Does Quran require women to cover their heads?

With regards to covering the heads, I will emphasize that head-covering of women is a part of the prescription of modest behavior in the context of social etiquette of interaction between men and women. Muslim men and women are required to dress adequately to cover their bodies, to not gaze at each other in suggestive ways in mixed gatherings, to minimize the contact with the members of opposite sex, and to not attract each others towards themselves. As a result of this arrangement, women are required to not display their ornaments except those which are normally visible, and cover their chests and heads in order to comply with the spirit of the prescribed behavior. In addition, Quran has also prescribed the etiquette to follow when requesting permission to enter houses of other members of the community.

All these directives are explained in Surah Al-Nur 24:27-31 and Al-Ahzab 33:59 in Quran. These directives are laid down so that men and women do not view each other as objects of sexual pleasure, and in order to purify their intentions towards the opposite sex and to cleanse their souls. In addition, I will also suggest that head covering has been considered a symbol of modesty in the noble families of all three Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity.