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Fatwa CenterThe definition of Jilbaab
Question
Assalamu Alaikum, I request you to present a reply to me personally instead of directing me to different fatwas for this curious question of mine, with regard to the 'jilbab'. Is it a particular kind of dress/head covering? Does any dress in any style but which fulfils the requirements of hijab become a 'jilbab'? Please define the 'jilbab' as mentioned in the Noble Quran and Prophetic Hadith.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
The Jilbaab in the Arabic language refers to the outer garment which covers the whole body, or the Khimaar (headcover/veil), or any garment worn over the clothes such as the Milhafah (wrap/cover) and the Mulaa'ah (a loose wrap-around) which a woman wraps around her whole body. The Qamoos Al-Muheet defines it as follows: "The Jilbaab is the Qamees (sleeved garment); a loose garment that a woman wears underneath the Milhafah, or what she covers her clothes with, like the Milhafah; or it is the Khimaar."
The word Jalaabeeb, plural of Jilbaab, occurs in the Quran and both the singular and plural forms occur in the Ahaadeeth of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their Jalaabeeb.} [Quran 33:59]
Umm ‘Atiyyah 
reported, "We were commanded to bring out our menstruating women and our veiled virgins to watch the gathering of Muslims and their supplication during the two ‘Eed prayers; and the menstruating women would stay away from the prayer place. A woman asked, 'O Messenger of Allaah! What about one who does not have a Jilbaab?' He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, 'Let her sister clothe her a Jilbaab from hers.'" [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Another version of the Hadeeth reads, "Let her sister lend her one of her Jalaabeeb.” [At-Tirmithi]
Moreover, ‘Aa’ishah said, "Riders would pass us when we were with the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in a state of Ihraam. When they came by us, one of us would let down her Jilbaab from her head over her face, and when they had passed on, we would uncover our faces.” [Abu Daawood] Ibn Maajah reported a Hadeeth with the same meaning.
Al-Qurtubi 
defined the Jilbaab as "a garment larger than a Khimaar (headscarf). The correct view is that it is a garment which covers the whole body. It has been reported on the authority of Umm ‘Atiyyah that she asked; 'O Messenger of Allaah, what about one who does not have a Jilbaab?' He said, 'Let her sister clothe her a Jilbaab from hers." [Muslim]
Hence, the purpose of the Jilbaab becomes clear to us from the linguistic and Islamic points of view. It is the garment that covers the whole body, be it a Milhafah (wrap), an ‘Abaayah (cloak) or a Mulaa'ah (a loose wrap-around).
It should be noted that the Muslim woman's Jilbaab does not refer to a specific type of clothing, but there are specific conditions that should be met for the Jilbaab to be approved in Islam. If these conditions are met, then the dress is therewith a Jilbaab and lawful to be worn outdoors.
For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 83702.
Allaah Knows best.
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