Hijab is an Arabic word meaning barrier or partition. In Islam, however, it has a broader meaning. It is the principle of modesty and includes behavior as well as dress for both males and females. The most visibleform of hijab is the head covering that many Muslim women wear. Hijab however goesbeyond the head scarf. In one popular school of Islamic thought, hijab refersto the complete covering of everything except the hands, face and feet in long,loose and non see-through garments. A woman who wears hijab is calledMuhaajaba.Muslim women are required to observe the hijab in front of any man they could theoretically marry. This means that hijab is not obligatory in front of the father, brothers,grandfathers, uncles or young children. Hijab does not need to be worn in frontof other Muslim women, but there is debate about what can be revealed tonon-Muslim women. Modesty rules are open to a wide range of interpretations.Some Muslim women wear full-body garments that only expose their eyes. Somecover every part of the body except their face and hands. Some believe onlytheir hair or their cleavage is compulsory to hide, and others do not observeany special dress rules. In the English speaking world, use of the word hijabhas become limited to mean the covering on the head of Muslim woman. However,this is more accurately called a khimaar. The khimaar is a convenient solutioncomprising usually one, but sometimes two pieces of cloth, enabling Muslimwomen to cover their hair, ears and neck while outside the home. Hijab, in thesense of veiling, can also be achieved by hanging a curtain or placing a screenbetween women and men to allow them to speak to each other without changingdress. This was more common in the early days of Islam, for the wives of theProphet Muhammad.