Men's Hijab comes first before Women in Quran

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In Chapter 24 known as an-Nur (the Light), in verse 30, Allah commands Prophet Muhammad as follows:

قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ يَغُضُّوْا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَ يَحْفَظُوْا فُرُوْجَهُمْ, ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ.
“Say to the believing men that: they should cast down their glances and guard their private parts (by being chaste). This is better for them.”

This is a command to Muslim men that they should not lustfully look at women (other than their own wives); and in order to prevent any possibility of temptation, they are required to cast their glances downwards. This is known as “hijab of the eyes”.


source: Al-Islam.org

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Then in the next verse, Allah commands the Prophet to address the women:

قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَ يَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوْجَهُنَّ...
“Say to the believing women that: they should cast down their glances and guard their private parts (by being chaste)…”

This is a similar command as given to the men in the previous verse regarding “hijab of the eyes”.

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After “hijab of the eyes” came the order describing the dress code for women:

وَ لاَ يُبْدِيْنَ زِيْنَتَهُنَّ إِلاَّ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَ لْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلىَ جُيُوْبِهِنَّ...
“...and not display their beauty except what is apparent, and they should place their khumur over their bosoms...”


....This is the 24.31 line from Al-Quran

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Surah Nur states that women should cover their heads. I am told time and time again that it is CLEARLY written in the Quran that women should cover their heads and the rest of their bodies except their faces, hands and feet.

The following is a link to Surah Nur 24:31. http://www.islamawakened.com/Quran/24/31/default.htm

It gives 17 translations of the same ayah. In none of them does it state clearly that the head must be covered. Interestingly, the last translation by Asad gives a little tafseer on this ayah. He explains that in the time of the prophet, women used to use veils as capes and drag it behind their backs, but leaving their bosoms on full display. Asad seems to suggest that the ayah was a way of saying use that veil that you drag behind you to instead cover your bosom ("...draw a veil over your bosom...")

And where is it written that one must cover up the head for prayers or reading holy text?

But before reading sura Nur, I suggest go for reading Sura Nisa....................