Qoran Shenakht

Given the abundance of various garments available in the women's clothing market, and the inherent human inclination toward selection and preference for the superior, the question arises for veiled and hijab-observant women: What constitutes the superior form of hijab, and what are its distinguishing characteristics? Which garment possesses these features, and which is preferable for the selection of Islamic hijab? Imam Khomeini—may God's mercy be upon him—and certain maraji' al-taqlīd (sources of emulation) have identified the Iranian chador as the superior form of hijab. Nevertheless, the question remains: What are the criteria and standards by which the superior hijab is determined, through which characteristics is it recognized, and why is the chador deemed superior? The present article, with the aim of addressing these questions, examines the superior form of hijab from the perspective of the Quran and arrives at the conclusion that the superior hijab is one that is thick, loose, long, and simple; in general, the more comprehensively and effectively it conceals a woman's adornment from the gaze of non-mahram men, the more it conforms to the ideal.