Shayla () is an Islamic head covering worn by some Muslim women in the presence of any male outside of their immediate family. It is different from a khimar, because it is usually wrapped and pinned. Sometimes it is worn in the form of a half niqab with part of the face still appearing.Ross, Heather Colyer (1993) The Art of Arabian Costume: A Saudi Arabian Profile. 188 pag.
It is traditionally worn by some women in Saudi Arabia and other Arab states of the Persian Gulf.
Cultural significance It is often worn by Indo-Pakistani women as a cultural symbol rather than for religious reasons. The shayla is particularly meaningful to the Pashtuns.
See also Battoulah Haik (garment)
References