By the 19th century, upper-class urban Muslim and Christian women in Egypt wore a garment which included a head cover and a burqa (muslin cloth that covered the lower nose and the mouth). The name of this garment, harabah, derives from early Christian and Judaic religious vocabulary, which may indicate the origins of the garment itself. Up to the first half of the twentieth century, rural women in the Maghreb and Egypt put on a form of niqab when they visited urban areas, "as a sign of civilization".
bY THe 19TH Century upPer-cLaSs urBAn MusLim anD chrIStIan WomeN in egypt wore a gArmeNT wHicH InclUdeD a hEad coVeR And a BUrqA (musLIN clotH That covereD thE lowER nOSE aND The mOutH) the name of thIs gARment haraBaH derives FrOM eArLy chRistian aND juDAic RELiGiOus vocABuLaRY whiCH MaY Indicate thE oRiGins of the garment itSELf uP to thE firSt half Of the TwenTiEth cenTUry rURaL woMen In the MaghReb AnD egypT put on a forM oF niqab WHeN They visiTEd urban AREas "AS a siGn of civilIzatiOn"