Modesty of our Pious Predecessors

Our pious predecessors were very shy and modest. If their gaze ever fell on a woman unexpectedly, they would immediately lower their gaze and repent to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ . Alas! Nowadays, there are large numbers of Muslims who follow the blessed saints of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and arrange the Ijtima’at for their Isal-e-Sawaab, but there are very few Muslims who try to act upon their blessed conduct, protect their sight and are embodiments of modesty. There are very few Muslims who think that ‘Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is seeing.’ ‘The Beloved Prophet Muhammad  صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is seeing.’

There are very few Muslims who have fear of the difficult time of the Hereafter.

There are very few Muslims who protect themselves from sins by keeping in mind the punishments in the Hereafter and most of all there are extremely few Muslims who have the mind-set of protecting their gazes.

Regarding the modesty of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم a renowned Companion, Sayyiduna Abu Sa’eed Khudri رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has said: The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was more shy (modest) than a maiden in her Pardah.

(Mishkat, vol. 2, pp. 365, Hadees 5813)

Elaborating on the above-mentioned Hadees, a renowned commentator, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said: When a maiden is about to get married, she is made to sit in a corner of the house. It is called sitting [the girl] in Mayon in Urdu. The girl is very shy at this time; she feels shy with the family members and does not freely talk to anyone.

The shyness of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was more than this. Modesty is a special secret quality of man, the stronger his faith will be, the more modest he will be.

(Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 8, pp. 73)

آقا کی حیا سے جُھکی رہتی نظر اکثر آنکھوں پہ مرے بھائی لگا قفلِ مدینہ

In the blessed era of Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ there was a young man who was very pious and used to worship a lot. Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ would also be surprised at his worship.

After performing Isha Salah in the Masjid, this young man would go to and look after his old father. On the way, a beautiful woman would call him towards her, but he would not pay any attention to her and would pass by keeping his gaze lowered. Finally, one day, the young man moved towards her with an evil intention due to a satanic whisper and her call.

As he reached the door, he recalled the blessed saying of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ: It is stated in part 9 of Surah Al A’raf, Ayah 201

اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ اتَّقَوۡا اِذَا مَسَّہُمۡ طٰٓئِفٌ مِّنَ الشَّیۡطٰنِ تَذَکَّرُ وۡا فَاِذَا ہُمۡ مُّبۡصِرُوۡنَ

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: Indeed those who fear get alerted whenever a temptation from the devil troubles them, and they perceive immediately.

(Part 9, Surah Al-A’raf, Ayah 201)

Upon recalling the blessed Ayah his heart was so overpowered with the fear of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ that he fell down unconscious. When much time had passed and he did not reach his home, his old father went out in search for him, after finding him, with the help of some people he took him home.

As he gained consciousness, his father asked him about the whole incident. Having explained the whole incident the young man mentioned the blessed Ayah, again he was overpowered with extreme fear of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. He screamed loudly and passed away. His Ghusl, undertaking and burial were carried out in the night.

In the morning, when this incident was related to Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ he went to his father to express his condolences. He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ told him: ‘Why did you not inform me in the night?’ ‘I would have also attended the funeral.’

The old father humbly said, ‘Ya Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen! Keeping your rest in mind I did not find it suitable. He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ said: Take me to his grave. Having reached there he recited the following blessed Ayah:

وَ لِمَنۡ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّہٖ جَنَّتٰنِ

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: And for one who fears to stand before his Lord, are two Gardens.

(Part 27, Surah Ar Rahman, Ayah 46)

The young man said loudly by calling out from inside his grave: Ya Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen! Indeed, my Rab has granted me two Paradises.

(Sharh-us-Sudoor, pp. 213)

Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ who was brought up by the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was so modest that the embodiment of modesty himself صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم respected his modesty and the innocent angels of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ also felt shy from him.

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Aamir Bin Rabee’ah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has said: (On the day of the siege) we were with Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ. Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ said ‘I swear by Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! I never committed fornication during the pre-Islamic era of ignorance, nor have I committed it after embracing Islam. (Instead), after embracing Islam my modesty has further increased.’

(Sunan Nasa`ee, pp. 2351, Hadees 4024)

یا اِلٰہی دے ہمیں بھی دولتِ شرم و حیا
حضرتِ عثماں غنِی با حیا کے واسطے

Women play a very important role in spoiling or reforming the society. For example, if she is righteous, pious and modest, then these attributes will transfer to her generations. Therefore, despite doing impermissible fashions and unnecessarily going to shopping centres, markets, co-entertainment places, co-educational institutes and places of immodesty, women should form the habit of staying in their homes by taking a lesson from the pure life history and character of Ummahat-ul-Mu`mineen and the daughters of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم especially the lady of Paradise.

These are those holy personages, who were extremely modest by virtue of the company of Beloved Mustafa صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم especially the modesty of his beloved daughter, the lady of Paradise, is certainly admirable and worthy to be followed.

Remember! Satan wants to unveil the woman by any means in order to destroy her modesty in public. It wants men to commit the sin of unlawful gazing so that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ can be displeased with them and they deserve the punishment of Hell. It is because of this that the followers of Satan first of all raised this slogan, ‘Men and women both should work together’.

The curse of this slogan appears like this that the woman, who was safe inside her home, came out unveiling and then after some time this sentence was also heard: Ladies first. That is, first of all women were made to stand with men shoulder to shoulder and then they were made to go one step ahead of men.

Our ladies started thinking that by this sentence they are being given respect in the society; however the aim of this sentence is to use her beauty for gaining financial benefits by fooling her. It is very clearly shown on fashion shows, bill boards and advertisements.

Similarly, in the offices, banks and hospitals, in short, wherever we go we see women are working there. Modern girls are especially appointed at receptions, so that people’s attention can be attracted and business can thrive, even shaking hands with young women is not considered to be bad.

Modesty makes a person honourable and a respectable member of society by bringing elegance and brilliance to his life. On the contrary, immodesty disgraces and humiliates him.

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ bless all of us with the treasure of shyness and modesty!

اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِه وَسَلَّم

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد