2.35. MODESTY AND GARMENTS (to be continued)

God says

O Adam, dwell thou and thy wife in this garden, and eat, both of you whatever you may wish; but do not approach this one tree, lest you become evildoers! – Q. 7:19
The first command of God to man was not to disobey and become “evildoers”. It happened immediately after the episode of the creation of Adam and Iblis being thrown out of grace.

Thereupon Satan (Iblis) whispered unto the two with a view to making them conscious of their nakedness, of which [hitherto] they had been unaware; and he said: “Your Sustainer has but forbidden you this tree lest you two become [as] angels, or lest you live forever.” – Q. 7:20
The first attack of Satan was on man’s modesty, using his powerful weapon: presenting evil to man as tempting (but false) good.

-- and thus he [Satan] led them on with deluding thoughts.
But as soon as they tasted of the tree, their shame became manifest to them; and they began to cover themselves with pieced-together leaves from the garden…….. Q. 7: 22
The first disobedience of man to his Lord resulted in his nakedness. Disobedience is sin, which always results in what is evil and, hence, harmful for man.

Against this backdrop of what happened to Adam and Eve, read next Friday, inshaAllah, what God says to us, the children of Adam.


Prophet said

1. “Modesty brings nothing but good. (And in a narration:) Modesty is good in its everything. ”– H: Bukhari Muslim and others. N: Imran-b-Hussain.

2.34. MODESTY (HAYA) concluded

God says

Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity: that will make greater purity for them: and God is well acquainted with whatever they do. -- Q24:30

And tell believing women to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity, and not to display their charms [in public] beyond what may [decently] be apparent thereof; hence, let them draw their head-coverings over their bosoms.*…and let them not swing [in walking] so as to draw attention to their hidden charms. Q.24: 31
*since in accordance with the earlier fashion at the time (of the Prophet), the upper part of woman’s tunic had a wide opening in the front (as is generally seen today.)

As for those who avoid the [truly] grave sins and shameful deeds– even though they may sometime stumble* -- sometimes – Indeed, thy Sustainer is abounding in forgiveness. -- Q.53:32
*I.e., not deliberately – followed by sincere repentance (Baghawi, Razi, Ibn Khatir)


Prophet said

2. “Modesty adorns wherein it occurs.” – H: Tirmizi. N: Anas.

3. Abu Sa’eed al-Khodri reported that the Messenger of God was much more bashful than the virgins in their head-veils…. H: Bukhari, Muslim and others.

2.34. MODESTY (HAYA) to be continued

God says

And vie with one another to attain to your Sustainer’s forgiveness and to a paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth which has been readied for the God-conscious -- Q.3:133

… and (the God-conscious) who, when they have committed a shameful act or have [otherwise] sinned against themselves, remember God and pray that their sins may be forgiven – for who but God could forgive sins? – and do not knowingly persist in doing whatever [wrong] they may have done.-- Q.3:135

….and [truly, to a happy state shall attain the believers] who are intent on inner purity and who are mindful of their chastity, [not giving away to their desires] with any but their spouses – that is, those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock] -- Q.23: 4-6


Prophet said

1. “Modesty is a part of faith, and faith is in paradise”– H: Ahmed and Tirmizi. N: Abu Hurairah.

2.33. SHAMELESSNESS (concluded)

God says

… [true servants of the Most Gracious are they] who never invoke any [imaginary] deity side by side with God, and do not take any human being’s life -- [the life] which God has willed to be sacred – otherwise than in [the pursuit of] justice, and do not commit adultery. And [know that] he who commits aught thereof ( i.e., any of the three sins mentioned) shall [not only] meet with a full requital [but] shall have his suffering doubled on Resurrection Day: for on that [Day] he shall abide in ignominy.

Excepted, however, shall be they who repent and attain to faith and do righteous deeds: for it is they whose [erstwhile] bad deeds God will transform into good ones – seeing that God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace, and seeing that he who repents and [thenceforth] does what is right has turned unto God by [this very act of] repentance. -- Q.25:68-71

…. prayer restrains [one] from loathsome deeds and from all that runs counter to reason [and moral sense]; Q.29:45

Whatever you are given [now] is but for [passing] enjoyment of life in this world – whereas that which is with God is far better and more enduring. [It shall be given] to all who attain to faith and in their Sustainer place their trust; and who shun the more heinous sins and abominations; and who, when they are moved to anger, readily forgive. -- Q.42:36,37


Prophet said

2. “Obscenity is a part of hardness of heart, and hardness of heart is in the fire”– H: Ahmed and Tirmizi. N: Abu Huraira.

3. “One of the things people adopted from the earlier prophetic sayings is : When you have no shame, do what you like” -- H: Bukhari. N: Ibn Masud.