Islam Watch

Mandatory Modesty Laws in Islam: How Quranic Verses Enforce Female Subjugation

Introduction: When Modesty Becomes Compulsion

Islam is often promoted as a religion that values modesty, but beneath this seemingly virtuous concept lies a disturbing reality — a system that enforces modesty through coercion, compulsion, and social pressure. In many Muslim-majority countries, women are forced to cover their hair, faces, or entire bodies, not as an expression of personal faith, but as a legal or social obligation. Those who refuse face social shaming, harassment, fines, imprisonment, or even violent assault.

This post will expose the Quranic foundations of these mandatory modesty laws, reveal how they are enforced through religious and legal systems, and explore the real impact they have on the lives of millions of women around the world.

1. The Quranic Basis for Mandatory Modesty

1.1. Quran 24:31 — The Command to Cover

The first Quranic verse that enforces modesty for women is Quran 24:31:
- "And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts and not display their beauty except what is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms..."
This verse is interpreted by Islamic scholars as a command for women to cover their bodies, including their hair and chest.
While the wording may seem open to interpretation, Islamic jurisprudence has consistently enforced it as a legal obligation for women to cover.

1.2. Quran 33:59 — The Enforcement of the Veil

The second Quranic verse that enforces modesty is Quran 33:59:
- "O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused."
This verse not only enforces modesty but also implies that uncovered women are responsible for any abuse they receive.
It establishes the concept of "blaming the victim," suggesting that women must cover themselves to avoid harassment.

1.3. Hadith Reinforcing Mandatory Modesty

The Hadith (sayings of Muhammad) further reinforce the concept of mandatory modesty:
- Sunan Abu Dawood 4092:
  - "Asma, the daughter of Abu Bakr, came to the Messenger of Allah while wearing thin clothes. He approached her and said: 'O Asma, when a girl reaches puberty, it is not appropriate for her to show any part of her body except this and this.' And he pointed to his face and hands."
- Sahih Bukhari 5883:
  - "The best of women are those who are like a black crow." (A reference to women who are fully covered in black clothing.)

1.4. The Consensus of Islamic Scholars (Ijma)

The four main Sunni schools of Islamic jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali) all agree that:
- Women are required to cover their hair and bodies in public.
- In some interpretations, even the face and hands must be covered (the full niqab or burqa).
- Refusing to cover is considered a sin and can lead to social or legal penalties.

2. The Evolution of Modesty Laws: From Personal Choice to Coercion

2.1. Early Islam: Modesty as a Social Norm

During Muhammad’s time, modesty was promoted as a cultural and social value:
- Women were encouraged to cover for the sake of modesty and privacy.
- However, it was not always a strict legal requirement, and women in early Islamic society were known to appear without full covering.
But as Islamic empires expanded, modesty became increasingly enforced as a symbol of religious obedience.

2.2. The Abbasid Caliphate: Modesty Becomes Law

Under the Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258), modesty for women became strictly enforced:
- The Harem System: Elite women were kept in seclusion, fully covered, and prevented from interacting with men.
- The concept of "honor and shame" became tied to women’s bodies, with uncovered women seen as dishonorable.
Women’s freedom of movement and expression was severely restricted.

2.3. The Ottoman Empire: The Spread of the Veil

The Ottoman Empire (1299–1922) enforced strict modesty for women:
- Women in public were expected to wear the "ferace" (a long, loose garment) and cover their hair with a veil.
- Even within the Ottoman harem, where women were largely isolated, strict dress codes were enforced.
The Ottoman influence spread these modesty norms to many Muslim-majority regions.

3. The Modern Enforcement of Modesty: Laws and Social Pressure

3.1. Iran: The Mandatory Hijab Law

Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran made the hijab (headscarf) mandatory for all women:
- Women who appear in public without a hijab can be fined, imprisoned, or lashed.
- The Morality Police enforce these laws, patrolling public spaces and arresting women who do not comply.
The death of Mahsa Amini (2022), a young woman who died in custody after being detained for "improper hijab," sparked nationwide protests.

3.2. Saudi Arabia: The Religious Police

Saudi Arabia’s "Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice" (Mutawa) enforced strict modesty laws for decades:
- Women were required to wear the abaya (a long black cloak) and cover their hair.
- Violations were punished with public shaming, fines, and imprisonment.
Although some restrictions have been eased in recent years, women are still pressured to dress modestly.

3.3. Afghanistan: The Taliban’s Burqa Law

Under the Taliban (1996–2001, 2021–present), Afghan women are required to wear the burqa, a full-body covering with a mesh screen over the eyes:
- Women who refuse to comply can be beaten or imprisoned.
- Female students are denied education if they do not wear the burqa.
The Taliban claim that these restrictions are based on Islamic law.

3.4. Pakistan: Honor Killings and Social Control

In Pakistan, modesty is enforced through social pressure and violence:
- Women who refuse to cover are often harassed, beaten, or even killed by their own families in "honor killings."
- Even in urban areas, women who dress "immodestly" are frequently subjected to harassment.
The legal system offers little protection for women, as judges often justify violence against them using Islamic principles.

4. The Impact of Mandatory Modesty on Women

4.1. The Loss of Personal Freedom

Women in Muslim-majority countries are denied the right to choose their own clothing:
- Those who refuse to cover are punished by law or face social harassment.
- Those who cover out of fear cannot be said to be exercising free will.

4.2. The Culture of Blame

Quran 33:59 implies that women must cover to avoid harassment, placing the blame for abuse on the victim rather than the abuser:
- Women who are harassed are told they "asked for it" by not covering.
- Victim-blaming is institutionalized in both law and social attitudes.

4.3. The Psychological Impact

Mandatory modesty laws cause severe psychological harm to women:
- Constant fear of being punished for "improper dress."
- Internalized shame and guilt about their bodies.
- The loss of personal identity, as women are forced to conform to religious dress codes.

5. Conclusion: Modesty as a Tool of Control

Mandatory modesty in Islam is not a matter of personal choice or spiritual devotion — it is a tool of control. Through Quranic commands, Hadith, and centuries of Islamic jurisprudence, women are forced to cover or face social and legal penalties. This is not about faith — it is about power.

For those who value freedom, personal dignity, and human rights, the enforcement of mandatory modesty is a clear violation of women’s autonomy. A religion that claims to value morality has transformed modesty into a weapon of coercion.