It is with much regret to note that the underlying reason for the wearing of the 'tudung' (headscarf) by a Muslim woman upon the age of puberty has been missed in the debate linking the tudung with moral issues including rapes and molestations.

In general terms, the tudung is a part of the 'hijab', a concept of covering part of oneself considered an 'aurat' in Islam. As such the tudung in its real meaning is not a mere fashion as practiced by the great majority of Muslim women today, especially in Malaysia.

If we, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, were to understand fully the concept of the hijab and practice it, there would be less misunderstanding about the issue. For a Muslim woman, there would be no such situation where a tudung is part of a woman's attire while other parts of the body are exposed.

There would be no such situation where a woman would wear a tudung to the office, or college or during the working hours but has no qualms about exposing herself in other less formal situations.

Nevertheless, whenever a Muslim woman wears a tudung, it should still be commended as the right thing. Indeed, wearing a tudung is part of the fulfilment to obey the command of God and His Prophet. It has nothing to do with whether one is pious or not as far as Islam is concerned.

It is just like stopping at the red light in the middle of night when no other cars are on the road; it is all about being a law-abiding citizen. Similarly, a Muslim woman wearing a tudung, regardless of how much she understands the concept of the hijab, should be seen in the light of being a true Muslim, i.e. obedient to God's commandment.

Conversely, no matter how good a Muslim woman is in other areas, like praying five times a day, fasting in the month of Ramadan and so on, the fact that she is not wearing a tudung indicates clearly she is not a complete Muslim woman.

If she does not cover herself or 'menutup aurat' - it doesn't matter whether the only part not covered is her hair - she will surely be judged by the Almighty accordingly.

Under such a situation she has no right to say that she is better than another woman who wears a tudung who practices less the teachings of Islam or something to the effect that it is a matter between herself and God.

The quote on the saying of the Holy Prophet Mohammad that 'the most excellent jihad' (holy war) is that for the conquest of the self' by Ushiv is too general and irrelevant in the case of the tudung.

Conquering one's own nafsu is actually part of the concept of the hijab. It does not necessarily apply to men's nafsu alone. It also applies to women's own nafsu.

While in the true practice of the religion, intention is the essence of an act of worship, the wearing of the tudung as a part of the hijab should not concern the intentions of the woman. It is alone an act of worship at that particular instance.

Consequently, the act would be part of the creation of a social environment promoting good values as against those promoted by attire 'yang menjolok mata' in a society.

The committing of a criminal act of rape, murder or molestation is not a result of seeing an exposed body. It is rather a culmination of various acts that form a chain of events which converge at that given opportunity.