Why does the Quran stipulate that a woman must cover her head during prayer, while it does not stipulate the same for a man?

The fundamental principle is that men and women share the same rulings, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying, "Indeed, women are the counterparts of men." There is a consensus on the equality of men and women in religious obligations, except where a specific دليل (proof/evidence) indicates otherwise. Among the rulings where women differ from men is the obligation for a woman to cover her head during prayer. The validity of prayer is conditioned upon covering the awrah (private parts), and a woman's head is considered awrah, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying, "Allah does not accept the prayer of a menstruating woman except with a khimar (head covering)." This ruling is an extension of the distinction between women's clothing and men's clothing, as a man is not required to cover his head, while a woman is not permitted to uncover her head except in front of her maharim (unmarriageable kin). This distinction stems from the differing natures and creations of men and women. The characteristic of covering in men differs from that in women. A woman has a creation that differs from a man in her adornment and attractiveness, and the Shari'ah (Islamic law) has been keen to protect women in a way that is commensurate with the attention drawn to them.