This document provides guidance on modesty for Muslim men. It defines modesty as shyness, self-respect, and guarding one's private areas. The document then outlines 10 conditions for hijab for men, including covering the awrah, lowering the gaze, avoiding impermissible clothing like silk or gold, and not resembling women or non-Muslims. It stresses the importance of modest behavior and speech and avoiding unlawful interactions with women. The goal is for men to set a good example through righteous character and guiding their families.

1. Modesty:
A Part Of Iman
A short talk about
Muslim men and modesty.

2. What Is Modesty (Haya)?
We can translate this into
many words:
 Shyness
 Self-Respect
 Honor/Dignity
 Being Mindful of our
‘Awrah (intimate areas)
In Arabic, modesty is known as “Haya”.

3. Allah Wants to Dress You
 Allah wants to dress you up in piety and goodness, while
Shaytaan wants to strip you of your modesty and make you
naked in disobedience and desires
 “O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing
to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the
clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the
signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember.
O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed
your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing
to show them their private parts.”
(The Noble Quran 7:26-27)

4. Haya for Men? Why?
 Simply, because it is a Commandment from Allah and Allah knows
what is best for us
 The most modest in our Faith was a man, our Beloved Prophet
Muhammad (SAW), so being modest is a main part of the Sunnah
even for men!
 The Prophet (SAW) said, “Faith consists of more than sixty
branches. And Haya (modesty) is a part of faith.” (Bukhari)
 Although many Muslims may not be aware, there are rulings
that are specific to Men when it comes to modesty, dress and
behavior
Let us explore these…

5. Conditions of Hijab for Men
 Men should be just as careful as Women when it
comes to proper Haya, behavior and dressing
 The basic principle concerning everything that is
worn, for men or women, is that it is halal and
permissible, except that for which there is a text to
state that it is haram
Here are some points to consider…

6. 1. Cover the ‘Awrah
 It is permissible for the Man to leave his head uncovered,
although the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) liked to cover his
head with a cap or turban
 He should keep his body covered in loose clothing that does
not accentuate the body, even around other men
 If absolutely necessary, he can expose his skin, but the area
from his navel to his knees must always remain covered
 It is not permissible to wear thin or see-through clothing
that does not conceal the ‘Awrah

7. 2. Lower the Gaze
 Men should lower their gaze, be respectful and not look upon
women purposely or to study their ‘awrah, this is forbidden
and should be practiced strictly, as Allah SWA commands:
 “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.”
(The Noble Quran 24:30)
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "O
Ali, do not follow a glance with another, for
you will be forgiven for the first, but not for
the second." (Tirmidhi)

8. 3. Impermissible Clothing
and Accessories
 It is impermissible for men to wear
silk, gold and leather that is from a
haram animal
 The Prophet (SAW) said: “These two
[gold and silk] are forbidden for the
males of my Ummah and permissible
for the females.” (Ibn Maajah)
 “Umar (RA) reported that he heard the
Prophet (SAW) say, “Do not wear silk,
for those who wear it in this life shall
not wear it in the Hereafter.” (Bukhari
and Muslim)
 On another occasion, referring to a
silken garment, he (SAW) said, “This
is the dress of a man who has no
character.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

9. 4. Length of the Garment
 It is haram for the Muslim man to let any garment he wears hang
down beneath his ankles or drag on the floor (there are several
logical reasons for this, the main being that it will make your
clothing impure and could spread dirt and waste from outside and
the washroom to clean and prayer areas)
 The pants should be loose fitting and not let the shape of what is
underneath be noticeable
 If he wears a shirt or coat, it should be loose fitting and it is better
for it to cover the hips, genital area and buttocks so to insure
modesty
 It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (RA) that the Prophet (SAW)
said; “Whatever of the lower garment is beneath the ankles is in the
Fire.”

