“Hijab is not just what you are wearing but it is also what you do and say. It is who you are!”
A woman who wears hijab liberates herself from the vain and selfish desire to show off her beauty and to compete with other women around her. It protects her from inappropriate and lustful male gaze, which women in general suffer on daily basis.
It must be noted that in Islam, men and women both are accountable individually for their deeds. Islam clearly establishes that men and women are equal before God. At the same time it does recognise that they are not identical. God creates but in diverse ways. God has ordained different commands for men and women while encouraging both to be modest.
Islam is a religion of moderation and balance. It does not expect women alone to uphold societal morality and dignity. Rather Islam asks men and women to strive mutually to create healthy social environment of practical values and morality. In short, the concept of modesty in Islam is holistic and applies to both men and women. The ultimate goal is to please God and to maintain a peaceful and stable society.
To embrace hijab is simply submitting to the will and command of Allah the Almighty. It is obligatory like other divine injunctions e.g. offering Salat, observing fasts in Ramadhan, giving Zakat, abstaining from alcohol and backbiting, etc. Since Islam implies absolute submission to Allah, one must follow His commandments; we cannot be selective when we submit. The philosophical plane gets explicitly demonstrated in the Qur’an in which the Almighty Allah revealed ayaat about the need of hijab for men followed by its need for women. (For details see Qur’an-24:31, 34)
When these ayaat were revealed, female companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) promptly adopted these guidelines. In a similar spirit of obedience, Muslim women have maintained modest covering. (Also see Qur’an 33:59)
In short, the answer to the FAQ, ‘why do Muslim women cover their heads?’ is very simple: Muslims believe that their true purpose in life is to worship Allah according to His instruction as revealed in the holy book i.e. the Quran and through the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him).
Worship in Islam is a holistic concept which encourages God-consciousness in every facet of daily life, from individual prayers to public dealings. We know that people who are less civilized wear less and less clothes. Islam forbids nudity and enjoins human beings to wear decent and dignified dress. Thus covering oneself is the highest of civilization which a man could achieve; but alas, what is happening today is actually a sign of regression.
[The writer is studying at Department of Islamic Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi]