Living a Modest Life According to Islam
Modesty. “Haya”. The prime topic of importance when it comes to religion, especially, Islam. Islam itself means “submission” and “submission to God”. But why is there still so much controversy surrounding this simple word that encapsulates nothing but piety and good intentions? Well to put it in simple words, modesty extends beyond just physical attire. It encapsulates one’s behavior, lifestyle, and choices. The way we dress, speak, and present ourselves to others are all the embodiments of human nature which determine our overall identity. So in a world where self-expression seems to prevail through attire, Islam breaks that stereotype of dressing for impressing.
The Reasoning Behind Modesty
From my personal experience, it actually makes sense why such a principle is set in place for Muslims. As we grow older, we begin to mature and hit the stage of puberty. This also means both our Muslim brothers and sisters will develop desires and infatuations which is totally natural, while also having a stronger yearning for external validation. It happens to all of us. I get it.
I used to wear these cute A-line shirt outfits that my mom would buy for me with a crochet top, along with a soft and fluffy cotton hijab look. They were cute, but honestly not for my time period where girls wore crop tops and baggy jeans to look “cooler”. I got funny looks and stares at times because of what I wore but all I cared about was wearing modest attire. There was always this constant pressure to fit in by following recent fashion trends, wearing overly exaggerated jewelry, or showing skin. If one is willing to give up the worldly pressures of life, then the rewards are truly theirs to reap.
For Allah
The first and foremost reason that one can think of immediately is For Allah. It’s very simple. It is simply because our Lord has commanded us to do so. For Muslim women, it’s not just an article of clothing, but our crown that shows us our place in the world. We wear it for Allah, to impress Him and only Him. Allah has ordered us specifically in the Quran to wear the hijab as a veil to protect our beauty, our pearls and to reserve that beauty for only those who have the lawful right to it. Allah SWT has made it our duty to wear the hijab to guard ourselves from the gaze of “na-mehrams” and unwanted temptations. We don’t realize how fragile our desires and temptations are until we’re older.
As it is mentioned in Surah An-Nur, Verse 31:
“Say to the believing women that: they should cast down their glances and guard their private parts (by being chaste) and not display their beauty except what is apparent, and they should place their khumur over their bosoms…” (24:31).
The Quran has clearly stated it in Surah 24, Verse 31, explicitly ordering the believing women to lower their gaze and cover their private areas. What does this include? The ears, neck, as well as the upper part of the bosoms. Did you know khumur is plural for khimar? By definition it simply means a piece of cloth that covers the head.
The Quran has clearly stated it in Surah 24, Verse 31, explicitly ordering the believing women to lower their gaze and cover their private areas. What does this include? The ears, neck, as well as the upper part of the bosoms. Did you know khumur is plural for khimar? By definition it simply means a piece of cloth that covers the head. The Quran being the book of guidance is what outlines what we should and should not do as Muslims.
Why has Allah SWT ordered us to wear it?
Protection
How can we gain protection from the hijab? Let’s take a modern day example and put it into perspective. Since I am a computer programmer as well, I like to use this nerdy example a lot. Let’s say you want to create a social media account which will consist of all your personal data, messages, posts, and so on? How do you safeguard that information? Through encryption technology, correct? Just like that, our hijab is our encryption and only the mahrams have access to it.
Take another example. You’re walking out on the street past maghrib time that may be filled with people of bad intentions, thieves or kidnappers, but you’re fully covered from head to toe with a pitch black hijab, abaya and to top it off, a niqab. You’re not just a princess of Islam, but almost a ninja in the dark. Do you feel a sense of safety and security? The hijab is meant to act as a protective shield against the impurities of the world. Who is more likely to be attacked then? Someone who is well covered from head to toe or someone wearing any type of clothing that may attract the gaze of men? Now that is not to say that harassment has a linear relationship with the way women dress, but men are more likely to make women without modesty their target. Again, this can be argued and everyone has the right to their opinion.
As it is mentioned in Surah Al-Ahzab, Verse 59:
O Prophet! Ask your wives, daughters, and believing women to draw their cloaks over their bodies. In this way it is more likely that they will be recognized ˹as virtuous˺ and not be harassed. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (33:59).
Privacy
Hijab is beautiful in the sense that it provides a sense of privacy. Protection has more to do with saving yourself from outside dangers, while privacy has more to do with preserving your belongings in a safe spot like a cache. Privacy can be achieved through modesty by observing the hijab appropriately and only showing your full self to those who are allowed to. I think the concept of marriage is beautiful as it reinforces this idea more of only giving the right ones access to you.
When we get married, our husband becomes our mahram. Even if a couple is engaged, it does not mean the fiancee is a mahram. It is not until the Nikkah has occurred that a man becomes a mahram. After that, he is free to see you. I think it’s beautiful that you only allow one man in the world to have the key to your heart, to your beauty, and aura.
Who else are our mahrams besides our husband, if you’re wondering? Check out my other blog post for the complete list with supportive evidence.
Hello there:)