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Amina Inloes,
Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the Islamic College in London and also the Managing Editor of the Journal of Shi'a Islamic Studies. 651 Answers
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Hamid Waqar,
Shaykh Hamid Waqar was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and converted to Islam at the age of sixteen. He started his Islamic studies in the year 2001 in Beirut and, a year later, moved to Qum where he has been studying since. He currently studies at the highest levels of Islamic jurisprudence, translates many books and runs the Muntazar website. 2 Answers
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Mohammad Saeed Bahmanpour,
Sheikh Mohammad Saeed Bahmanpour is lecturer of Islamic Studies at the Islamic College for Advanced Studies, London, and a visiting lecturer at the University of Cambridge, Faculty of Oriental Studies. He was raised in Iran and holds a BA and an MA in Sociology from Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran. He has also studied at Queen Mary College London and the London School of Economics. 15 Answers
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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi,
Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to religious questions. In the past, he has also spent significant time in India guiding the community. 3751 Answers
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Rebecca Masterton,
Dr Rebecca Masterton graduated with a BA in Japanese Language and Literature; an MA in Comparative East Asian and African Literature and a PhD in Islamic literature of West Africa. She has been teaching for seventeen years through different media, and has also worked in media for ten years, producing and presenting programs for several TV channels. 110 Answers
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Zoheir Ali Esmail,
Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD from the University of Exeter in the philosophical and mystical readings of Mulla Sadra in the context of the schools of Tehran and Qum. 374 Answers
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Nour Tessie Jørgensen,
Nour Tessie Jørgensen has an MA in Islamic studies from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark and a degree in Philosophy of Ethics at Al Mustafa International University in Qum, Iran. She works as an Islamic Studies teacher and a counselor in spiritual and female-related issues. 18 Answers
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Abbas Di Palma,
Shaykh Abbas Di Palma holds a BA and an MA degree in Islamic Studies, and certifications from the Language Institute of Damascus University. He has also studied traditional Islamic sciences in London, Damascus and Qom and taught for different institutions in Italy and UK. 208 Answers
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Berak Hussain,
Berak Hussain is a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) in Canada. She has a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Educational Counseling from the University of Ottawa. She speaks on a variety of Islamic and psychological issues bridging the connection and misconceptions around Islam and mental health and Islam and women. She has worked locally and internationally on a variety of mental health initiatives working tirelessly to break the stigma around the topic within the community. 1 Answer
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Shyrose Jaffer Dhalla,
Zakira Shyrose Jaffer Dhalla is a graduate of York University in Canada from where she obtained a BA in Psychology and Sociology and a Masters in the field of Education. She lectures on Islam at mosques, universities, churches and interfaith gatherings and also recites majalises in Urdu, English and Gujarati. A published freelance writer, playwright, motivational speaker and Anti-Racist Educational Counsellor by profession, she conducts workshops on Race and Cultural sensitivity and often appears on TV program panels and radio talk shows to speak on Race Relations. 4 Answers
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Masuma Jaffer,
Dr Masuma Jaffer is a qualified dentist, with a Masters in Islamic Studies and has also attended Hawza in Qum. She obtained a PGCE - teaching qualification – and has taught Hawza studies at the Islamic College in London. She also has a Diploma in Counselling and is a Qualified Chaplain and worked with women prisoners at Holloway and with Hertfordshire Police advising them on Muslim matters. 10 Answers
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Seyed Ali Shobayri,
Seyed Ali Shobayri is of mixed Iranian and Scottish descent who found the path of the Ahlul Bayt (a) by his own research. He holds a BA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University through the Islamic College of London. He also studied at the Hawza Ilmiyya of England and continues Hawza and Islamic studies with private teachers. 162 Answers
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This may be an overly pedantic or literal response, but, in my view, the main reason why you "have" to do something in Islam is that it is prescribed in scripture (Quran/hadith) (and/or other methods of deriving jurisprudence).
Since the Quran and hadith seem to indicate that women should wear hijab, women should wear hijab. Any other explanation - unless directly stated in these sources - is either (a) a guess, and (b) oftentimes just personal opinion or what is popular to say at the time.
Anyway - based on what is in the Quran/hadith - most people would say that the hijab serves the purpose of (a) modesty and maintaining a culture of modesty in society (also, to be blunt, discouraging relationships and hence birth out of wedlock), and (b) social signalling - for instance, identifying a woman as a Muslim, or signifying that one is a practicing Muslim.
Clothing in general, historically and today, has served to communicate a complex set of messages about identity (such as culture, tribe, nationality, religion, occupation, social class, etc), and varying forms of hijab do that as well.
Also, in most Muslim cultures, it is seen as more dignified or more traditional for men to cover up a fair amount.
Today some people also point to other possible messages or purposes of the hijab, such as discouraging excessive consumerism regarding beauty and beauty products, emphasizing a woman's right over her own body (versus feeling compelled to show it off), as a political or ideological statement, or as a form of self-motivation to act in a better way (in that wearing hijab often makes one more conscious of one's actions). Some people also say it might promote a stronger marriage or stronger family values. Some people might also say there is a convenience factor or it is better for one's well-being (to avoid sun damage).
Some people argue that hijab isn't necessary for modesty and point out that many cultures have modest dress which doesn't cover the hair. While I agree, now that we have seen the direction of Western culture and, to some extent, the global society, I have personally come to feel there is a virtue in having a minimum dress code in society today because, without it, there is pressure to show off a lot.
Anyway because it is a very prominent subject in the modern era, you will find a lot of things written about hijab and you can read elsewhere to get a variety of views.