Could you please describe the philosophy of hijab in Islam?
Hijab is obligatory according to Islamic law, and God has mentioned it as such in Chapter 24 (Noor), verse 31, and Chapter 33 (Ahzab), verse 159. It is also observed as a historical fact since the Prophet’s wives as well as the rest of the believing women were strict about observing it. Moreover, hijab is one of the obligations that is shared and practiced by other monotheistic religions. Even previous Christian (e.g. Maryam (p) is still portrayed with a form of hijab in Christian art) and Jewish societies would observe it, things have only changed in the contemporary age.
The wisdom behind its obligation is that it ensures chastity in society. It also protects people from the risk of engaging in immoral behavior. Furthermore, the philosophy of dressing in a modest and humble manner applies to both men and women, and therefore the responsibility of preserving the moral fabric of society falls on both. Thus, it can be observed in societies that abandon hijab, that doing so leads to decaying morals.