Mr. Alamolhoda! Are you coming to visit the Armitage and Alton shopping centers with us?!

You have instructed President Raisi to implement the law on hijab and chastity, which has been approved by the Parliament and the Guardian Council. While insisting on the implementation of a law, even in a selective manner, is not an issue, ...

Like you, and if I may say so, even more than you, I believe in hijab, and my family adheres to it. On the other hand, I believe that the law must be enforced. However, I invite you, as a religious propagator who has dedicated your life to this cause, to take a stroll.

One cool afternoon, I invite you to visit one or two famous shopping centers in Mashhad, such as Armitaj, Alton, or anywhere else you prefer. Come unexpectedly and without prior notice. Don't bring anyone with you. Ask your bodyguards to keep a respectful distance.

In these shopping centers, you will undoubtedly see women and girls whose hijab does not align with what you and I envision. You may feel your nerves fraying at the sight and think to yourself, "Where is the morality patrol? Why hasn't Medicalian signed and implemented the hijab law so that these poorly hijabed girls can stop flaunting their disregard in our city?"

But compose yourself. Remember the famous verse, "And if you had been rude in speech and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them." God tells His messenger, who is an example for the world: if you were harsh and hard-hearted, they would have scattered from around you. So pardon them and ask for their forgiveness.

Approach a few of the improperly veiled women with kindness. Don't worry; they won't insult or disrespect you. Almost all of them, even if they have grievances against religious figures, will respect you. They are not worse than Pharaoh. God told Moses that when you go to him with your brother, speak softly. So, you too should speak gently with these women. Ask them why they are not wearing the hijab or are wearing it insufficiently. You will hear answers that will surprise you. They may have doubts about the actions of some of us religious individuals and some officials. They may ask you if my exposed hair is worse than the lavish lifestyles of some individuals or the astronomical loans to the boss. Or they might say, is society more harmed by my hijab or by the unemployment of youth? Or they may say all the laws of God have been enforced except for hijab.

Be prepared with responses to such questions, and try to convince those who inquire. Your job is to guide society, and to guide, you must speak gently like the Prophet and the Imams. When they ask you questions, do not frown, do not get angry, and do not rush to cover them. Remember how many people the Prophet of Mercy converted in the first three years of his prophethood. Thinking about this part of history will give you hope.

Conversely, ask them how much money they received to come and flaunt their bare heads in this shopping center? Or which enemy deceived them into doing this? Or how much have satellite and VPNs affected their current appearance?

Well, are you tired of wandering? Good job. After your shopping, return home or to your office, enjoy a cup of tea, and reflect on the impact of your cultural exploration. If you have even slightly created doubt in the mind of a woman without hijab that her actions may be wrong, you have succeeded.

Mr. Alamolhoda! Dialogue works wonders. I said dialogue. This means both you speaking and your counterpart speaking. Speaking unilaterally from the pulpit or the Friday prayer podium has its own function, but it doesn't work everywhere. Experience such a dialogue once, and compare its impact with all the monologues you've delivered over the years.

I am certain that after this initiative, you will no longer prescribe coercive measures to combat improper hijab. You won't even issue orders for the enforcement of hijab law. You will accept that women and girls don't wear headscarves just because you insist. It will be you who must pay the price for your cultural inaction. Instead of being a creditor, you will become a debtor. Instead of using harsh words, you will use the language of kindness. You will not divide society into pro and anti-hijab with a harsh tone. You will not incite hatred between veiled and unveiled individuals.

If you act rightly, Alamolhoda will become a flag of guidance. Otherwise, this is the state of affairs, and this is the bowl you have to deal with.

Mohammad Mohajeri