In an era where concepts have become mixed, and the types of temptations have multiplied until they have become a characteristic of the age, with the development of its means of communication invading people's private homes, this virtue becomes a modern necessity above being a religious necessity. It is one of the morals that should be a characteristic of the Muslim in all situations.
Chastity, lexically: refraining from what is not permissible and embellishing, and modesty: seeking chastity.1
Contextually: it is a moderation of sexual desire between the vulgarity, which is the excess of this power, and the lethargy, which is its neglect. The chaste one is the one who engages in matters according to Sharia and morality.2
Firstly: Chastity in the Quran and Sunnah:
The Quran gives great importance to the issue of chastity, considering it as a fundamental trait of the noble, chaste society. Allah Almighty says: ‘And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments1 except what normally appears.’ (Quran 24:31), and He says: ‘And let them [believing women] be modest’ (Quran 24:33), and He says: ‘As for elderly women past the age of marriage, there is no blame on them if they take off their ˹outer˺ garments, without revealing their adornments. But it is better for them if they avoid this ˹altogether˺. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.’ (Quran 24:60), and He says: ‘˹[Charity is] for the needy who are too engaged in the cause of Allah to move about in the land [for work]. Those unfamiliar with their situation will think they are not in need ˹of charity˺ because they do not beg. You can recognize them by their appearance. They do not beg people persistently. Whatever you give in charity is certainly well known to Allah.’ (Quran 2:273).
As the Quran was concerned with the issue of chastity in many places, the honourable Sunnah also addressed chastity. It was mentioned in several places. Abu Hurairah narrated that The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "There are three who are promised the help of Allah: The Mukatab3 who wants to buy his freedom, the one who gets married seeking to keep himself chaste, and the Mujahid who fights in the cause of Allah." (Tirmidhi).
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported: Some of the Ansar asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and he gave to them. Then they asked him again, and he gave to them until he ran out. Then he said, "Whatever wealth I have, I will not withhold from you. Whosoever would be chaste and modest; Allah will keep him chaste and modest and whosoever would seek self-sufficiency, Allah will make him self-sufficient; and whosoever would be patient, Allah will give him patience, and no one is granted a gift better and more comprehensive than patience". (Bukhari).
Secondly: The Importance of Chastity for the Individual and Society:
- A chaste society is a society free from committing obscenities and major sins, and it is protected by chastity and modesty as a blessing from God.
- Chastity protects its holder from the heat on the Day of Judgment, as mentioned in the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): "Seven (people) whom Allah will shade in His Shade on the Day when there is no shade except His Shade..." and among them is " a man whom an extremely beautiful woman seduces (for illicit relation), but he (rejects this offer and) says: 'I fear Allah'" (Bukhari).
- Chastity saves its holder from falling into calamity and distress, as narrated in the Hadith of the rock where one of the three men sought refuge in his chastity in the last moments before committing adultery and said: "O Allah, if You know that I did that out of fear of You, then relieve us of our distress." So, Allah relieved them, and they were able to leave (Bukhari).
- One of the blessings of chastity for the individual is Allah's assistance in their marriage if they seek chastity for themselves.
- Protecting society from the consequences of committing obscenities is another benefit of chastity.
Thirdly: Categories of Chastity:
It is divided into two types:
1- Chastity regarding prohibitions, such as refraining from looking at what is forbidden, backbiting, gossiping, and consuming people's wealth unlawfully.
2- Chastity regarding permissible matters, such as refraining from asking unnecessarily and the elderly maintaining modesty in not loosening their hijab.
Fourthly: Conditions of Chastity:
Chastity has conditions for its holder to enter its blessings and rewards, as mentioned by Al-Asfahani in his book "Adh-Dhari'ah"4:
1- The abstinent should not abstain in order to obtain something greater by it.
2- The abstinent should not have abandoned something because he is unable to do it or it does not agree with his desires; such as someone refraining from looking due to weakness in their eyesight.
3- The abstinent should not be abstaining out of fear of being caught, like someone refraining from reaching out because there are people who know him in that place.
Fifthly: Types of Chastity:
1- Abstaining from asking people for anything and leaving their affairs to them. Thawban reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever guarantees me (the chastity of) what is between his legs (i.e., his private parts), and what is between his jaws (i.e., his tongue), I guarantee him Paradise." (Reported by Abu Dawood, authenticated by its chain of narrators).
