While the world harvests the fruit of vulgarity, the principle of modesty still holds its value. Did you know the word modesty has been derived from the Latin word “modestus”, literally meaning “keeping within measure”? In Urdu, it can be translated as “Haya”. Modesty can manifest itself both in the form of personal outlook and character.

All the prophets encouraged modesty and warned against the consequences of showing inappropriate behaviour. The Noble Quran and hadith about modesty put great emphasis on the nobility of character. On one occasion, the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) has been quoted as calling it a “branch of Iman (faith)”. (Hadees No. 9, Sahih Bukhari)

Quranic Verse about Modesty:

Among the Ayahs of the Glorious Quran that teach about modesty, the verses 30 and 31 of Chapter 24 (Surah An-Nur) are particularly notable. In the former, the believing men have been commanded to lower their eyes and guard the private parts as it is purer for them.

The latter (verse 31), on the other hand, stresses on the women to show modest behaviour. They have been commanded to reduce some of their vision (lower their gaze) and show their adornment only to “their husbands, fathers, husbands' fathers, sons, husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women.”

Disadvantages of Immodesty:

An evil, immodesty invites more evils which spread chaos in the society. For example, inappropriate (provocative or skinny) dresses sexually electrify the environment and fill the hearts and minds of people with sensation.A bad dress is also one of the reasons why many girls are not getting married.