Hijab: Obligatory or Choice?!

I am a Muslim woman, and I am pretty forward on a lot of issues.  I do not consider myself a scholar. I am also not a follower of Salafism or Wahhabism.  I am just a Muslim woman who is tired of people trying to tell me I am not obligated to wear the hijab, or head scarf.  

I am often told we are not obligated; it's a woman's choice.  The thing is, there is a notable difference between 'not obligated' and 'choice'.  The word obligatory means required by a legal, moral, or other rule; compulsory.  Choice, as defined by Merriam-Webster is the act of choosing: the act of picking or deciding between two or more possibilities.  So something can be obligatory but you can choose not to follow that obligation, right?  Yes. 

I have heard the story enough, Muslim women saying they don't have to wear the hijab, it's their choice, that not all Islamic Scholars say it is obligatory.  The fact of the matter is, there is not one qualified Islamic Scholar that has ever said, in the history of Islam, that hijab is not obligatory.  Now I want to clarify qualified Islamic Scholar.  Not everyone can be an Islamic Scholar, and for this I will refer to using the Islamic High Council of Senior Scholars as qualified Scholars.  

The thing is, there is no mistake that hijab is obligated for Muslim women because it has been stated in Quran, then in hadith, and then verified by the Islamic High Council of Senior Scholars.  There is no mistaking that.  No argument necessary.  Khalaas! Women in Islam are obligated to wear hijab.

There is something though, about choice.  God (Allah-same meaning) gave man (and woman) free will.  A woman can choose not to wear hijab.  Will it make her a non-Muslim?  No.  There are 5 pillars to Islam and wearing hijab is not one of them.  If a woman does not wear hijab she can still be a Muslim just as if a person decides to start drinking alcohol, steals, or kills someone he can still be a Muslim.  These are just sins.  If you don't do something God orders you to do, that is considered sinning.  Every person has free will, therefor he or she can choose to sin if they want to.  

So, is wearing hijab obligatory for Muslim women, yes it is.  Do Muslim women have a choice whether they wear it or not.  Yes they do. 

So why are some women saying it is not obligatory?  My theory is that they don't want to admit to their sin, and they're trying to justify their actions.  I keep wondering why we so often attempt to make excuses for sins in our lives. How is that though we say we love God, so often it is difficult to look at ourselves head-on and see the sin that God sees? How come it is so easy to make excuses to others, who often see us for what we are, and the sins we commit? Why is it that the sins we try to hide the most, are the ones that keep coming to light, until we finally say, "No more excuses"?

I don't care if you choose to wear hijab or not.  That isn't for me to judge but you're excuses are making it difficult for us women who do still want to do what is right and wear our hijab.  If you don't want to say it, it's time to quit making excuses about Islam and take responsibility for your own actions.