Prayer & Worship Wear Guide: Prayer Dresses, Khimars, Jilbabs and What to Pack for Umrah

The short answer: for daily prayer at home keep a one-piece prayer dress by the door; for the mosque and taraweeh wear a khimar over a closed abaya or a hooded jilbab; for Umrah and Hajj pack two or three plain, lightweight prayer abayas in neutral tones with six to eight cotton or jersey hijabs. Everything should be opaque, loose, pin-free and quick to change.

Travelling for pilgrimage? Our Umrah & Hajj clothing collection gathers the pieces that pack best.

What counts as prayer wear

Prayer wear is any outfit that covers everything except the face and hands, is opaque, and does not cling or ride up in sujood. That can be your everyday abaya and hijab — but dedicated prayer pieces are faster to put on, easier to keep clean, and cut for kneeling and standing. The three you will meet are the prayer dress, the khimar and the jilbab; see how they differ.

Prayer dresses and prayer sets

A prayer dress (prayer abaya) is a one-piece, floor-length garment with an attached or separate hijab that slips on over whatever you are wearing. Look for elasticated cuffs (sleeves stay down in ruku), a generous length (no ankle gap in sujood), soft opaque jersey or crepe, and a hood or hijab that frames the face without pins. Two-piece prayer sets — a long khimar plus a skirt — are roomier for long taraweeh nights. Keep one at home and one folded in your bag. Shop prayer dresses.

Khimars

A khimar is a long, cape-like head covering that drapes over the head, shoulders and chest, reaching the waist, hips or knees. It replaces the hijab and goes over any abaya or dress, which makes it the most useful single prayer layer: a waist-length jersey khimar in your bag turns a work outfit into a mosque outfit in ten seconds. Instant pull-on khimars need no pins at all. Shop khimars.

Jilbabs

A jilbab is a long outer garment covering the whole body except face and hands; in modern shops it usually means a one-piece hooded dress or a matching khimar-and-skirt set. Because the head covering is built in, a jilbab is both a prayer outfit and a full-coverage everyday outfit. Shop jilbabs.

Mosque, taraweeh and Eid prayer

Taraweeh in Ramadan 2027 is expected to fall in February: cold outside, warm inside a full hall, and long. Choose opaque fabrics you can re-wear nightly, pin-free head coverings (khimar, instant hijab, amira), and layers you can remove — a longline hoodie over a prayer dress works well. For Eid prayer, an occasion abaya from the Eid edit with a satin or chiffon hijab is traditional; add a khimar if the prayer ground is outdoors. Dates and a full capsule list are in the Ramadan 2027 capsule guide.

Umrah and Hajj: what to wear

There is no fixed ihram garment for women: the widely held guidance is loose, opaque, modest dress, with the face and hands uncovered. Plain prayer abayas or jilbabs in light, breathable fabrics, pin-free hijabs with an undercap, a khimar for long prayers and comfortable shoes cover almost everything.

For the full outfit guide, a season-by-season climate table and a complete women's packing checklist, read what to wear for Umrah (women): outfit guide and packing list. Hajj 2027 is expected in mid-May, with Eid al-Adha around 16–17 May (moon-sighting dependent). Shop prayer dresses and plain abayas.

Girls' prayer sets

Girls' khimar-and-skirt prayer sets make salah easy for children and match our adult styles for family Eid looks. Sizes run by age with a height guide. Shop girls' abayas and prayer sets and girls' hijabs.

Frequently asked questions

What is a prayer dress?

A one-piece, floor-length garment with an attached or separate hijab that is worn over everyday clothes for salah.

What is the difference between a prayer dress and a jilbab?

A prayer dress is designed for salah and worn over clothes; a jilbab is a full-length outer garment for everyday wear — hooded jilbabs work for both.

What do women wear for Umrah?

Loose, opaque, plain abayas or jilbabs in neutral tones with pin-free hijabs; there is no fixed ihram garment for women, but face and hands stay uncovered.

How many abayas do I need for Umrah?

Two or three plain, lightweight abayas — one to wear, one to wash, one spare.

Can I pray in a normal abaya?

Yes, if it is opaque and loose and your hijab covers the neck and chest; a prayer dress is simply faster and cut for kneeling.

Related: Eid & Ramadan edit · hijab fabric guide · glossary.