Belief and Social Reasons for Using Niqab among Sunni of Baloch Women: A Case Study of Zahedan City

Niqab is one of the most common coverings of Muslim women, which is used in some Muslim countries, including Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. What is important in this regard is to pay attention to the messages in this type of clothing among Muslim women. The aim of the current research was to study the religious and social reasons for using the niqab among Baloch Muslim women in Baluchistan region. The present study was conducted using the qualitative research method and adopting the phenomenological approach in 2018. Data were collected through in-depth and semi-structured interviews with 12 veiled women by purposive sampling. The collected data were coded, categorized and analyzed. The findings of the research showed that the theme of belief with three sub-concepts was protecting men's attention, obtaining happiness and divine satisfaction, and public modesty. The social theme included seven concepts of habituality, following the traditional family structure, matching with the community, feeling power, feeling freedom, gaining dignity and respect, and feeling security and peace. According to the findings of this research, it can be concluded that the niqab is not just a cloth, but can be an important means of conveying the meaning, identity and values of people. Niqab not only has a personal and religious meaning, but also represents collective identity.