10. 5. Haircuts and Beards
 Ibn ‘Umar (RA) said the
Prophet (SAW) said: “Be
different from the mushrikeen:
let your beards grow and trim
your moustaches.” (Muslim)
 In another report (pictured),
men are asked not to partially
shave their heads, as is the
fashion these days most
commonly seen in boys
 We should be very careful in
following trends and fashions
that even come close to going
against the Sunnah of the
Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

11. 6. Resemblance to Kuffar
 The Clothing and your attitude should not resemble the Kuffar in a
way that is distinctive to them
 ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah
(SAW) saw ‘Ali wearing two garments dyed with safflower and said:
“These are garments of the kuffar; do not wear them.” (Muslim)
 This can be difficult, especially living in the West, but we should
remain strong and remember that we are Muslims and must make
sure that our dress and personality reflects our identity and the
rules set by Allah SWA
 Ibn Umar (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
“Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” (Abu Dawood)

12. PLEASE NOTE:
 Note: These popular
hipster/metrosexual styles
are not a part of Islam.
 The clothing is too tight,
they are adorned with
piercings and tattoos, their
hair is half shaved…this is
nothing close to how a
Muslim man should look like
or dress
 There is no Haya in this and
we should not be impressed
by this fashion or try to
emulate it, Insha’Allah.

13. 7. Resemblance to Women
 Men should not copy or imitate the way women dress and carry
themselves.
 There is a push for men and women to blur the lines between the sexes
these day, but Muslim men need to make sure that they embrace the
masculinity that Allah has blessed them with and submit to the duties
and responsibilities that come with this role, Insha’Allah
“The Messenger of
Allah (SAW) cursed
the man who imitates
women, and the
woman who imitates
men.” (Bukhari)

14. 8. Dress of Arrogance
 It is haram to wear garments of fame and vanity, which means a
garment that stands out from others so that people will look at the
wearer and he will become known for it.
 The Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever wears a garment of fame and
vanity, Allah will dress him in a garment of humiliation on the Day
of Resurrection.” (Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah)
 There is difference between wearing clean and nice clothing and
ones that you are wearing just to show off and show that you are
better than someone else:
 It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood (RA) that the Prophet
(SAW) said: “No one will enter Paradise in whose heart is a mustard-
seed of arrogance.” A man said: “What if a man likes his clothes to
look nice and his shoes to look nice?” He said: “Allah is Beautiful
and loves beauty; arrogance means rejecting the truth and looking
down on people.” (Muslim)

15. 9. Touching Unlawful Women
 Shaking hands with women is
probably the most common scenario
that can sometimes be difficult to face.
But, remember:
 “The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
‘If one of you were to be struck in the
head with an iron needle, it would be
better for him than if he were to touch
a woman he is not allowed to.”
(Tabaraani)
 This is a chance for Dawah! As a man
or woman, you should tell the truth
and say you cannot shake hands with
the opposite gender, because of your
Faith and because this is how you
show respect to the opposite gender

16. 10. Guarding the Tongue
 The Prophet (SAW) said, "He who believes in Allah and the Last
Day must either speak good or remain silent.'' [Muslim]
 Muslims should always be extremely careful about what they
say, who they say it to and how they say it
 These days everyone is focused on what Muslims say and do, so
we must be even more diligent and weigh our words carefully:
be kind, be relevant, be aware and always speak truth
 Backbiting and slandering is forbidden in Islam and can cause
animosity, hatred and even the breakdown of relations (imagine
breaking up a family by just a word!)
 The Prophet (SAW) said: "Whosoever gives me a guarantee to
safeguard what is between his jaws and what is between his legs,
I shall guarantee him Jannah.'' [Al-Bukhari]

17. 11. Guarding the Eyes & Ears
 The entertainment today (including video games) is extremely shameless & lacks
modesty, which can corrupt the ears, eyes, thoughts and especially the heart
 Watching a woman without Hijab, listening to her tempting voice and enjoying it, is like
committing Zina of the eyes and ears, it can lead to much worse and makes one not
appreciate the beauty of the women of his own household and leads to him
disrespecting and hurting them (which as a Muslim man he should never do)
 Brother, if you want to know where you heart is, picture what you think about during
Salah or when you are completely alone, when no one is around. That is where your
heart is…that is what you prefer in the life of this world
 A rough rule of thumb, to help in avoiding these unlawful practices is to constantly be
making dhikr of Allah SWA, this will not only remind us to act modestly, but to bring us
back to the right path in case we have gone astray, Insha’Allah.
 It is also important to remember that these women are someone’s daughters, sisters,
wives and mothers. You wouldn’t want that for the women of your household, then what
makes it okay for those of other houses?

