Modesty in Dressing for Women: A Comprehensive Guide with Quran and Hadith References

Modesty, or ḥayā’ (حَيَاء), is a fundamental principle in Islam that governs the way Muslims, particularly women, present themselves in society. It encompasses more than just physical appearance; it reflects one’s character, behavior, and relationship with Allah. Modesty is a way of life, encouraging believers to act with humility and respect for themselves and others. For women, modest dressing is a means of fulfilling this principle, reflecting their piety and devotion to Allah.

The Quran makes clear the importance of modesty for both men and women. Allah commands:

Surah An-Nur (24:30-31):
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze, guard their private parts, and not to display their adornments except that which is apparent…” (24:30-31)

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) also emphasized modesty in his teachings, warning against attire that attracts inappropriate attention:

“إِنَّ فِي جَهَنَّمَ لَكَنُودَتَيْنِ لَمْ أَرَاهُمَا، وَيُحْشَرُ النَّاسُ فِي جَهَنَّمَ فَيُقَابِلُونَ النَّارَ فَتُحْشَرُ النِّسَاءُ فِي بَيْنِهِمْ فَتَمْشِي إِلَىٰ نَارِهِمْ فَتُحْشَرُ النِّسَاءُ.”

Sahih Muslim (2128):
“There are two types of people of Hell whom I have not seen… women who are clothed yet naked, who incline others to evil.”

Modesty in dress is thus not only a matter of appearance but an act of faith that upholds one’s dignity and protects against societal harm.

Understanding Modesty in Islam

Modesty, or “ḥayā’” (حَيَاء), in Islam is a multi-dimensional concept that includes decency in appearance, actions, and intentions. For women, modest dressing is not merely about clothing but reflects an inner sense of piety and respect for oneself and society.

Islam encourages believers to adopt humility and self-respect in every aspect of their lives, emphasizing that modesty is a virtue for both men and women.

The Quranic Perspective on Modesty

The Quran explicitly addresses the concept of modesty in dressing for women, outlining guidelines to ensure dignity and respect are preserved.

General Command of Modesty for Believers

Allah commands both men and women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, highlighting the universal application of modesty.

Surah An-Nur (24:30-31):

• Arabic:
  قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ
  وَقُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا ۖ وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ…
• Translation:
  “Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.
  And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests…”

This verse emphasizes two main aspects:

• Lowering the gaze: Modesty begins with how one interacts visually with others.
• Covering adornments: Women are instructed to cover their beauty except for what is naturally visible, such as the face and hands (as interpreted by many scholars).

The Jilbab (Outer Garment)

Surah Al-Ahzab (33:59):

• Arabic:
  يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰ أَنْ يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا
• Translation:
  “O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.”

The “jilbab” (جلباب) mentioned here is an outer garment intended to provide full coverage, ensuring that a woman’s body is concealed from public view.

Prohibition of Displaying Beauty

Islam discourages unnecessary display of beauty or adornments in public settings.

Surah An-Nur (24:60):

• Arabic:
  وَالْقَوَاعِدُ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ اللَّاتِي لَا يَرْجُونَ نِكَاحًا فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِنَّ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ يَضَعْنَ ثِيَابَهُنَّ غَيْرَ مُتَبَرِّجَاتٍ بِزِينَةٍ…
• Translation:
  “And women of post-menstrual age who have no desire for marriage – there is no blame upon them for putting aside their outer garments, but not displaying adornment.”

This emphasizes that even when modesty guidelines are relaxed for older women, they are still encouraged to avoid ostentatious displays of beauty.

Modesty in Hadith

The Hadith further elaborates on the guidelines for modest dressing and behavior for women.

Encouragement of Hijab

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) emphasized the importance of the hijab as an expression of faith.

Hadith (Sunan Abu Dawood 4104):

• Arabic:
  عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: دَخَلَتْ أَسْمَاءُ بِنْتُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَعَلَيْهَا ثِيَابٌ رِقَاقٌ، فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا وَقَالَ: يَا أَسْمَاءُ، إِنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْمَحِيضَ لَمْ يَصْلُحْ أَنْ يُرَىٰ مِنْهَا إِلَّا هَذَا وَهَذَا، وَأَشَارَ إِلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ وَكَفَّيْهِ.
• Translation:
  Aisha reported that Asma, the daughter of Abu Bakr, entered upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) wearing thin clothes. The Prophet turned his face away and said: “O Asma, when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it is not proper that anything should be seen of her except this and this,” and he pointed to his face and hands.

