Why must Muslim women cover their heads but men not?

Men, too, often cover their heads in religious tradition, for example during prayer. A woman’s covering is part of a wider teaching on modesty that applies to men and women alike, only in different forms.

The question assumes that only women cover their heads. That is not quite right. In Jewish tradition devout men have long covered their heads, and many still do so with a small cap. Many Muslim men also cover their heads when they pray. Head covering, then, is not something that concerns women alone.

Besides, a woman’s covering is about more than a piece of cloth. At its heart is decent conduct by both men and women, which protects chastity. The first verse above asks this of men first. They are to lower their gaze and restrain themselves.

For women something more is added, because men and women differ by nature. A woman’s beauty draws attention more strongly. So the Holy Qur’an asks women not to display their charms and to cover themselves with their outer garment. The third verse names one purpose. They are to be recognised as decent women and not be harassed.

What this covering looks like in detail differs from country to country, and scholars also describe it in different ways. This shows that it is not about a uniform but about an attitude. The head covering is a visible sign of that attitude. It stands for dignity and protection, not for subordination.