2- Abstaining from consuming prohibited food and drink and seeking lawful sources for them.
3- Abstaining from discussing people's private matters and engaging in idle talk.
4- Abstaining from looking at prohibited things and always lowering one's gaze.
5- Refraining from extending one's hand to what belongs to others.
6- Chastity of hearing by avoiding listening to forbidden songs and music.
7- Maintaining bodily chastity by covering one's private parts.
Sixthly: Specific Means to Maintain Chastity:
Man alone cannot maintain chastity unless he seeks help from Allah, remembers His assistance, and exercises self-discipline. There are specific means prescribed by Sharia to prevent approaching prohibited acts to avoid falling into them, including:
- Renewing faith in Allah and following His commands.
- Observing piety both in secret and openly.
- Supplication, for one is weak on his own but strong with Allah.
- Instilling values of chastity and self-discipline in children from a young age, making self-discipline a habit for them.
- Marriage for those capable, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "O young people, whoever among you is able to marry, should marry, for marriage helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty. And whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual desire." (Reported by Bukhari).
- Avoiding seclusion with non-mahram individuals as it is a breeding ground for temptation.
- Separating children in their beds, as instructed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who said: "Command your children to pray when they are seven years old, and beat them for (neglecting) it when they are ten years old, and separate them in their beds." (Reported by Abu Dawood and Ahmad).
Seventhly: Examples of the Prophet's Chastity:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the epitome of chastity among people on earth, reaching the highest standards of noble character, as described by the Lord of Majesty, saying: "And indeed, you are of a great moral character." (Quran, Surah Al-Qalam, 68:4). When Aisha, the Mother of the Believers, described him, she said: "His character was the Quran." (Authenticated by Al-Albani). Therefore, emulating him was an obligation for every Muslim. Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: " Al-Hasan bin 'Ali took a date from the dates given in charity and put it in his mouth. The Prophet said, 'Expel it from your mouth. Don't you know that we do not eat the Sadaqa (charitable gifts)?'" (Reported by Bukhari). He also reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said: "Sometimes I turn in bed because of hunger, and I find the dates placed for me by my bed. I then take it up to eat it, but then I throw it away fearing that it may be a Sadaqa " (Reported by Bukhari).
Eighthly: Lessons from the Chastity of Prophet Joseph:
The Prophet Joseph (peace be upon him) set the ultimate example in chastity. Despite being a young man surrounded by all the temptations, he did not succumb to any of them. Not for a moment did weakness enter his heart, nor did he consider approaching the fire that might appear as light at its beginning. He was young, strong, away from his homeland, distant from his family and acquaintances, and susceptible to blame. He found himself in the hands of a beautiful woman who passionately desired him, and he might not resist her advances or refuse her requests out of fear of her influence and status, as she was the one making advances, not him.
The doors were closed, and the situation was ripe for him. There was no fear of a watcher, and intense pressures and temptations were pushing him to succumb to a woman who was determined to seduce him. She boldly confessed to her peers among the women, saying: “I did try to seduce him but he ˹firmly˺ refused. And if he does not do what I order him to, he will certainly be imprisoned and ˹fully˺ disgraced.” (Quran, Surah Yusuf, 12:32).
Yet Joseph remained steadfast, never entertaining the idea of approaching her or succumbing to her seduction. Instead, he invoked his Lord, saying: “My Lord! I would rather be in jail than do what they invite me to. And if You do not turn their cunning away from me, I might yield to them and fall into ignorance.” (Quran, Surah Yusuf, 12:33).
Joseph, the truthful, proved that chastity is not impossible, no matter the circumstances faced by a young Muslim man or the temptations surrounding him. He must close all those doors as a barrier to prevent any approach to sin and turn away from doubts propagated through various media, TV series, and movies that promote immorality, encourage lewdness, and distract the youth of the nation from addressing and overcoming its challenges. It is time to embody the noble virtues of character, especially in these blessed days and nights, before they depart, leaving us with regret and sorrow. So, strive, O every Joseph, in this era.5
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(1) Lisan al-Arab by Ibn Manzur (8/253).
(2) Al-Ta'rifat by Al-Jurjani, p. 151.
(3) Mukatab: the slave who has made a contract of manumission.
(4) Al-Dhurriyya ila Makarim al-Shari'ah, p. 319.
(5) The reference for this article is the Encyclopedia of Ethics, Vol. 9, under the topic "Cultivating Chastity."
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