THE POWER OF THE AWRAH

‘Modesty and Imaan are joined together.

If one is gone, the other will also disappear." —The noble Messenger Muhammad (S)

The language of the Noble Qur’an abounds in spiritual and material insights that express the deepest meaning in the most potent, profound, and beautiful way. Almighty Allah wants humankind to establish a morally sound society. He commands the men to lower their gaze. This will strengthen their willpower to realize that life is not only about physical sensual pleasures; there is more to life for spiritual beings in this material dimension. Our goal should be to discover and unleash Almighty Allah’s power that is within us and return to Him fulfilled.

In Surah al-Imran, Almighty Allah says: ‘In the nearness to Allah is the best of the goals (to return to)’ ([3]:14). In Surah al-Waqi‘ah, Almighty Allah says: ‘And those foremost in faith will be foremost in the Hereafter. These will be nearest to Allah in the Hereafter’ ([56]:10–11).

Almighty Allah motivates the committed Muslim/ Muslimah to prevail by studying the most powerful soul and mind builder—the  Noble Qur’an—through which He assures sincere, faithful and pious believers that they will acquire life skills to live a successful happy life in this world as well as in the Hereafter. They will be in the company of Almighty Allah, His noble Messenger Muhammad (S), and the chosen ones.

Almighty Allah is mindful of His servants; He knows our nature. In Surah al-An‘am, Almighty Allah says: ‘For the Mercy of Allah is always near to those who do good’ ([7]:56). In Surah Hud, Almighty Allah promises forgiveness: ‘Ask forgiveness of Allah, and turn to Him in repentance, for Allah is (always) near, ready to answer’ ([11]:61).

Almighty Allah’s mercy and power are always near to those who perform righteous deeds. He forgives those who seek His mercy by repenting. We are directed by Almighty Allah to call on Him with humility to build our hearts that will deliver us to His presence.

Remembering death stimulates us to live a better quality of life. It detaches us from the elements that create a veil between us and Almighty Allah, and bring us closer to Him.

In Surah an-Nur, Almighty Allah calls on the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their modesty (haya): ‘Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them; and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.’ ([24]:30).

Almighty Allah then calls on the believing women as well not to be influenced by Iblees. In Surah an-Nur, He says: ‘Say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty (haya); that they should not display their beauty and be mindful of their chastity, except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof, that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands’ ([24]:31).

The Noble Qur’an lays down laws for women; they should not display their beauty in a way that draws the attention of men. Almighty Allah does not restrict women within their home in the company of their husbands, fathers, brothers or sons. He wants to protect the spirit and soul of women by not making them an object of lustful gaze by strangers.

This noble ayat (verse) of modesty (haya) came down to command believing women to cover themselves with their garments so that no provocative parts of the body would be exposed. The appearance of a woman wearing the hijab will not incite wicked men’s evil eyes or passion. In the spiritual realm, the hideous stare of men is committing adultery of the eyes, for which both men and women are accountable to Almighty Allah. The woman is guilty because she did not dress appropriately.

A woman who obscenely exposes her neck, chest and parts of her breasts, stimulating the attention of men, violates and denigrates the privacy and sanctity of her awrah. The noble Messenger Muhammad (S) describes such women as ‘being clothed yet naked, since their clothing does not conceal the body but is rather intended to reveal it.’

Through their behaviour, both men and women can either build the relationship with Almighty Allah by following His divine decree, maintaining modesty as instructed in the Noble Qur’an, or lose contact and rapport with Almighty Allah’s power. In Surah an-Nahl, Almighty Allah promises the faithful: ‘To the righteous (when) it is said, what is it that Allah has revealed? They say all that is good, to those who do good, is good in this world, and the home of the Hereafter is even better, and excellent indeed is the home of the righteous’ ([16]:30).

In a hadith narrated in Tirmidhi, the noble Messenger Muhammad (S) said ‘All of a woman is awrah. When she leaves her home, Iblees looks at her.’ Ibn Taymiyyah reported that the noble Messenger Muhammad (S) said: ‘Modesty is a branch of faith.’ ‘The clothes of women in their homes at the time of the noble Messenger Muhammad (S) covered what is between ankle and palm; when they would leave for the market.’

Bibi Ayesha (ra) said: ‘If modesty (haya) were to assume a human form, it would be a virtuous person. If immodesty were to take a human form, it would be an evil person.’

In Surah al-Hujurat, Almighty Allah says: ‘The most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the best in conduct and Allah is well acquainted with all things’ ([49]:13).

Haya is modesty; a woman’s modesty comes from her respect of Almighty Allah. Haya is an attribute that educates the believer to avoid anything that displeases Almighty Allah. Haya is an important part of our belief and faith. If we do not have any form of haya within us, then this is a sign that we will lose our way towards righteousness, piety and the discovery of the power of Almighty Allah within us.

