Living as a citizen of Pakistan or as a person on this earth in the 22nd century where everything has ultra-modernised from growing crops to educational resources and even with advancements in digital marketing. It is such a pity to say that our knowledge of our background, of our origin as Muslims is as of yet still complicated and limited, I sat down on a bench on my school’s patio filling out a survey regarding hijab on the 4th of September that is celebrated as the World Hijab Day, and to my surprise the questions were all so different from what I had expected. All the questions led to asking about the covering of the body and protecting of the gaze and I felt lost, while there is so much progress in every field of life we haven’t even refined our knowledge regarding Islam, our genesis, our way of living!
Now let’s pause here, and let me ask you a question!
What do you think of Modesty?
Let me guess wearing a headscarf protecting your hair and neck, or wearing a long gown and a robe?
Well, I am sure many of you think this is what hijab/modesty is all about because Artificial Intelligence also feels the same.
Now, yes Modesty is all about concealing your beauty and adornment as said in the Quran, ” O Prophet! Enjoin your wives, your daughters, and the wives of true believers that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad).
That is most convenient, that they may be distinguished and not be harassed. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Holy Qur’an 33:58-59)”
But, we have confined our belief of modesty to just covering our head and that’s all because of our narrow-minded views, today Hijab is seen as a sign of oppression and whatnot.
Have you ever wondered that there is more to the term modesty that is not just constricted to covering your head?
Being modest means shielding your physical body, but it also means guarding your character now what does that mean?
It means being chaste in your dealings, and being modest while you are conveying your point of view as said by Hazrat Abu Bakra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Modesty is part of belief. Belief is in the Garden.
Foul language is part of coarseness and coarseness is in the Fire”,
and being meagre with what you are spending, and guarding your eyes because eyes are the windows that open to your heart.
Yes, all bad sins that are committed by humans are first witnessed through the eyes and then whatever you take in through them is then implemented whether knowingly or unknowingly!
And it’s true with all the evolution around the world we are still stuck and trying to perceive what is modesty, we are still being stereotyped and being victims of racism because we fail to comprehend the actual teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet(PBUH).
Conclusively, There is so much more to the topic of being modest than just covering your head and lowering your gaze it is a whole way of living.
It was narrated from Anas that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Every religion has its distinct characteristic, and the distinct characteristic of Islam is modesty.”
