Burqa facts for kids

Women with a burqa and a child, in Afghanistan

A woman with a burqa, with man and child, in Northern Afghanistan

A burqa is a special type of clothing. It is worn by some Muslim women. It covers their entire body from head to toe. The burqa usually has a small mesh screen in front of the eyes. This screen lets the woman see out, but it keeps her face fully covered.

Other clothes that Muslim women wear include the hijab and the niqab. The hijab covers the head and chest. The niqab covers the whole face except for the eyes. Sometimes, people mistakenly call the hijab or niqab a 'burqa'. It's good to know the right names for these different garments.

What the Quran Says

The Quran is the holy book of Islam. It does not specifically say that women must cover their faces with a veil. It also does not say they must wear a full-body burqa.

Burqas Around the World

In some countries, wearing a burqa in public places is not allowed. For example, in France, Italy, and the Netherlands, it is against the law to wear a burqa where everyone can see you.

Images for kids

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  Women wearing traditional Afghan burqas in Afghanistan

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  An old carving from the Temple of Bel in Syria. It shows veiled women from the Middle East, made around 1st century CE.

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  A Coptic Orthodox Christian woman wearing a head covering in 1918.

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  A Chadaree (another name for burqa) being sold in Afghanistan.

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  Local Afghan women wearing burqas on a street in 2009.

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  Women wearing burqas of different colors in Afghanistan in 1975.

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  A member of the Haredi burqa sect in Meah Shearim, Israel.

See also

In Spanish: Burka para niños