Individual Qualities of Virtuous Women from the Perspective of the Qur’an
Modesty and Shame (Haya)
Allah the Almighty, in the Noble Qur’an, calls upon women to embody modesty and shame, and He presents a beautiful example of praiseworthy Haya (modesty) through the story of the daughters of Prophet Shoaib (PBUH) and Prophet Musa (PBUH): “وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَاءَ مَدْيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ امْرَأَتَيْنِ تَذُودَانِ قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُمَا قَالَتَا لَا نَسْقِي حَتَّى يُصْدِرَ الرِّعَاءُ وَأَبُونَا شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ فَسَقَى لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّى إِلَى الظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ فَجَاءَتْهُ إِحْدَاهُمَا تَمْشِي عَلَى اسْتِحْيَاءٍ قَالَتْ إِنَّ أَبِي يَدْعُوكَ لِيَجْزِيَكَ أَجْرَ مَا سَقَيْتَ لَنَا فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُ وَقَصَّ عَلَيْهِ الْقَصَصَ قَالَ لَا تَخَفْ نَجَوْتَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ” Translation: “And when he arrived at the water of Madyan, he found there a crowd of people watering [their flocks], and he found apart from them two women keeping back [their flocks]. He said, ‘What is your situation?’ They said, ‘We do not water [our flocks] until the shepherds return [with theirs], and our father is an old man.’ So, he watered [their flocks] for them, then turned back to the shade and said, ‘My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need.’ Then one of the two women came to him walking with modesty. She said, ‘Indeed, my father invites you that he may reward you for having watered for us.’ So, when he came to him and related to him the story, he said, ‘do not Fear. You have escaped from the wrongdoing people.'” (Surah, al-Qasas: 23–25)
What is most noteworthy and instructive in this story is the phrase “تَمْشِي عَلَى اسْتِحْيَاءٍ” – “walking with modesty” – which highlights that one of the most noble qualities of women is Haya (modesty). Among all the praiseworthy characteristics of the daughters of Shoaib (PBUH), it is only this attribute of modesty that has been explicitly mentioned.
Remembrance of Allah (Zikr)
One of the attributes of an ideal and righteous woman is her constant and abundant remembrance of Allah in her life. Allah counts this trait among the signs of true believers and praises them in the following way: “إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْقَانِتَاتِ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالصَّادِقَاتِ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّابِرَاتِ وَالْخَاشِعِينَ وَالْخَاشِعَاتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وَالصَّائِمِينَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ وَالْحَافِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَالْحَافِظَاتِ وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا” Translation: “Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the devout men and devout women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their chastity and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.” (Surah, al-Ahzab: 35)
Learning the Qur’an is the Duty of Every Muslim Woman
Allah the Almighty created humanity and provided for their material and spiritual needs to enable their development. Just as the human body needs physical nourishment like food and water, the soul requires spiritual sustenance for its health and growth. And just as the body may fall ill, so too can the soul be afflicted with spiritual ailments.
Human beings are composed of both body and soul. Any ideology that neglects one of these dimensions and only emphasizes the other does injustice to the human being and ignores the reality of their nature.
The Noble Qur’an, the final divine scripture, is filled with divine commands revealed to the Noble Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) for the guidance of all humanity. Allah has likened humans to travelers on the path of life, and just as a traveler needs a guidebook, Allah has sent the Qur’an to guide them. This is especially necessary because mankind faces a major enemy along the way – Satan. As Allah says in Surah Fatir: “إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا” Translation: “Indeed, Satan is an enemy to you, so take him as an enemy.” (Surah, Fatir: 6)
When Allah expelled Satan from Paradise, he swore to mislead humans, to turn them away from Allah and Paradise and toward himself and Hell. Indeed, the Qur’an is a reformer of both worldly and spiritual affairs, and obedience to its commands leads to eternal salvation and success. It is a boundless treasure of divine wisdom and knowledge.
Undoubtedly, the secret to the victory of the Islamic world over disbelief and polytheism lies in Muslims’ understanding and practice of the Qur’an. Our motto should be “We will live with the Qur’an.” Let this be ever before our eyes, and let us adorn ourselves with it. For Allah says: “إِنَّ هَذَا الْقُرْءَانَ يَهْدِى لِلَّتِي هِىَ أَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّلِحَتِ أَنَّ هُمْ أَجْرًا كَبِيرًا” Translation: “Indeed, this Qur’an guides to that which is most upright and gives glad tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward.” (Surah, al-Israʾ: 9)
The Qur’an is a book for living by and improving oneself through. We must strive to understand it so that it penetrates our eyes, our tongues, and our hearts, transforming and refining our lives. With each passing day that we pay more attention to the Qur’an, a new light will shine on our faces, and renewed willpower and rectitude will emerge within us.
If Muslims truly follow this divine book, the era of Islamic revival and progress will surely return. This is a clear and undeniable truth: the Noble Qur’an, with its eternal and living teachings, has brought about monumental spiritual and worldly transformations in humanity. It has guided people from misguidance and corruption toward progress and happiness, dispelled ignorance and darkness, and established awareness, justice, freedom, and dignity.
With its knowledge and wisdom, the Qur’an has brought forth a supreme system and solid law for governance and state administration aimed at public welfare. It calls the oppressed to rise against tyranny and injustice. The Qur’an teaches us to avoid division and sectarianism, and to unite in faith in Allah.
Yes, we are speaking of the Word of Allah – a word revealed to our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) over 14 centuries ago and regarded as one of his miracles. A book that has never been altered with time, while other scriptures have been distorted. One of its miracles is that no one has been able to change it – not only do they fail to alter it, but they end up benefiting from it.
As Allamah Iqbal Lahori beautifully said:
That living Book is the Wise Qur’an – the primary, eternal, and ancient source of wisdom.
The divine wisdom and admonitions of the Qur’an are such that even non-Muslims turn to study it and reshape their lives based on its inspiration. Yet, sadly, some Muslims benefit the least from this unparalleled source.
Just as our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the leader of all prophets, his book also holds the highest rank among all heavenly scriptures. Among Muslims, women are sometimes less familiar with the Qur’an, and this often stems from families’ negligence regarding Islamic principles. Many families do not acquaint their daughters with the Qur’an early in life. While they provide food, clothing, and shelter, they may neglect their children’s religious upbringing.
They should know that a human being consists of both physical and spiritual aspects. Just as one protects the body from illness, the soul also requires nourishment and care. The food of the soul is the recitation of the Qur’an. With the revelation of the Qur’an, Allah bestowed a special grace upon humanity.
Recitation of the Qur’an: The Most Virtuous Form of Zikr (Remembrance of Allah)
Reciting and reading the Qur’an is the most valuable and rewarding form of remembrance (zikr), and undoubtedly, it is among the greatest acts of worship. Whether within or outside of prayer, many worldly and eternal virtues and benefits have been narrated for its recitation.
The greatest merit for the reciters of the Qur’an is mentioned in Surah Fatir: “إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللهِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلوةَ وَأَنفَقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً يَرْجُونَ تِجَارَةً لَّن تَبُورَ لِيُوَفِّيَهُمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ إِنَّهُ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ” Translation: “Indeed, those who recite the Book of Allah, establish prayer, and spend from what We have provided them secretly and publicly, expect a trade that will never perish – so that He may give them in full their rewards and increase them from His bounty. Indeed, He is Forgiving and Appreciative.” (Surah, Fatir: 29–30)
