The Third Instance of Wisdom

The happiness of family life is sustained through mutual trust and through sincere respect and love between husband and wife. Immodest dress and the abandonment of modesty, however, undermine that trust and weaken this mutual respect and affection. For among ten women who dress immodestly, perhaps only one will refrain from seeking the attention of strangers because she does not find another man more attractive than her own husband. The other nine, however, will encounter men whom they consider more attractive than their husbands.

Likewise, among twenty men, perhaps only one will not find another woman more attractive than his own wife. As a result, sincere love and mutual respect may gradually disappear, giving rise to feelings that are base and deeply degrading.

For example, by nature, a man does not experience lustful desires toward close female relatives such as his sisters. Their faces evoke compassion and innocent affection rooted in kinship, leaving no room for sensual inclinations. However, exposing parts of the body—such as the legs—which, according to Islam, should not be shown even to certain close relatives, may awaken shameful desires in people of base character. The face of a close relative clearly reflects the bond of kinship and is readily distinguished from that of a non-relative. Exposed body parts such as the legs, however, outwardly resemble those of a stranger and do not readily call that family relationship to mind. As a result, they may even provoke an animalistic gaze of lust in certain morally depraved relatives. Such a gaze is contrary to human dignity and evokes revulsion.

The Fourth Instance of Wisdom

It is universally acknowledged that people desire an increase in their offspring. There is no nation or state that does not encourage the growth of its population. Moreover, the Noble Messenger (pbuh) proclaimed:

تَنَاكَحُوا تَكَاثَرُوا فَاِنّٖى اُبَاهٖى بِكُمُ الْاُمَمَMarry and multiply, for on the Day of Judgment I shall take pride in your great numbers.

That is, “Marry and multiply, for on the Day of Judgment I shall take pride in your great numbers.”

Yet abandoning the veil does not lead to an increase in marriages; on the contrary, it contributes to their decline. For even the most immoral young man desires a chaste wife. Because he does not want his future spouse to be as morally careless as he is or to disregard modest dress, he may remain unmarried and even become involved in fornication.

A woman’s position is different, and she cannot place the same restrictions on her husband. Since she is entrusted with managing the household and safeguarding her husband’s property, children, and possessions, her most fundamental qualities are loyalty and trustworthiness. Immodest exposure of the body, however, undermines that loyalty, weakens her husband’s trust in her, and causes him inner distress.