Modesty and immodesty

Islam teaches modesty.  It instructs us to be chaste.  Let alone actually committing adultery or acts of indecency, Islam prohibits even approaching them.  Allah Ta'ala says:   And do not draw near to shameful deeds (whether) open or hidden. And do not kill the soul whose (killing).  Surah An'aam (6:151)   And do not even go near unlawful sex (adultery). Verily it is an act of lewdness and is the most evil way.  Surah Isra (17:32)   Modesty is such a basic part of etiquette that no religion and cultured person can denies its importance and need.  That’s the reason the religion of Islam has declared modesty as a part of Iman (faith).    As given in the Hadith of Sahih Bukhari:   Translation of Hadith:  It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Faith has more than sixty branches and modesty is a great branch.  (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 9)   It is a clear truth that modesty is the dividing line between humanity and animalism.   Human beings should understand their status and honor and should acquire those qualities which are below the level of humanity.    When the religion of Islam places such emphasis on modesty that it has been declared as a part for faith, Muslims, for their Iman, should outdo the efforts of the orientalists who are conspiring to deprive the Muslims of the beautiful jewel of modesty.     If the Muslims do not pay attention to Purdah (i.e. Hijab and veil), then whatever of the Purdah remains in the Muslim society, even that will be gone and like the western society, the Muslim society will be embroiled in deadly diseases.  As the experts in the field of sexology have said that, today in the society, there is much carelessness about matters of sex.  There is no embarrassment and/or regret about adultery, sodomy or any other unnatural and forbidden sexual acts, instead the media have made it so that for the youth chastity and modesty are themselves a cause of embarrassment.   This is one kind of world-wide deceit as well as a political and cultural scheme that in the name of independence and liberalization, women should be taken out in the markets, should be made to cast away her veil and should be reduced to a mere toy.  With this, women are being cheated.   The woman, who would remain in her house with chastity and dignity, has been taken out of her house and has been disgraced to such an extent that nowadays people think that it is impossible to sell even a bar of soap without a half-nude picture of a woman. There are some who in the name of women’s liberalization and independence, want to expose women, and there are some who advocate keeping the face uncovered before everyone.    Removing the veil from a woman's face is like inviting many societal evils.  The crime rate is increasing day by day in the world.  Jewels, chains, etc. are being snatched from women who pass on the road.  Due to air pollution, various diseases are being born.  In all this, mostly those women are affected who do not use a Niqab (nose piece) i.e. who do not cover their face.  In this way, along with modesty and chastity, it is an additional blessing of covering the face, that the women using the Niqab are safe from are not affected by these new diseases and from these thefts as well.   Today those who oppose Islam are using various methods to defame Islam and Muslims.  Sometimes they joke about the Islamic Shariah, sometimes using the matter of divorce (Talaq) in Islam, sometimes by claiming the veil to be a form of imprisonment.   It is against sense and sanity to claim that Purdah to be a sign of slavery and imprisonment.  In this dangerous and unsafe world, if Muslims want peace and solace, they can only get it in the shade of Islam.

Dr. Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri

Shaykh Ul Fiqh, Jamia Nizamia; Founder - Director

Mufti Maulana Syed Zia Uddin Naqshbandi Quadri

Shaik-ul-Fiqh - Jamia Nizamia

Scholarly Articles

Modesty and immodesty