Not all Muslim women wear abaya

That is well understood. We have daughters whose chosen attire is a tracksuit, neighbours who prefer salwar kameeze, colleagues who prefer a smart suit. It’s true, the once ubiquitous abaya is no longer nearly as common as it was when we were growing up!

But still, for this challenge, we ask participants to wear abaya regardless of their usual practice. This is not to suggest one type of dress supersedes all others, but rather stands as a deliberate act of solidarity with Muslim women elsewhere who maintain modest dress in spite of the most difficult of circumstances.

For sisters that do not own one, abayas can be bought online from sites like ebay, Vinted and Etsy very affordably. You may also find them in charity shops and market stalls. Nobody needs to break the bank to own one.