Saturday, August 3, 2013

General Information On Middle Eastern Turbans

By Cathy Mercer


A turban is an important accessory for societies in the Middle Eastern countries where Islam is the predominant religion. It has been worn for a long time for cultural, religious and customary reasons. Today, many Muslims wrap it as a way of preserving their culture. The many stereotypes and misconceptions that have emerged concerning this attire have not discouraged them. Middle Eastern turbans are available in different colors and materials.

It is a long and slender piece of cloth that is wrapped around the head. The wrapping can be in different ways. Individuals choose a particular style or color to suit the mood of the event being attended. Those that are brightly colored are suitable for colorful events such as parties and weddings. They are embellished with additional jewelry and fabrics to make them more attractive. During funerals and other sad occurrences individuals wear plain and wraps of muted colors.

There is no defined design or color for these wraps. Some of the colors that are widely seen include navy blue, black, white, orange and green. In Islam, white and green signify the color of paradise. Different materials are adopted in the designs in order to make them affordable as well as cater for the varied tastes and preferences. The widely used materials are synthetics, cotton, fine muslin and silk. They are fashionable regardless of the material used.

The different colors and designs signify the various sects and social classes in these societies. Muslim religious scholars and leaders wear white wraps. Individuals believed to be direct descendants of Prophet Muhammad wear black ones. Green headgears are common in Saudi Arabia where they are worn for business meetings and during prayers. The predominant color in Egypt, Libya and Sudan is white.

In this region men have two main options which are Amamah and Keffiyeh. These turbans are wrapped in different ways and are made using different materials. They are used for similar functions.

Traditionally, they signify self-respect and royalty. It is considered to be a modest way of dressing that signifies devotion, self-respect, manhood among other values. Tall and pleated headgears symbolize wealth and prosperity. The Quran requires Muslims to wear these wraps as way of emulating Prophet Muhammad.

It is imperative for Muslim women to cover their heads and faces. In the Middle East, women wear the turban hijab for this purpose. It is worn in public places and when attending celebratory occasions such as parties and weddings. It is used in other parts of the world as a means of fashionably covering the head during hair loss.

Middle Eastern turbans serve different purposes in this region besides the role they play in Islam. They serve as shawls to disguise or cover the face. Travellers in deserts use them as makeshift pillows. The climate in the desert is extremely harsh. They therefore shield the face from the effect of the dust caused by wind. Some communities use them as weapons to fight enemies. They are also used in fetching water from wells and in filtering drinking water. Others use them to transport goods from one area to another.




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