becomes mubah [permissible]; such as observing modesty from performing a mubah shar’i [i.e. an action that sharia has declared to be permissible].^[1] 

Connection of modesty with the environment

Dear Islamic brothers, environment and upbringing play a vital role in spreading modesty. A person’s modesty is greatly refined if he is blessed with a modest environment. On the other hand, the company of immoral people makes a person immodest, removing the purity of his heart and eyes. Due to this, a person indulges in countless immoral and impermissible acts. It was the blessing of modesty that stopped a person from committing sins and evil actions. When modesty is removed, then what will prevent one from committing evil actions?

There are many people who do not commit evil actions due to the fear of being defamed. However, those immodest people who do not care about being defamed end up committing every sin, transgress the boundaries of morality and enter the domain of immorality, and do not even feel ashamed to perform those actions that are against human ethics. Conversely, the righteous servants of Allah Almighty are not only an embodiment of modesty, rather modesty is embedded in every vein of theirs.

For encouragement, let us listen to a faith-enlightening account regarding the modesty of the third caliph of Islam and the beloved companion of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, Sayyiduna ꜤUthmān b. ꜤAffān رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ:

Even angels observe modesty

Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا narrates:

One day, the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was lying down in his blessed house while his clothing was lifted from his blessed thigh or shin. During this time, the first Caliph of Islam, Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ came and sought permission to enter. The noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم called him inside, so he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ entered. However, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم remained lying in the same position and continued conversing.

After this, the second Caliph of Islam, Sayyidunā ꜤUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ also came and sought permission to enter. The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم also gave him permission, so he too entered. Yet, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم continued reclining like before, i.e., his blessed thigh or shin remained uncovered by his clothing.

Then, the third Caliph of Islam, Sayyidunā ꜤUthmān b. ꜤAffān رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ came. However, when he sought permission to enter, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم sat upright and straightened his clothes. Thereafter, he granted Sayyidunā ꜤUthmān b. ꜤAffān رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ permission to enter.

Umm al-Mu`mineen, Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا further states:  

When they all left, I asked the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, “Ya Rasoolallah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! What was the reason that when my honourable father, Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ came, you remained in a lying position? Then Sayyidunā ꜤUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ came, but you still remained lying like before and did not even move. However, when Sayyidunā ꜤUthmān b. ꜤAffān رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ came, you sat upright and straightened your clothes?” Replying to this question of Sayyidatuna