This Hadith underscores the importance of covering all parts of the body except the face and hands, which are generally exempt in Islamic rulings.

Avoiding Excessive Adornment

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) discouraged women from wearing overly extravagant clothing or behaving in ways that attract undue attention.

Hadith (Sahih Muslim 2128):

• Arabic:
  صِنْفَانِ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ لَمْ أَرَهُمَا… وَنِسَاءٌ كَاسِيَاتٌ عَارِيَاتٌ مُمِيلَاتٌ مَائِلَاتٌ، رُءُوسُهُنَّ كَأَسْنِمَةِ الْبُخْتِ…
• Translation:
  “There are two types of people of Hell whom I have not seen: … women who are clothed yet naked, who incline [others] to evil and are inclined [to it], their heads like the humps of camels…”

The Hadith warns against wearing clothing that, while providing physical coverage, still reveals the shape of the body or attracts inappropriate attention.

The Wisdom Behind Modesty in Dressing

Islamic guidelines on modest dressing are not restrictive but serve several purposes:

Protection from Harm

Modesty acts as a shield against unwanted attention and harassment. By encouraging women to dress modestly, Islam creates a respectful environment for all members of society.

Preservation of Dignity

Covering oneself is an expression of self-respect and a means to be valued for character and intellect rather than physical appearance.

A Spiritual Connection

Dressing modestly is an act of worship and a way to maintain constant awareness of one’s relationship with Allah.

Common Misconceptions About Modesty in Islam

It Is Not Oppression

Critics often misinterpret Islamic modesty as a form of oppression. However, Muslim women who observe modest dressing view it as a choice and an empowering expression of their identity and faith.

It Is Not Limited to Clothing

While modest dressing is crucial, true modesty extends to behavior, speech, and intentions. A Muslim woman strives for modesty in all aspects of her life.

Practical Tips for Modest Dressing

• Choose Loose-Fitting Clothes: Ensure that the clothing does not outline the shape of the body.
• Cover Adornments: Jewelry or makeup should not be excessive or attract undue attention in public.
• Select Opaque Fabrics: Avoid see-through materials.
• Adopt the Hijab: Wearing a headscarf, as encouraged by Islamic teachings, is an outward sign of modesty.

Modesty in Modern Context

Modesty is timeless but adaptable to cultural and societal contexts. Muslim women worldwide incorporate modesty into their lives while embracing their unique cultural identities, proving that Islamic values can coexist with modernity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, modesty in dressing is not just about covering the body but represents a deeper connection with faith, humility, and piety in Islam. Allah commands both men and women to dress modestly, to lower their gaze, and to protect their private parts, as reflected in

Surah An-Nur (24:30-31):
“قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ”

“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is All-Aware of what they do.”

This verse emphasizes modesty for men, instructing them to lower their gaze and protect their chastity, highlighting the importance of maintaining purity in both physical actions and intentions. By doing so, they uphold their dignity and contribute to a moral and respectful society. It shows how modesty leads to spiritual and social purity.

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) also emphasized that modesty is an integral part of faith, saying:

“إِنَّ الْحَيَاءَ وَالْإِيمَانَ قُرَنَا جَمِيعًا، فَإِذَا رُفِعَ الْحَيَاءُ رُفِعَ الْإِيمَانُ.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

“Indeed, modesty and faith are interconnected; when modesty is removed, faith is also removed.”
This emphasizes the profound connection between modesty (حياء) and faith (إيمان) in Islam. It teaches that modesty is a key aspect of a person’s faith, and the loss of modesty leads to a weakening of one’s faith.

Modesty helps preserve a person’s dignity and promotes moral behavior within society. Through modesty in dressing, Muslim women demonstrate their commitment to the principles of Islam, while also contributing to a more respectful and moral community.