Most Muslim women who wear hijab do so because they believe God commanded modesty for both men and women, and they choose it as an act of worship and identity. In Islam, hijab is meant to be a choice made out of faith and not forced by others.
The fuller answer
The Quran tells believing men to lower their gaze and guard their modesty, and then tells believing women to do the same and to draw their head coverings over their chests. The majority of scholars of all schools understand this to mean that women cover their hair and body except the face and hands. A minority of Muslims and some modern scholars read the verses differently, and some Muslim women do not cover.
Many women who wear hijab say it makes them feel respected for their mind rather than their looks, and that it is part of who they are. Forcing a woman to wear it, or forcing her to remove it, are both against the Islamic principle that faith cannot be compelled, though some governments and families do just that. A woman should make this choice freely.
Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do. And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.
O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.
There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.
This answer follows the mainstream Sunni understanding and is general learning, not a fatwa. Where Muslims differ, the answer says so. Have a question of your own? Write to us.
