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Question About Hifz E Furooz
Assalamu Alaikum.
I have a question regarding the Islamic concept of hifz-e-furooj and modest dress.
I once had a Hindu classmate who said that Islam is the worst religion because, according to him, it imprisons women and forces them to observe purdah. Since I had learned from your lectures, I replied that Islam does not require women to be imprisoned. I explained that hifz-e-furooj and modest clothing are meant to ensure that a person’s body is not displayed in a sexually provocative way, and that this instruction is for both men and women, not just women.
However, he responded with another question. He said: “Even then, why doesn’t Islam give women complete freedom to wear whatever they want, such as shorts, bodycon dresses, or tight clothes? Why should religion decide what a woman can or cannot wear? If someone has immoral thoughts after seeing a person, then the problem lies in that person’s mindset, not in the clothes. Harassment even happens to small children, so doesn’t that prove that the issue is people’s thinking rather than clothing? Why not simply allow women to wear whatever they choose?”
At that point, I did not have a satisfactory answer and ended the discussion.
I would like to understand the Islamic reasoning behind this more deeply. Could you please explain the wisdom and tafsir behind the commandments of hifz-e-furooj and modest dress? Specifically, how should we logically respond to the argument that clothing is irrelevant because harassment is caused by a corrupt mindset rather than by what someone wears?
Jazakallahu Khair.
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1 Reply
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Question About Hifz E Furooz
updated 4 hours, 15 minutes ago
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No society or culture permits absolute freedom in clothing. If it did, it would eventually lead to social disorder. Human beings naturally possess a sense of decency and indecency, and they generally reject what they consider indecent. This is why every society establishes dress codes appropriate for different places and occasions.
In Islam, the primary objective is the purification (tazkiyah al-nafs). Consequently, Islam identifies what is considered indecent in dress and discourages it. Since people often adopt extreme positions—either imposing excessive restrictions or advocating unrestricted freedom—Islam prescribes a balanced and moderate approach. The Qur’an, in Surah An-Nur (24:30–31), sets out guidelines for both men and women regarding modesty and appropriate dress. They are simple and practical.
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