I believe that historically both the hijab and the burhka predate Islam by a number of years, and that they really have no religious significance. These items had been asimilated from the Persian and Byzantine societies, and were viewed as being useful in the subjugation of woman and as such became integrated into Islamic use for this purpose. To compare these garments with overt displays of religious symbolism is not correct, Bloom and Blair write that the Q'ran doesn't require women to wear veils; rather, it was a social habit picked up with the expansion of Islam. In fact, since it was impractical for working women to wear veils, "A veiled woman silently announced that her husband was rich enough to keep her idle". To compare these garments with crucifixes, yarmulhkas (sp.), stars of David and other such religious symbols is a common mistake. It is an archaic symbol of a Patriarchal society.
