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Fatwa CenterQuestioning the degree of sinfulness for not wearing Hijab
Question
I was wondering that if I don't put on a veil, scarf, is it counted as one sin altogether or is it that each time a man sees me without Hijaab a sin? I'm trying and hopefully I want to wear it soon, but I'm always afraid that I would end up taking it off again and it would be considered even more Haraam for me that way, and I even think that its better that if I don't wear Hijaab and I'm a good person inside and pray and I love Allaah and try to obey Him as much as possible and ask forgiveness, isn't it better that to have a full Hijaab on and not observe any good deeds or Salaat and abeyance of Allaah?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
A woman is obliged to wear Hijab when she goes out of her home or when she is in presence of marriageable men. So if she is in a circumstance where she should wear Hijab and she does not do so, then she is sinful. Every time she does not wear Hijab when required, she is sinful as in that way she causes temptation and much harm. Therefore, we advise you to take the initiative to repent and wear Hijab as Allaah made it an obligation by saying (which means): {O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments.}[Quran 33:59]. A Muslim does not know when death comes to him, so he has to prepare himself, as Allaah says (which means): {Return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped.}[Quran 39:54]. You should not take into consideration the whispers of the devil that you have mentioned in your question, because the devil wants to prevent you from obeying your Lord. If you sincerely want to wear Hijab, Allaah will help you to do so. Allaah says (which means): {As for he who gives and fears Allaah and believes in the best [reward], We will ease him toward ease.}[Quran 92: 5-7].
Besides, you have to know that Hijab is a matter on which you will be held accountable separately from other actions, as it is a religious obligation and an act of worship like other religious obligations and acts of worship, so you are not at all permitted to neglect it.
If a person's heart is righteous, all his actions will be righteous, because our behaviour reflects what is in our heart. The Prophet 
said: "Verily, in the body there is a piece of flesh which, if it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Verily, that piece of flesh is the heart." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
So do not abandon Hijab under any pretext as it is only the devil who whispers to you not to wear it.
Finally, we remind you that the best thing which will help you to wear the Hijab or do other righteous deeds is to believe that this is a means for success [and salvation from Hellfire], and to keep company with righteous women.
Allaah knows best.
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