explored the historical precedents for face-veiling in pre-Islamic Middle Eastern societies, providing context for the modern niqab.

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