Key difference: Abaya and jilbāb are two different kinds of clothing that are available to Islamic women. An abaya can be described as a long robe or cloak, usually black in color. It is worn over the clothing and tends to cover the whole body. The modern jilbāb is a type of clothing very similar to an abaya. It is also a loose article of clothing worn over regular everyday clothing. However, in Indonesia, the term jilbab refers to a headscarf that covers the head, including hair and ears.

Abaya and jilbāb are two different kinds of clothing that are available to Islamic women. Islamic women wear these cloths as a form of protection. They also act as a sign of modesty. Many claim that this clothing is decreed by the Islamic religion, culture and norms. Hence, many are times women are forced to wear these clothing in front of men by the social norms, elders and peers. However, many women choose to wear these clothing to represent their own belief in their religion and culture. They are worn by Muslim women as a symbol of modesty, privacy, and morality.

An abaya can be described as a long robe or cloak, usually black in color. It is worn over the clothing and tends to cover the whole body. The styles of abaya vary, many often contain embroidery of some sort, while some may or may not include a hood. It can be said that an abaya is a type of a traditional hijab. Hijab here refers to the Islamic rules of covering up.

The abaya is usually made of georgette or other soft, flowing polyester fabrics. It has a front crossover opening and can be just pulled over regular clothing. It is often paired with a hijab and/or a niqab. Hijab here is the scarf which covers the head. The abaya is most common in the Islamic cultures on the Arabian Peninsula; however it has been readily adopted in other parts of the world.

The modern jilbāb is a type of clothing very similar to an abaya. It is also a loose article of clothing worn over regular everyday clothing. It looks just like an abaya and is also described as a long robe or cloak. The jilbāb styles vary, many often contain embroidery of some sort, while some may or may not include a hood. Some may be open from the front with buttons or a zipper to do up, while others may be in a sewn up dress pattern, which are to be worn over the head. Like the abaya, the jilbāb is also often paired with a hijab and/or a niqab.

However, in Indonesia, the term jilbab refers to a headscarf that covers the head, including hair and ears. Essentially, this usage of jilbab is similar to a hijab or kilmar. Some modern forms of this jilbab include a short visor which aims to protect the face from the sun.

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