the objective behind wearing hijab and the islamic costume is to protect the muslim woman from the eyes of the molesters. it is not that it is man's property or subjected to him as in christianity. it is not also a symbol of luxury and social values as in judaism. the noble qur'an is very clear in this regard. in light of all this, we can now understand why some westerners see hijab as a symbol of subjection; they conceive of hijab from their own christian or jewish perspectives and not from an islamic perspective. they do not understand the islamic objectives behind wearing hijab and the islamic costume. this is simply for protection; to be modest is a measure for the muslim woman to protect herself lest she should regret. islam takes great care to protect both the body and reputation of the woman. therefore, the one who dares even to accuse woman of being unchaste is severely punished. allah (the amighty) says in the noble qur'an what can be translated as, "and those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and reject their testimony forever, they indeed are the fasiqun (liars, rebellious, disobedient to allah)." (surat an-noor 4)

however, the attitude of the old testament regarding rape is rather lax:

 "if a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay the girl’s father fifty shekels of silver. he must marry the girl, for he has violated her. he can never divorce her as long as he lives.”(deuteronomy 22:28-30)

islam pays more attention to the woman's psyche

the question here is: who has been punished according to the last quotation from the old testament? is it the rapist? or the poor raped virgin girl who is forced to live with him forever? which attitude protects woman better? is it the qur'anic attitude that urges her not to show her charms to protect herself from potential attackers? or is it the attitude of the old testament hat obliged the victim to spend her entire life with the criminal?