Question:  Is it explicitly forbidden in the Holy Qur’an for women to walk in public without their heads covered?
    Answer: The Holy Qur’an has not prohibited Muslim ladies from walking in public without head-coverings. It has however made it incumbent upon them to cover their chest with their shawl while interacting with the opposite sex. The Holy Qur’an thus reads:

[And tell the believing women], to draw their shawls over their bosoms. (24:31)

    What needs to be appreciated is the fact that explicit directives of any religion give rise to a specific spirit among its adherents. This spirit then develops their whole socio-cultural set up. It is an established fact of history that Muslim ladies have always adhered to the decent practice of covering their heads. This practice is even traced back to the societies set up by the followers of the previous Prophets (sws). Hence, it is very desirable that our women also adhere to the Muslim cultural practice of wearing a head-covering while interacting with the opposite sex.