Burqa Not Part Of Islam Poem by Asit Kumar Sanyal

‘Burqa' looks like integral part of Islam
but truly not so
It's a part of Muslim culture
Not a part of Islamic teaching
Quran never used the word 'burqa'
for women's purdah
'burqa' was used in Arabian countries
before the advent of Islam
it was a small piece of clothing
used for protection of cold
especially in winters
as a cover for animals
or a shawl for village women.
Burqa first came in Persia
When Islam entered Persia
it adopted many things
from existing Persian culture
under influence of Iranian culture
burqa was adopted by Muslims
and gradually Islamised
Muslims also use the term 'hijab'
equivalent to 'burqa'
but it too not used in Quran in this sense
There 'Hijab' literally means... curtain
jilbab and khimar also used in Quran
But again not in their present connotation
both have similar meaning …
scarf or duppatta
that covers the body of a woman
Not her face
So 'burqa' or 'hijab'
not the Quranic terms
both are part of Muslim culture
and not part of Quranic commandments.