Abu Huraira (ra) narrated that the noble Messenger Muhammad (S) said: Faith (belief) consists of more than sixty branches; haya is part of faith. As Muslims we must develop our character (haya) that will lead us to consciously submit to the will of Almighty Allah. Haya for both male and female is a sign of a dignified upright personality who is conscious of his actions and his responsibilities (Sahih Bukhari).

Modest (haya) dressing indicates the degree of one’s Iman (Faith). The noble Messenger Muhammad (S) said: ‘Every religion has its character; modesty (haya) is Islam’s character (narrated Imam Malik).’

The noble Messenger Muhammad (S) said: ‘Modesty

(haya) and Iman are joined together. If one is gone, the other disappears.’ Iman brings about the purification of the soul; this is only possible when our conduct is in harmony with the laws of Almighty Allah, as explained in the Noble Qur’an and exemplified by the Sunnah of the noble Messenger Muhammad (S). When haya disappears we begin to stray from the path and the Ummah starts on the path to decline.

When one deprives oneself of modesty (haya) one limits the power and growth of the soul. Modesty (haya) is the foundation of goodness. The noble Messenger Muhammad (S) said: ‘Whatever consists of obscenity will be destroyed and whatever constitutes modesty (haya) will flourish’ (Tirmidhi).

Men: this is a wakeup call for you to ensure our wives, mothers, sisters, nieces and daughters dress modestly. We should not be indifferent or encourage our women to wear tight and revealing clothes that expose them to unwanted gaze.

The noble Messenger Muhammad (S) said: ‘The first look which is generally involuntary is pardonable, but not the second look.’ Remember we are always in the presence of Almighty Allah. We must be modest if we want to walk with Almighty Allah and be in His company. Haya is modesty, self-respect, honour and humility. Modesty is the virtue of a believer who avoids anything that displeases Almighty Allah. The sign of a person with weak Iman is one that is not modest in his/her dress.

In Surah an-Nahl, Almighty Allah warns humankind: ‘One day every soul will come up struggling for itself and every soul will be recompensed (fully) for all its actions, and none will be unjustly dealt with’ ([10]:111).

Almighty Allah says that every soul will be engrossed with its own affairs. The soul won’t have time for anyone else. When Almighty Allah says ‘every soul will come pleading for itself’, this tells us how serious the Hereafter will be for the disobedient soul.

Think and ponder: how old are you? Look back, not long ago, you were a little girl or boy; now you are an adult, parent or even a grandparent.

We realize that this cosmos is just a dream; it will be over in a flash. Almighty Allah explains, the believer who is in harmony with His wish will experience good in this world and in the Hereafter. Remember we will be in the afterlife eternally, infinitely and forever. There is no coming back; no second chance.

In Surah al-Anfal, Almighty Allah calls on us: ‘Fear Allah and keep straight the relations between yourselves; obey Allah and His messenger if you do believe’ ([8]:1).

Almighty Allah calls on us to be in harmony with His will. When we maintain haya, Almighty Allah and His angels are pleased. We will be blessed with everything we desire in this world and the next. Remember, we are always in the presence of Almighty Allah.

If there is no haya there is no Iman, if there is no Iman, there is no life. With haya, we excel spiritually. Haya is inseparable from the identity of Islam.

A civilization is indeed utterly destroyed when the women who are the torch-bearers of society deviate from the path of modesty. Remember dying is the ultimate end of humankind. Remembrance of death cleanses and heals the heart from our nafs (ego).

Almighty Allah has Haya; He does not expose the secrets of His creation. When we go astray, the first thing that disappears is haya (modesty). Almighty Allah insists that the Muslim woman covers herself for her spiritual development, enlightenment and advancement. Almighty Allah has a right over His creation; we must appreciate Him and His laws; they are created for our safe return to Him.

There is a difference between awrah and aura. Awrah refers to the most intimate parts of the body.

The human aura is a subtle emanation of a luminous cloud, a bright light that surrounds the body. Spiritually enlightened people are able to see the aura of another person. The colour expresses the emotion, spiritual and physical character of an individual.

This powerful light varies from person to person in colour and shape, expressing the health, emotional and spiritual virtues, features and qualities of the personality. By not honouring Almighty Allah’s divine decree of modesty we violate the sacred quality of our aura.

A tradition of Abu Dawood says: ‘When a woman reaches the age of puberty, no parts of her body should be exposed except the face and hands extending to the joints of her wrists.’ In the first half of the last century women in western society used to cover themselves; they had haya. 

Our noble Messenger Eesa (Jesus) (S) said: ‘That anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.’

The noble Messenger Muhammad (S) said: ‘Whosoever is desirous of the home of the Hereafter, he should keep away from the Zina of the Dunya’, which refers to the passionate desire for material things at any cost and to the detriment of everything else.

Let’s prepare ourselves for eternity. We have no knowledge of when our time will come; it could be the very next moment. Almighty Allah’s knowledge and power are infinite, endless, have no beginning and no end; they are independent of time.