Islam commands both men and women to guard their private parts. Primarily, it has been mentioned for men to guard their private parts in Surah An-Nur. Further on, after the direction of lowering the gaze and guarding private parts, Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says:
ذٰلِکَ اَزۡکٰی لَہُمۡ
“That is purer for them.”
[Surah An-Nur:30]
What could be more beneficial than this way which has been considered as ‘purity’? And in the following verse same decree of lowering gaze is prescribed for women as well.
وَقُلْ لِّلْمُؤْمِنٰتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ اَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ
وَلَا يُبْدِيْنَ زِيْنَتَهُنَّ
“And tell the believing women to reduce of their vision and guard their private parts and conceal themselves with veil.”
[Surah An-Nur: 31]
In another place, where Qur’an mentions characteristics of the people who deserve Jannah; one of them is:
وَالَّذِيْنَ هُمْ لِفُرُوْجِهِمْ حٰفِظُوْنَ ۙ اِلَّا عَلٰٓي اَزْوَاجِهِمْ اَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ اَيْمَانُهُمْ فَاِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُوْمِيْنَ ۚ فَمَنِ ابْتَغٰى وَرَاۗءَ ذٰلِكَ فَاُولٰۗىِٕكَ هُمُ الْعٰدُوْنَ ۚ
“And they who guard their private parts. Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed. But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors.”
[Surah Al-Mu’minun: 5-7]
The verse mentioned above highlights the characteristics of believers who have been promised Jannah. The trait of guarding their private parts is one of the magnificent characteristics.
Surah Al-Ahzab describes some other qualities of true believers of Islam in addition to the fact that they were the ones to guard their private. Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says about these men and women in the Qur’an.
اَعَدَّ اللّٰہُ لَہُمۡ مَّغۡفِرَۃً وَّ اَجۡرًا عَظِیۡمًا
“For them Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.
[Surah Al-Ahzab: 35]
In a hadith Prophet ﷺ said:
مَن يَضْمَن لي ما بيْنَ لَحْيَيْهِ وما بيْنَ رِجْلَيْهِ، أضْمَنْ له الجَنَّةَ
“Whoever can guarantee what is between his two jaw-bones and what is between his two legs (his tongue and his private parts), I guarantee Paradise for him.
(Sahih Bukhari 6474)
These arguments prove evidently that Jannah is guaranteed for those who protect their private parts, whereas disobeying this command, such as committing obscenity and adultery, is highly condemned. The punishment of adultery has been prescribed in this world as well. Prophet ﷺ said about mu’min:
“The believer does not commit obscenity”
(Jamia Tirmidhi :1977)
May Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) Almighty grant us the ability to adopt the virtues of the righteous believers, who avoid obscenity and to give us the ability to protect the private parts. (Aameen)
