Why a woman should do hijab

"...When I was about 7 or 8 I asked my mother this question of why we cover, and to my surprise she responded with, "Let's go shopping". So we headed out to the mall and passed by a few stores, we went into Claire's and saw all the beaded jewelry and the fake crystals all lying around in piles in the store. Some people touched them, some people picked them up then put them back down, some people tried them on, and most of them were not even noticed. Then we went to a diamond store. There, we saw only a few select pieces of jewelry. Rare stones, hidden under glass containers. Sealed with the highest security systems. Kept protected from the hands of those who couldn't pay the price of handling them. My mother looked at me and said, "Which would you rather be?"

(A story I got on the net, thought it was too beautiful not to share)

Well, this is just a small reason why women should follow hijab. The most important reason as far as a believer is concerned is, to obey the command of Allah and also the teachings of the Prophet Sallallahu alihiwassalam. A believer always continues to work towards obeying and pleasing Allah SWT. Islam means to surrender, and the surrender requires struggle. Allah says in the Qur'an:

وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَـتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَـرِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلاَ يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلاَّ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلاَ يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ

"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze, and protect their private parts and not to show off their adornment except that which is apparent, and to draw their khimar (their cover, the one used to cover their heads) all over their Juyub(chest; breasts- front of her body) and not to reveal their adornment." (Surah An-Nur: 31)

When Allah says something in the Qur'an, the true believer does not take it easy. It is the word of The Creator, The One worthy of all your worship and submission. A woman's hijab is not just in her physical appearance and the way she dresses, it is also her attitude. She should lower her gaze, walk softly and with humility. She should not walk in a fashion that brings notice to the people around her. So, this will include avoiding anklets and any other adornment that makes noise and the use of perfumes. This is as Allah says in the Qur'an:

وَلاَ يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ

"And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment." (Surah An-Nur: 31)

And, Prophet Sallallahu alihiwassalam said: “Any woman who applies perfume and then goes out among the people so that they could smell her fragrance is a zaaniyah (adulteress)" (Reported by Imam Ahmed Rahimahullah, Sahih Al Jaami'). This is a stern warning.

A woman's dress code in Islam is covering all of herself, except her face and hands. Her face and hands are optional according to the opinion of majority scholars. And by covering, it means it should not reveal the shape of her body (like when one wears tight clothing) and it should not be see-through (because then there is not much point in the covering). Islam prescribes such a dress code for her, the one that reflects her good character and her beliefs- one that shows her modesty and submission to no one but her Lord Azza Wajal. She need not submit herself to the whims of anyone else.

Abu Hurayrah Radhiyallahu anh narrated a hadeeth: "There are two types of the people of Hell that I have not seen: people who have whips like the tails of cattle, with which they strike the people; and women who are dressed but naked, walking with an enticing gait, with their hair looking like the humps of camels, leaning sideways. They will not enter Paradise or even smell its fragrance, although its fragrance can be detected from such-and-such a distance" (Saheeh Muslim)

Allah SWT also says:

يأَيُّهَا النَّبِىُّ قُل لاًّزْوَجِكَ وَبَنَـتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَـبِيبِهِنَّ ذلِكَ أَدْنَى أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلاَ يُؤْذَيْنَ

"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known, so as not to be annoyed." (Surah Al-Ahzaab: 59)

The Hijab distinguishes the muslim woman from other women. It shows that she has self- respect and dignity. Her body and beauty is too precious to be allowed to be seen by all. A woman of self-respect believes that she can have freedom by observing the hijab prescribed by Allah SWT. A woman in Islam is respected and honored for what she is within. Hijab protects the woman's body, dignity and honor just as a lollipop is not attacked by insects and sweet-lovers as long as it is in its cover.

And Allah knows best.