I am a 23-year-old girl. Although I do not wear the Hijaab, I regularly perform the prayer, fast Ramadan, go to mosques, and attend religious lectures. What is the ruling on my prayer? I once read in a magazine that the prayer of a woman who wears the Hijaab during the prayer only is not accepted.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

When all the pillars and conditions of the prayer are observed, the prayer is valid and accepted. However, you should know that abandoning the Hijab is a grave act of disobedience. To highlight the gravity and evil of it, it is enough to mention the hadiths in which the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:

•        "The evilest of your women are those who unlawfully expose their adornment and sway in haughtiness; they are the hypocrites." [Al-Bayhaqi]

•        "Any woman who removes her clothes outside her  home has torn the screen of concealment that was between her and Allaah Almighty."  [Ahmad]

So, you have to hasten to repent and wear the Hijab before you are suddenly overcome by death. At that moment, regret will not avail you.

Allaah Knows best.