When do Muslim women wear the Burqa, Hiyab, Niqab or Chador? Are these pieces of headwear representative of different Islamic sects, or are they worn by the same women in different circumstances?

Here is a photo of the four styles mentioned above.

It is my understanding that the different styles of covering are dictated by the sect of Islam that woman and her family follow. They are not different garbs for different occasions.

However, I may very well be wrong. I hope someone with more authoritative understanding will answer.

These are local variations on a theme, just like hats or any other garnments are different across the world. It’s not about sects, rather it’s about customs.

Muslim women inside their home do not need to wear a veil, since the veil is there to avoid the lucious gaze of non-family members, strangers, etc. Only if a total stranger enters the house for some reason will the women in it want to wear a veil. Some of them still wear it inside out of habit, but it’s not necessary.

Wat @olivier5 said… muslims of same faith may where one or the other, dependent on the local tradition or fashion.

I work with some Muslims. As they explain it to me, the choice of headwear is dictated by their country, culture, and sect. One Muslim woman can identify, to some degree, which country or sect another woman is from by her head covering, the fabric that is used, and by how her head covering is wrapped.