Modesty, Chastity, and Morality in our Society

 

In a time when modesty, chastity, and morality are often overshadowed by the pressures of modern trends, both men and women are called to embody morality to protect their dignity and spiritual essence. The time when the moral and virtuous decline in our societies, the absence of the concept of modesty, and the increasing complaints from women of my gender about sexual assaults, as well as the rising cases of pregnancy among girls under the age of 18, have deeply motivated me to seek answers about, where do morals truly reside, and how can we elevate ourselves to higher levels of ethical conducts?

In search of that, I found the Qur’anic Scripture talks about morality, modesty, and chastity in a collective word known as “Al-Hayaa.” This is an Arabic word with profound meanings; the root of this word has the meaning of "Life and Living," resembling all "Moral Things" in human life, including modesty, chastity, ethics, justice, love, and kindness.   

The Meaning of Al-Hayaa

The word "Al-Hayaa” is indeed Profound and Encapsulates a wide array of Moral, Spiritual, and Ethical dimensions, Personal Behavior, and Purposes of Life. Its root is connected to Life and Living, signifying vitality and a sense of being alive with high morality and spiritual consciousness. This connection suggests that is a core aspect of a Flourishing and Righteous Life.

In Islamic teachings, al-Hayaa is not just shyness, modesty, or morality in the superficial sense; it is a comprehensive attribute deeply intertwined with Faith and the Innate Human Disposition.

Some aspects of Al-Hayaa:

1. Reflection of Faith: Al-Hayaa is a branch of Faith. It is directly linked to one’s awareness of the Almighty God, Allah, and the acknowledgment of being observed by Him. This awareness instills a sense of responsibility and humility in all actions.
2. Modesty, Morality, and Chastity: Al-Hayaa represents a sense of being modest that is both inward and outward. 
3. Respect for the Creator and His Creation: Al-Hayaa extends to one’s interactions with others and the Creator. Toward Allah, means feeling shame or discomfort in disobeying His commands, as though standing in His presence. Toward others, it involves treating them with respect, avoiding harm, and maintaining decorum.
4. Natural Disposition (Fitrah): in Islamic theology, every human is born with Al-Hayaa as part of their natural state (the Qur'an calls it "Fitrah"). It is an instinctive sense of right and wrong, that guides moral behavior. However, this quality can diminish due to neglect or negative influences, emphasizing the importance of nurturing it through Faith and Righteous actions. The Prophet Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him, said: "Every child is born upon the Natural Disposition (Fitrah); Then his parents make him a Jew, a Christian, or a Magian." (Sunan Ibn Majah)
5. A Pillar of Ethical Conduct: Al-Hayaa promotes harmony and peace in society by encouraging individuals to adhere to ethical principles. It discourages arrogance, vulgarity, and harm, fostering a culture of mutual respect and decency.
6. A Comprehensive Way of Life: In Islam, Al-Hayaa transcends the individual and becomes a societal value. It shapes interactions, strengthens relationships, and builds trust. It is evident in how Muslims are encouraged to behave in public, fulfill their responsibilities, and maintain their dignity.

Al-Hayaa is Righteousness 

Therefore, Al-Hayaa in Islam is more than a single virtue; it is a combination of righteousness, modesty, ethics in every human character, morality in all aspects of life, accountability in being conscious of one’s actions in this world and the Hereafter, and harmony in interactions with others that promoting goodness and discouraging evil.

Indeed, Islam is the Religion of "Al-Hayaa. The Prophet Mohammad, blessings and peace be upon him, said: “Every man-made religion has its distinct characteristic, and the distinct characteristic of the religion of Allah, Islam, is Al-Hayaa” (Sunan Ibn Majah).

In the Qur’an, Allah said: "And tell the believing women to live in "Al-Hayaa to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments except what normally appears thereof. And let them draw their veils over their neck and chest and not expose their adornments except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, those their right hands possess or male attendants having no physical desire (because of their age), or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stomp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornments. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed." (The Qur'an 24: 31). The verse promotes purity, modesty, and a moral framework for interactions in society. This verse instructs women to lower their gaze maintain modesty and guard their chastity. 

