Modesty in Islam
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Modesty in Islam


O Prophet! tell thy wives and daughters and the believing women that they
should cast their outer garments over their persons when out doors that is most convenient that they should be known as such and not molested and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (33:59)

The ways in which women displayed themeselves during the period of pre-Islam jahiliyyah included mingling freely with men, walking seductively, and wearing a headcovering in a matter which exposed the ornaments and beauty's of the head and neck. During the present period of ignorance, the display of feminine attractions has gone to such extremes that the women of the pre-Islamic era appear to be models of chastity and dignity.



"O children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparal at every time and place of prayer, eat and drink; but do not waste by excess, for Allah does not love the wasters (7:31)



Beautification and elegance are not merely permitted but are required by
Islam. Islam, however, prohibited two types of adornments for men, while
permitting them to women. The prohibition of gold and silk to males is part of a broader Islamic program of battling luxurious living. From teh Qur'anic point of view, luxurious living leads to weakness among nations and to their, eventual downfall. Luxurious living is an enemy of every call towards truth, justice, and social reform.



"When we decide to destroy a population, we first send a definite order to
those among them who are given the good things of this life and yet
transgress; so that the word is approved true against them, then it is we
destroy them utterly. (17:16)



Every person must bear their own personal responsibility, but Allah never
visits His wrath on anyone until due warning is conveyed to him. Allah's
mercy gives every chance to the wicked to repent.


Never did We send a warner to a population but the wealthy ones among them said:"We believe not in the message with which you have been sent" (34) They said:"We have more in wealth and in sons and we cannot be chastised" (35)
Say:"Verily my Lord enlarges and restricts the provision to whom He pleases, but most men know not" (36) It is not your wealth nor your sons that will bring you near to Us in degree but only those who believe and work righteousness, these are the ones for whom there is a multiplied reward for their deeds while secure they reside in the dwelling on high!(37) (34:34-37)


World power has made many arrogant and worldly pleasures have deadened their knowledge of the truth. They reject the message because it attacks their false position.


Women have been exemted from this prohibition because of their feminine
nature and love for jewlery. Even though gold and silk are permitted, a
female is not to use her adornments as attraction.


As we all agree, only the face and hands are allowed to be shown, however
this excludes such facial make-up and nail polish. These things are
excessive and should only be used in the home. The aim of these types of
women are to attract the attention of men, which is haram.


According to a hadith, reported by Al-Nisai, and also by Ibn Khazimah, and Ibn Hayyan, "When a women puts on perfume and goes among people so that its scent reaches them, she is an adultress and an eye which is attracted to her is that of an adulter."


Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty that will make for greater purity for them and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do (30) And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what ordinarily appear thereof that they should draw their vails over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male attendants free of sexual desires or small children who have no carnal knowledge of women, and that they should not srtike their feet on order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments and O ye believers! turn you all together towards Allah in repentance that you may be successful (31)
(24:30-31)

What Islam prohibits in the sphere of sex includes looking at a member of
the opposite sex with desire, fore the eyes is the key to the feelings and the looks is a messanger of desire, carrying the message of adultry.


The Prophet, told 'Ali Ibn Abu Talib, "Ali, do not let a
second look follow the first. The first look: is allowed to you but not the second." Reported by Ahmad, Abu Daoud and al-Tirmidhi.


The Prophet, also said, "The eyes also commit zina and
their zinna is the lustful look" Reported by al-Bukhari


Intermingling with men in such a way that their bodies come in contact or
that men touch women should be avoided. This id happening in movie
theatures, universities, auditoriums, buses, etc.


Ma'qal ibn Yasar narrated that the Messanger of Allah said, "It is better
for one of you to be pricked in the head with an iron prick than to touch a women whom is unlawful to touch" Reported by al-Tabarani and al-Bayhaqi


Abu Hurairah narrated that the messanger of Allah said, "I will not be a
witness for two types of people who are destined for the fire:people with
whips, like the tails of cows who beat the people (ex: tyrannical rulers who are the enimies of their own people) and women who, although clothed, are yet naked, seducing and being seduced, their hair styled like the tilted humps of camels. These will not enter the Garden nor will its fragrance even reach them, although its fragrance reaches a very great distance"


The astonishing perspective of this hadith is the political opression with moral laxity. This connection is born out of facts, since it is the way of rules to keep people preoccupied with their personal desires and lusts so that they have no time to think about public affairs.


'O Concorts of the Prophet! you are not like any of the other women:if you do fear Allah, be not too complaisant of speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire: but you speak a speech that is just' (33:32)


Muslims should talk and walk in a dignified and business-like manner,
avoiding flirtatious infacial expressions and movements. Flirting and
seductive behaviour are characteristics of wrong-minded people, not of true Muslims.


Surah 24 "Al-Noor" and surah 33 "Al-Ahzab" contain many injuctions
concerning purity, man-women relationships, and dress.