عمامة
ʿImāmah
The turban, a head-covering worn by many Muslim men and by some scholars as a mark of their calling.
What it means
ʿImāmah is the turban, a cloth wound around the head. Faruqi lists it among the garments of Muslim dress as a head-covering. The Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have worn a black turban when he entered Mecca (Sahih Muslim), and many Muslims, especially scholars, wear it for the sake of that example. It is not an obligation of the faith. Colours, styles and the way it is wound differ widely between regions, from the Arabian peninsula to South Asia and West Africa. In many places a turban marks a scholar, a pilgrim or a person of standing, and in others it is worn only on special occasions.
Often misunderstood as
It is often assumed to be a required religious uniform, but it is a customary garment that carries a sunna-inspired meaning for some.
Term and Arabic as listed in Ismail al Faruqi, Toward Islamic English (International Institute of Islamic Thought, 1995), p. 54, listed as 'IMMAH. The definition is restated here.