In another verse of the Qur’an, Allah again directing women in the issue of Al-Hayaa, said: "O Prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and the women of the believers to be in Al-Hayaa and bring down over themselves part of their outer garments. That is more suitable so that they may be recognized and not harmed. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (The Qur'an 33: 59). By commanding women to dress modesty, Allah establishes a system where a woman’s identity is preserved as one of dignity, self-respect, and adherence to Divine principles. Modesty helps signal society that such women demand respect and are not objectified. Social studies and statistics show that environments promoting modesty tend to have fewer or none instances of sexual harassments. This reflects Allah’s promise in action, showing how modesty serves as a form of protection for women.    

Similarly, we observe the same Al-Hayaa issue in the story of Maryam (Mary), blessings and peace be upon her, Allah said: "And mention in the Book the story of Maryam (Mary) and her nest example of Al-Hayaa, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east. She secluded herself from them, and We sent to her Our Spirit Angel Jibreel, and he appeared before her in the form of a perfect man." (The Qur’an 19: 16). This story underscores Maryam’s exemplary character, highlighting her purity, devotion, unwavering faith, and embodiment of Al-Hayaa, making her a role model for women in Islam.

Again, the story of Prophet Musa (Moses) and the daughters of Prophet Shu’ayb is narrated in the Qur'an: "Then one of the two women came to him, walking with shyness and state of Al-Hayaa, She said, 'Indeed, my father invites you that he may reward you for having fetching water for us; So when he came to him and related to him the story, he said, 'Fear not. You have escaped from the wrongdoing people.'" (The Qur'an 28: 25). 

Thus, women play a significant role in shaping societal values due to their central position in families and communities, and act as influencers of societies in the following ways:

Physiological Impact: women often serve as primary caregivers and educators in families, shaping the moral and ethical framework of future generations. Their behavior and values at their own homes have a ripple effect on society. The way that a mother teaches her daughters about modesty and chastity will reflect on how they be in their society.

Symbol of Modesty: historically, women’s modesty and chastity have been associated with preserving family becoming a cultural and religious ideal.

However, societies frequently impose stricter modesty standards on women than on men, this sometimes can lead to misconception that women alone drive societal corruption. there must be shared responsibility, and in reality, both men and women contribute to societal values. Women are not inherently a driving force for societal corruption; rather, the imbalance in gender expectations and societal exploitation of women’s roles can distort perceptions of morality. True societal reform requires shared responsibility across genders, with both men and women embodying values of modesty, respect, and mutual accountability. 

Lessons from Al-Hayaa in our modern time:

Unfortunately, in our modern time, women are seen as potential targets for objectification:

Exploitation of femininity: in many cases, media and consumer culture exploit women’s bodies and beauty for profit; promoting objectification and desensitization to modesty. This is very much contributing to societal decay – but isn’t driven by women themselves! Why women are accepting downgrading themselves to the extent that men manipulate them as they please? 

Cultural narratives: when modesty is neglected, it may perpetuate a cycle where hyper-sexualization becomes normalized, influencing attitudes and behaviors across genders, but women are the ones most affected.

Islam is opposing such exploitation of femininity. Al-Hayaa itself is not just about dress but a comprehensive trait that reflects in behavior, speech, and interactions; women should strive to uphold modesty in their attire by covering themselves as prescribed by the Divine Code, ensuring that their clothing reflects their faith and guards them against objectification. They should cultivate humility, speak with purpose, and engage with dignity, avoiding situations or environments that compromise their values. By prioritizing their identity as servants of their Creator over societal expectations, they can reject being exploited as mere objects of attraction or tools for commerce. Instead, they should stand as role models of chastity, self-respect, and moral strength, inspiring others to embrace true empowerment through the beauty of morality and modesty. This adherence to Al-Hayaa is not only a shield for the individual but also a powerful contribution to restoring morality and respect not only in our society but to the entire world.

I Rest My Case..!

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References:

The Holy Qur’an. Translation by Sahih International, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2017.

Hadith, Sunan Ibn Majah – Sunnah.com. A collection of Hadith from the Prophet Mohammad.

Islamic Perspectives on Family and Social: A Scoping Review. Springer Link, 2024. https://www.springernature.com/gp/open-research.