Today the veil as worn by women has become synonymous with Islam in the Western mind. Veil is an English word that does little to accurately describe the diverse character of coverings worn by women and occasionally men in Islam. Guindi, in her book “Veil”, suggests that Islamic veils could be separated into three categories: head covers, face covers, and body covers; however, these further categorizations do little to show the differences in what is worn, how, by whom, and who it is worn in front of. Regional and cultural differences, fabric types, and uses have led to a multitude of Arab words to describe the garment in question. A veil might cover the head only, or the head and shoulders; may be drawn across the face to veil the mouth, may consist of multiple pieces, or may cover the entire body.
There are several common terms relating to veils that have entered the English vernacular. The Hijab, which also means modesty, is a veil that covers head and neck, or sometimes just the head. The Niqaab also covers face with either mesh over the eyes or eye-holes, and the Afghan Burka covers the entire body with only mesh over the eyes to see through (Ahmadiyya Muslim Community). However, even these terms have been co-opted from a specific use within specific cultures to more general use, and run the risk of lumping vast regional and cultural differences together under one definition.
It is important to note that the use of shawls, veils, headscarves and other coverings is not restricted to Islam, and did not originate within Islam; rather, various types of cultures have used various types of head, face, and body coverings for numerous reasons for thousands of years. Modern examples that a Western viewer would be familiar with include the Habits of Catholic nuns, modern Western brides, and head coverings worn by Jewish women during prayer. Historically, veiling has been used to denote status, for religious reasons, and for modesty.