Study the lives of the pious predecessors

Dear Islamic brothers! Another way of adopting modesty is to study the accounts and lives of the pious predecessors رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـه. Sometimes, people are greatly affected by the lives and conduct of the people of Allah Almighty and develop a hatred for immodest and sinful actions, as well as gaining an inclination towards good deeds and a desire to be like them. Let’s listen to a saying of the Sahabi of the Prophet, Sayyiduna Salman Farsi رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, regarding modesty: He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ states, ‘According to me, it is better if I die and then come alive, then die and then come alive, then die and then come alive than if I look at someone’s private area or they look at mine.’ (Tanbih-ul-Ghafileen, p. 258, summarised)

Adopt good company

Dear Islamic brothers! The environment and upbringing play a big role in spreading modesty. Coming across an environment of modesty greatly increases modesty, whereas, immodest company snatches the purity of the heart and eyes, and brings about obscenity, which causes a person to fall into immodest, immoral and impermissible actions. Every Muslim should adopt the company of the righteous people of Allah Almighty, and before adopting the company of anyone, a person should ponder over whose company he is adopting. Whilst giving encouragement for finding religious friends, Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen Sayyiduna Umar-e-Farooq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ states the following: ‘Seek true friends and live your life in their refuge, for a true friend is an adornment in times of joy, and provision in times of difficulty. And do not adopt the company of a sinner, otherwise you will learn how to sin from him.’ (Ihya-ul-‘Uloom, vol. 2, p. 214)

Ponder upon the harms of immodesty

Dear Islamic brothers! The harms of immodesty for one’s Hereafter have their own place, but its worldly losses are also great; the immodest person is shamed and disgraced in the society, his awe and authority ceases, people do not have slightest respect for him in their hearts, and there are many other harms besides this.