text: why do think people muslim women are oppressed if they cover themselves?   none of these answers are remotely close and they seem well..stupid. i am a muslim woman and i don't feel oppressed at any time. i wear what i wear do to my love and fear of allaah the orginator of the heaven and earth and all that is between them) my lord. i could care less as to what anyone thinks and i certainly am not doing this with reguards to a man but for my lord so some of you who answered this question have no idea of what your talking about and are speaking without knowledge as usual. don't hate on us because we have respect for ourselves as instilled in us by allaah to have shame and be pious. quetioner be carefull of what kinds of questions with reguards to islam you post here. news flash for those of you who don't know why we cover ourself here is an article on that very thing....  virtues of hijab (the modest dress of the muslim woman) ____________________________________  1. an act of obedience. the hijab is an act of obedience to allah and to his prophet (pbuh), allah says in the qur'an: `it is not for a believer, man or woman, when allah and his messenger have decreed a matter that they should have an option in their decision. and whoever disobeys allah and his messenger, has indeed strayed in a plain error.' {surah 33:36}. allah also said: 'and tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc) and not to show off their adornment except what must (ordinarily) appear thereof, that they should draw their veils over their juyubihinna (ie their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms). {surah 24:31} juyubihinna: the respected scholars from as-salaf as-saleh (righteous predecessors) differed whether the veil cover of the body must include the hands and face or not. today, respected scholars say that the hands and face must be covered. other respected scholars say it is preferable for women to cover their whole bodies.  2. the hijab is iffah (modesty). allah (subhana wa'atala) made the adherence to the hijab a manifestation for chastity and modesty. allah says: 'o prophet! tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) over their bodies (when outdoors). that is most convenient that they should be known and not molested.' {s33:59} in the above ayaah there is an evidence that the recognition of the apparent beauty of the woman is harmful to her. when the cause of attraction ends, the restriction is removed. this is illustrated in the case of elderly women who may have lost every aspect of attraction. allah (swt) made it permissible for them to lay aside their outer garments and expose their faces and hands reminding, however, that is still better for them to keep their modesty.  3. the hijab is tahara (purity) allah (swt) had shown us the hikma (wisdom) behind the legislation of the hijab: `and when you ask them (the prophet's wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and their hearts.' {surah 33:53}the hijab makes for greater purity for the hearts of believing men and women because it screens against the desire of the heart. without the hijab, the heart may or may not desire. that is why the heart is more pure when the sight is blocked (by hijab) and thus the prevention of fitna (evil actions is very much manifested. the hijab cuts off the ill thoughts and the greed of the sick hearts:`be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy or evil desire for adultery, etc) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner.' {surah 33:32}  4. the hijab is a shield the prophet (pbuh) said: "allah, most high, is heaven, is ha'yeii (bashful),sit'teer (shielder). he loves haya' (bashfulness) and sitr (shielding; covering)." the prophet (pbuh) also said: "any woman who takes off her clothes in other than her husband'