18. Mahram (Lawful Women)
 In Surah Al Nur, Ayah 31 of the Holy Quran, it
describes those men that women do not have to
observe Hijab in front of. Vice versa, this also
describes the women who are lawful for men to look
at:
 These can be concluded as: their wives, their
daughters, their daughter-in-laws, their mothers,
their father’s wives, their sisters, their father’s sisters,
their mother’s sisters, that which their right hands
possess, or children (girls) who have not reached
puberty
 It is unlawful for a man to look at the body and hair
of a non-Mahram woman with the exception of her
face and hands.
 Men should also watch how they speak with non-
Mahram women: being over-friendly, laughing too
much or making direct eye contact should be avoided
 It is forbidden for a man to be alone with a woman or
to look upon any woman with sexual desire who is
not his wife

19. Be a Sheppard not a sheep!
 If you would like for your family, especially your wives and daughters,
to be modest and care for their ‘awrah, then it is your responsibility to
be a good example and guide them well
 A woman prefers to be led by a man who is strong in his Deen, has
impeccable Akhlaq (manners), is able to control his own desires,
tongue and temper, practices what he preaches and does not follow the
Dunya in whatever is easier
 Abdullah ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said,
“Every one of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. The
leader of people is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects. A
man is the guardian of his family and he is responsible for them. A
woman is the guardian of her husband’s home and his children and
she is responsible for them. The servant of a man is a guardian of the
property of his master and he is responsible for it. No doubt, every one
of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock.” (Bukhari and
Muslim)

20. Be Good to your Daughters
 Many times women lose their sense of modesty and chastity,
because their fathers and brothers were not attentive enough
and did not guide them with patience and honor
 Be a good father, show her love, compassion and attention so
that she will not attempt to find it from someone else, thereby
losing her modesty and innocence
 Understand where you live, understand the time you live in and
above all understand her nature…be there for her and the
women of your home as a leader, as a pillar to lean on and as a
bumper to help her if she strays off the path to righteousness
 Good pious children will open the doors of Paradise for you!
 Ma’fil ibn Yasaar al-Muzni (RA) said, “I heard the Messenger
of Allah (SAW) say: “There is no slave to whom Allah has
entrusted the care of people, and he dies neglecting his flock,
but Allah will forbid Paradise to him.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

21. Being born Male Doesn’t
Make You a Man
 It isn’t enough to call yourself Muslim, it isn’t enough to just do the bare
minimum to get through life, it isn’t enough to just work and bring home money
 Allah has given believing men a responsibility and they must work hard to fulfill
it
 “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made
one of them excel over the other, and because they spend out of their
possessions (to support them).” (The Noble Quran 4:44)
 To know who these men are that Allah speaks of look to the life of the Prophet
Muhammad (SAW), that of the Prophets (AS) and to the rightly guided Caliphs:
Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali (RA). All were different in character and
personality, but lived in such a way that Allah deemed them Men of Paradise.
 The best men are those who recognize their worth, their duty and establish the
rule of Allah not only on themselves, but on their households as well. Muslims
are suffering so much across the world today, you have the ability to change this
through your submission and dedication, Brothers, because this is how Allah’s
help will come to us all.

22. Bring Change
“Indeed, Allah will not change the
condition of a people until they change
what is in themselves.”
(The Noble Quran 13:11)

23. Allah Has Chosen You!
 You have been chosen by Allah, do not take it for granted, do
not take your responsibility or the time you have for granted
 There is no tomorrow, be the change you want to see in the
world, don’t wait for someone else to do it…you can do it
 I leave you with the beautiful words of Allah, which the
Sahabah (RA) would recite to one another before they parted
ways (Abu Dawood, Tabaraani):
 “By time, Indeed Mankind is in Loss, Except for those who
have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each
other to truth and advised each other to patience.”
(Surah Al Asr, The Noble Quran)

24. JAZAKUM’ALLAHU KHAIRAN
 May Allah guide us, give us a deep understanding of His
commands, keep us united and learning as we are, and
above all: make it easy for us to follow His commandments
and please Him in all that we do, Ameen.