Not all Muslim women wear abaya
Given that many Muslim women don’t wear abaya as everyday dress, and some may not own one at all, why does the challenge ask participants to wear it regardless of their usual practice?
Answer
It’s well understood that abaya is no longer as universal a choice as it once was; we have daughters whose chosen attire is a tracksuit, neighbours who prefer salwar kameeze, colleagues who prefer a smart suit.
Even so, participants are asked to wear abaya for this challenge specifically, regardless of what they’d normally choose to wear.
This isn’t meant to suggest one form of modest dress is superior to another; rather, it’s a deliberate act of solidarity with Muslim women elsewhere who maintain modest dress despite facing extremely difficult circumstances.
For anyone who doesn’t already own one, abayas can be bought affordably online from sites like ebay, Vinted and Etsy, or found in charity shops and market stalls.
Inexpensive polyester or nida abayas, khimars and jilbabs are widely available, so nobody needs to spend a great deal to take part.
You can search ebay for poylester nida abaya, khimar, jilbab, etc. and find lots of options, as in the examples below: