Importance of modesty

Dear Islamic brothers! Islam gives a lot of importance to modesty. Highlighting the importance of modesty, the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, who preached modesty, has stated: ‘اَلْاِيمَانُ بِضْعٌ وَّسَبْعُونَ شُعْبَةً، وَالْحَيَاءُ شُعْبَةٌ مِنَ الْاِيمَانِ’ i.e. Iman [faith] has more than seventy (70) branches, and modesty is one of the branches of Iman. (Sahih Muslim, Kitab-ul-Iman, pp. 45, Hadees 35)

Hakeem-ul-Ummat, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Na’eemi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه writes: ‘True (essence of) modesty does not lie in the fact of only apparently performing virtuous deeds and acknowledging modesty only verbally; rather, modesty means to safeguard your apparent and non-apparent organs from sins. Therefore, one shall refrain from bowing his head down in prostration to anyone else except Allah Almighty; one shall purify his mind from ostentation [showing-off] and arrogance; one shall safeguard his tongue, eyes and ears from saying, seeing and listening to impermissible things. This would be the protection of the head. One shall protect his stomach from Haraam food, his private parts from fornication and his heart from evil desires. This would be the protection of the stomach. The truth of the matter is that these blessings can be attained by the bestowment of Allah Almighty and the gracious sight of the Beloved Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 2, pp. 440; summarised)

What is modesty?

Remember! Modesty is such a trait that stops a person from evil deeds. The Holy Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated: ‘اِذَا لَمْ تَسْتَحْیِ فَاصْنَعْ مَا شِئْتَ’ i.e. if you do not possess modesty, then do whatever you like. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 2, chap. 56, pp. 470, Hadees 3484)

Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـه states: This saying is to make us feel fear that ‘do whatever you like’. You reap what you sow. If you do bad, (perform an immodest action), then you will face its punishment.

A noble person gave his son some advice. Its summary is as follows: ‘Whilst committing sin, when you feel no shame from anyone on the earth or in the sky, then consider yourself to be amongst the animals.’