عصر حاضر میں حیاء اور ترک فواحش: غیر اسلامی تہذیبوں سے انجذاب کا فکری و عملی جائزہ

Abstract

This research examines the concept of modesty (ḥayāʾ), chastity (ʿiffah), and sexual morality in Islam and critically explores the intellectual and practical implications of contemporary engagement with non-Islamic cultures. The study primarily focuses on the Qur’anic concept of fawāḥish (indecencies) and related ethical principles, highlighting the Islamic emphasis on moral purity, protection of human dignity, preservation of the family, and the safeguarding of society from moral and social corruption. Drawing upon relevant Qur’anic verses, Prophetic traditions, and the interpretations of classical and contemporary Muslim scholars, the study analyzes the relationship between modesty, chastity, and the prevention of immoral conduct. The research further examines selected manifestations of contemporary social and cultural life, including sexual permissiveness, excessive interaction between men and women, sexual harassment, and other practices discussed in the source material as challenges to Islamic moral values. In contrast, Islamic principles concerning lowering the gaze, maintaining chastity, observing the rules of maḥram and non-maḥram interaction, proper dress and covering, marriage, and avoiding slander and unwarranted intrusion are presented as mechanisms for preserving individual and collective moral integrity.The study concludes that ḥayāʾ in Islam is not merely a personal virtue or an outward form of modesty; rather, it constitutes a comprehensive ethical framework that contributes to the protection of individual character, family stability, human dignity, and social cohesion. The findings suggest that increasing exposure to competing cultural norms requires renewed emphasis on Qur’anic and Prophetic guidance, moral education, self-accountability, and the strengthening of family and social institutions. Thus, the Islamic framework of modesty and chastity remains significant for addressing contemporary moral challenges and for promoting a morally responsible and socially balanced society.