Authored by: Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rahman Azmi (Rahimahullah)
Chapter: The Virtues of Modesty
I heard Imran bin Husayn say: The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Modesty brings nothing but good."
At this, Bashir bin Ka'b said, "It is written in wisdom literature that modesty includes dignity and tranquility." Imran replied:
"I narrate to you from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and you cite your writings?"
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6117, Sahih Muslim 37:60]
❀ Narrated by Ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهما):
The Prophet (ﷺ) passed by an Ansari who was advising his brother about modesty. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Leave him, for modesty is a part of faith."
In another narration: The man was rebuking his brother, saying, "You are too modest, as if modesty is harming you." The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Leave him, for modesty is a part of faith."
[Sahih al-Bukhari 24, Sahih Muslim 36, and others]
❀ Narrated by Hamid bin Abdul Rahman:
I, along with a companion, visited a man among the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) named Asir, who said:
"The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Modesty brings nothing but good.'"
[Hasan, Musnad Abu Ya'la 2627]
❀ Narrated by Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet (ﷺ) was more modest than a virgin in her private chamber. If he disliked something, we could see it in his face.
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6102, Sahih Muslim 2320]
❀ Narrated by Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari ('Uqbah bin 'Amr):
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Among the words of wisdom from the earlier Prophets that people have retained is: 'If you have no shame, do whatever you wish.'”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6120]
❀ Narrated by Hudhayfah bin al-Yaman (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Among the sayings of earlier Prophets that people have preserved is: 'If you do not feel shame, then do whatever you wish.'”
[Sahih, Musnad Ahmad 23254, al-Bazzar 2835]
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Modesty is part of faith, and faith is in Paradise. Vulgarity stems from cruelty, and cruelty is in Hellfire."
[Hasan, Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2009, Musnad Ahmad 10512]
❀ Narrated by Abu Bakrah (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Modesty is part of faith, and faith leads to Paradise. Vulgarity stems from rudeness, and rudeness leads to Hellfire."
[Sahih, Ibn Majah 4184, Ibn Hibban 5704]
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Whenever indecency exists in something, it disfigures it, and whenever modesty is in something, it adorns it."
[Sahih, Sunan al-Tirmidhi 1974, Ibn Majah 4185]
A man asked the Prophet (ﷺ), "Advise me." The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"I advise you to be as modest before Allah as you are modest before a righteous man from your community."
[Sahih, Musnad Ahmad 248, Muhammad bin Nasr al-Marwazi in Ta'zim Qadr al-Salah 826]
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Every religion has a defining characteristic, and the defining characteristic of Islam is modesty."
[Sahih, al-Tabarani in al-Saghir 1/13]
I asked Umar bin Abdul Aziz (رحمه الله) to narrate to me from a companion of the Prophet (ﷺ). He recognized the companion and said:
"The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Modesty, chastity, and restraint of the tongue are from faith, and these increase a person’s reward in the Hereafter but decrease their worldly gains. Conversely, vulgarity, cruelty, and greed are signs of hypocrisy, and these increase worldly gains but decrease rewards in the Hereafter.'”
[Hasan, Sunan al-Darimi 526]
May Allah grant us the virtue of modesty and guide us to emulate the character of the Prophet (ﷺ).
Ameen.
Chapter: The Virtues of Modesty
Hadith on the Excellence of Modesty
❀ Narrated by Abu al-Sawar al-Adawi:I heard Imran bin Husayn say: The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Modesty brings nothing but good."
At this, Bashir bin Ka'b said, "It is written in wisdom literature that modesty includes dignity and tranquility." Imran replied:
"I narrate to you from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and you cite your writings?"
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6117, Sahih Muslim 37:60]
❀ Narrated by Ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهما):
The Prophet (ﷺ) passed by an Ansari who was advising his brother about modesty. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Leave him, for modesty is a part of faith."
In another narration: The man was rebuking his brother, saying, "You are too modest, as if modesty is harming you." The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Leave him, for modesty is a part of faith."
[Sahih al-Bukhari 24, Sahih Muslim 36, and others]
❀ Narrated by Hamid bin Abdul Rahman:
I, along with a companion, visited a man among the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) named Asir, who said:
"The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Modesty brings nothing but good.'"
[Hasan, Musnad Abu Ya'la 2627]
❀ Narrated by Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet (ﷺ) was more modest than a virgin in her private chamber. If he disliked something, we could see it in his face.
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6102, Sahih Muslim 2320]
❀ Narrated by Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari ('Uqbah bin 'Amr):
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Among the words of wisdom from the earlier Prophets that people have retained is: 'If you have no shame, do whatever you wish.'”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6120]
❀ Narrated by Hudhayfah bin al-Yaman (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Among the sayings of earlier Prophets that people have preserved is: 'If you do not feel shame, then do whatever you wish.'”
[Sahih, Musnad Ahmad 23254, al-Bazzar 2835]
Modesty as a Component of Faith
❀ Narrated by Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Modesty is part of faith, and faith is in Paradise. Vulgarity stems from cruelty, and cruelty is in Hellfire."
[Hasan, Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2009, Musnad Ahmad 10512]
❀ Narrated by Abu Bakrah (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Modesty is part of faith, and faith leads to Paradise. Vulgarity stems from rudeness, and rudeness leads to Hellfire."
[Sahih, Ibn Majah 4184, Ibn Hibban 5704]
The Beautification of Modesty
❀ Narrated by Anas bin Malik (رضي الله عنه):The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Whenever indecency exists in something, it disfigures it, and whenever modesty is in something, it adorns it."
[Sahih, Sunan al-Tirmidhi 1974, Ibn Majah 4185]
Advice on Modesty
❀ Narrated by Sa'id bin Yazid al-Azdi:A man asked the Prophet (ﷺ), "Advise me." The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"I advise you to be as modest before Allah as you are modest before a righteous man from your community."
[Sahih, Musnad Ahmad 248, Muhammad bin Nasr al-Marwazi in Ta'zim Qadr al-Salah 826]
Modesty as the Distinctive Trait of Islam
❀ Narrated by Anas bin Malik (رضي الله عنه):The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Every religion has a defining characteristic, and the defining characteristic of Islam is modesty."
[Sahih, al-Tabarani in al-Saghir 1/13]
Modesty and Its Rewards in the Hereafter
❀ Narrated by 'Awn bin Abdullah:I asked Umar bin Abdul Aziz (رحمه الله) to narrate to me from a companion of the Prophet (ﷺ). He recognized the companion and said:
"The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Modesty, chastity, and restraint of the tongue are from faith, and these increase a person’s reward in the Hereafter but decrease their worldly gains. Conversely, vulgarity, cruelty, and greed are signs of hypocrisy, and these increase worldly gains but decrease rewards in the Hereafter.'”
[Hasan, Sunan al-Darimi 526]
Conclusion:
Modesty is a foundational virtue in Islam, deeply linked to faith. It not only enhances a person's character but also leads to the eternal reward of Paradise. In contrast, vulgarity and indecency are destructive traits that lead to Hellfire. The emphasis on modesty in the teachings of the Prophet (ﷺ) demonstrates its importance as the defining characteristic of a believer.May Allah grant us the virtue of modesty and guide us to emulate the character of the Prophet (ﷺ).
Ameen.