"And one of His signs is that He created mates for you from...

"And one of His signs is that He created mates for you from yourselves that you may find rest in them, and He put between you love and compassion;…"(Holy Qur’an, 30:21). Besides making laws for the rights of a woman, indeed the Holy Legislation clearly brings attention to the necessity of honouring, taking care of her and giving her, her full rights.

The Prophet of Allah, Muhammad (s.a.w.) says: "None would respect women except the magnanimous ones, and none would insult them except the ignoble ones." [^2] "Treaty our children equally concerning gifts (offers), so if I were obliging, surely I would prefer women." [^3] "I do not think that a man gets better in faith without loving women better." [^4] In addition, there are many other holy texts which call for placing woman in her natural position in the life of society.

Islam also gave other importance to woman. It shaped for her a special dress in order to keep her dignity and preserve her personality against loss and corruption.

Islam achieved for woman, through hijab (Islamic dress), two main things: First, it kept her ideological role while performing her legislative responsibility by presenting the needed services for the society, progress and Islamic message and also her active participation in the course of life around her according to the legislative limits which Islam made clear.

Second, it protected the purity of woman and closed the way to any action which might exploit and lead her to fall into the marshes of vices; or change her to an instrument used to melt the society around her - as happened in Modern Europe.

In addition to what hijab achieves of modesty and maintenance for woman and Islam aspires for lowering the gaze and forbidding the wanton mixing with non- mahram men and women and other principles, we will see to what extent Islam strives towards protecting man and woman, and the whole society, against the spread of vice, and a foolish and useless life.

Regarding these principles and decrees, the Almighty Allah says: "Say to the believing men that they cast down their gaze and guard their private parts; that is purer for them; surely Allah is Aware of what they do.