There are extensive possibilities of the origin of kebaya with most indicating its roots in the Middle East. The connection between kebaya with Arabic "qaba", "a long loose jacket" was first established by orientalist Henry Yule and Arthur Burnell in 1886. The Arabic clothing was known since the seventh century, with historical records even mentioned that the Islamic Prophet Muhammad received gifts of "aqbiya" (plural of "qaba") on several occasions. Scholars attributed that Persian is the ultimate origin of "qaba". With the spread of Islam, the term and clothing was not only known in Arabic but also in Persian, Turkish and Urdu. Due to its resemblance, many sources stated that kebaya has its origin from Muslim clothing, namely "qaba", "habaya", "al akibiya al turkiyya" and "djubba". The claim that kebaya may has its origin from the Arab World is highly possible as Islam was firmly established in the Malay World in the 15th century when Malay women began to cover up in reactions to the Islamic dress code. Before Islam, local women dressed with fewer layers because of the hot and humid climate and the pre-Islamic religion of the Malays did not impose such restrictions.