Why is the burqa black?
Why is the burqa black?
This question was put to me by a foreign guest when he saw many burqa-clad women in line to buy tickets at the office of an airline. He said that since black absorbs heat, it must be awfully uncomfortable for these women in the hot, sweltering Pakistani summer. So I began to think of a reason for the burqa being black, and a couple of explanations came to mind. The first is that black is associated with the devil in all cultures and religions, and it is well known that the first woman (Eve) was persuaded by Satan to eat the forbidden fruit, after which Adam also did likewise. And among people who are illiterate, women are almost always regarded as agents of the devil, ever ready to persuade men to break the divine laws, like when a woman forces her husband to take bribes to support her extravagant lifestyle. This could be one reason why women in Islamic countries have to wear black burqas.
The other explanation is that black is the colour of mourning. Whenever someone dies, his or her relatives wear black for a number of days, even if they are Europeans or Americans. Widows in western countries also wear black, sometimes for four and half months, similar to Muslim widows observing the period of “iddat”. In Islam of course, we are aware of the wearing of black clothes during Muharram, when Muslims mourn the deaths of the grandson of the holy Prophet (pbuh).
Maybe I’m wrong, and there is another reason for the burqa being black. Perhaps someone who knows can enlighten me on this subject. I eagerly await comments.
Other posts by Shakir Lakhani
- No limit on foreign exchange taken out of Pakistan - November 12th, 2008
- Some questions about the "forex" scandal - November 11th, 2008
- Enjoying life after sixty - November 7th, 2008
- A Hussein in the White House - November 5th, 2008
- Why are poor Pakistanis always punished? - October 31st, 2008
- Pakistan's Economic Crisis: we're responsible - October 29th, 2008
- How Wall Street operates - October 23rd, 2008
- We’ll always have corruption - October 19th, 2008
- If Pakistan goes to war with United States of America - October 9th, 2008
- Killing of Christians in Secular India - October 1st, 2008
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September 19th, 2007 17:27 GMT
Didnt you ask your foreign guest why western women wear so little clothes. Since they dont cover themselves completely, “it must be awfully uncomfortable for these women in the” chilly, freezing winter.
September 20th, 2007 15:51 GMT
asalamualikum!!!!wel acordin 2 me among several other reasons de two most posible i think could be dat
black is a color dat least attracts,i mean if a woman z wearin a burqa of red or electric blue she will b noticed quickly n by large number of ppl while black dosent attracts ones eye n sch a manner.
then it dosent higlights the body structure of the wearer n a manner a colored burqa wil instead it hides ur figure.
on a lighter note black dosent get dirty quickly…de ones who wear it daily ofcorse keep n mind 2 choz a color dat dosent get stains etc quickly
November 25th, 2007 09:25 GMT
RE: GI Joe’s Comment
At least Western women CHOOSE what to wear, whereas muslim women are beaten & stoned into submission.
Anyone wearing a burqa should be deported to Saudi Arabia. Maybe then they will appreciate the freedoms of the civilized West.
December 23rd, 2007 08:11 GMT
Western women dont choose what to wear cuz they wear nothing
Where women are beaten into submission it has nothing to do with the burqa. They are a bunch of stupid cowards earning the anger and wrath of Allah (s.w.t.) oppressing women under the name of religion. However, i dont think you know how much domestic violence their is in the west. Go to your nearest library.
By the way, tons of muslim women CHOOSE to wear the burqa.
December 23rd, 2007 22:35 GMT
The burka is black but in islam their is no restriction that the colour of burka should be black. Islam tell us about Hijab that the women should do hijab it means that she should be covered completely from toe to head and the face also should not be seen by any stranger this is what islam shows us. About the colour of the burka in Afghanistan the women who wear burka is of Blue colour In some parts of the Fata area there are some colourfuls burka as well in many parts of pakistan for example yellow there are blue and some pink burkas are also there most of the arabs wear black and some have white burkas or light blue in Jordan and palestine. Burka is important for women and girls so the eye does not dare to see that women and do not make desire between two persons male and female.
August 16th, 2008 15:53 GMT
Only in european and american culture, the colour black is associated with mourning. In other cultures there is worn other colours to funerals, like in India it is white. Trying to understand customs and traditions in other cultures, you should broaden your view a bit. Also the colour black is not associated with the devil in countries where islam is the main religion.
The origin of the burka and the colour black is yet to be discovered, because it’s quite unclear. Women in the desert used to wear burkas to be protected themselves against the sand..it could be that the colour black has something to do with this also. Though islamic women are allowed to wear any colour of burka or scarf they wish. As you’ve seen in the reaction of Khan. But I think they might feel a bit too akward if they wear a bright purple burka
I think every women in the world would agree that black is the best colour for any clothing. So like western women like to wear black becoz it doesnt show your body shape as good as other colours, this could be the thinking behind the black burka. Black is just a great non-colour! And women who wear a burka, choose to wear a burka. If somebody would wear a burka against her will, believe me she wouldn’t even be able to wear a full day. You need a lot of determination to keep wearing it 
August 16th, 2008 22:58 GMT
Att: Ishya: I think it’s because black clothes don’t get dirty very quickly. I myself wear black trousers three or four times before sending them to the laundry. In the hot weather, white clothes can’t be worn more than once.