Modesty for Men & Women

Fortunately, this picture may represent a taboo or cultural restrictions, but does it represent the Islam in Quran?....You need to find out yourself!

Allah Ordains in the Quran;

24:30     Say to the believing men that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts; that is purer for them; surely Allah is Aware of what they do.

24:31     And say to the believing women that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts and do not display their ornaments except what appears thereof, and let them wear their head-coverings over their bosoms, and not display their ornaments except to their husbands or their fathers, or the fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or those whom their right hands possess, or the male servants not having need (of women), or the children who have not attained knowledge of what is hidden of women; and let them not strike their feet so that what they hide of their ornaments may be known; and turn to Allah all of you, O believers! so that you may be successful. (Shakir)

This is interesting that BOTH men and women are suppose to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, in general.

For women the commandment is extented because of their physical beauty and attraction towards men.

I encourage the readers of the Quran to kindly study the words in Arabic...for some of the terms used in the translation above .

Ornaments is used for the Arabic term      زِينَتَهُنَّ 
Consult Dictionary

which refers to something additionally used to beautify oneself. So Allah didn't stop woman from decorating herself ...but...only from displaying her charm openly in public...otherwise Allah also made it clear that it does not include her natural charm or some un-intentionally visible attraction, which is obvious to others. إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡهَا‌ۖ
Then we see an Arabic word   بِخُمُرِهِنَّ 
Consult Dictionary

This word has been translated into "head covering" by the translator...while it means their VEIL only which may include a head-covering or not..

So وَلۡيَضۡرِبۡنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِہِنَّ‌ۖ means to 
DRAW A VEIL ON/OVERTHEIR BOSSOMS

And again  وَلَا يُبۡدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ Don't show their adornments except before the close relations mentioned in the verse.

So this is the MODESTY for Muslim Women!

Now think for yourself....

Does Allah forbids wearing COLORS?

Does Allah commands, covering of the whole body with black burqa?

Would covering of ears, eyes, nose , mouth (all the senses)...really make any sense?

Would wearing gloves and socks should bring women close to Allah?

Why then Allah has made beautiful things?

Why then Allah has made women beautiful?

HAIR OR HEAD?
Covering the head had been just a common practice to present oneself as a GENTLEMAN or A LADY...in different cultures and the religions.
Hair is one of the natural beauty element for women especially. So covering the head may be considered as practicing a modest way of dressing up!
YET...
covering each and every hair....means entirely a different thing..
if so...does it mean that a bald women should not wear a head-covering?
Why men choose to cover their heads, then?

(Referred to other posts in the same blog)
We must understand what "Freedom" is....
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Now with this verse in the same Surah Noor...the issue becomes more clear...

) وَٱلۡقَوَٲعِدُ مِنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ٱلَّـٰتِى لَا يَرۡجُونَ نِكَاحً۬ا فَلَيۡسَ عَلَيۡهِنَّ جُنَاحٌ أَن يَضَعۡنَ ثِيَابَهُنَّ غَيۡرَ مُتَبَرِّجَـٰتِۭ بِزِينَةٍ۬‌ۖ وَأَن يَسۡتَعۡفِفۡنَ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّهُنَّ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ۬ (٦٠)

24:60 Such elderly women as are past the prospect of marriage,- there is no blame on them if they lay aside their (outer) garments, provided they make not a wanton display of their beauty: but it is best for them to be modest: and God is One Who sees and knows all things.

The word   ثِيَابَهُنَّ means clothes...must be outer garments

Consult Dictionary

Again she is recommended NOT to to display adornments  بِزِينَةٍ۬‌ۖ in public.

An Important Question:Why Allah, Himself suggests the adornment ... in this verse then?

۞ يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُواْ زِينَتَكُمۡ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسۡجِدٍ۬ وَڪُلُواْ وَٱشۡرَبُواْ وَلَا تُسۡرِفُوٓاْ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ (٣١)

7:31

O children of Adam, you shall be clean and dress nicely when you go to the masjid. And eat and drink moderately; Surely, He does not love the gluttons

Note the word زِينَتَكُمۡ in the above verse...again! 

Consult Dictionary

So  may be the Display of the Adornment which is not decent or respectable...is not allowed, only!

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IMPORTANT:

The wives of Prophet Muhammad S. were especially ordered to remain in veil for important reason , yet this commandment  has a serious Clue That Women who walks around displaying their beauty in public are considered “Ignorant” near Allah.

33:32	O wives of the Prophet! you are not like any other of the women; If you will be on your guard, then be not soft in (your) speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease yearn; and speak a good word.
33:33	And stay in your houses and do not display your finery like the displaying of the ignorance of yore; and keep up prayer, and pay the poor-rate, and obey Allah and His Apostle. Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanness from you, O people of the House! and to purify you a (thorough) purifying.
33:34	And keep to mind what is recited in your houses of the communications of Allah and the wisdom; surely Allah is Knower of subtleties, Aware.
33:35	Surely the men who submit and the women who submit, and the believing men and the believing women, and the obeying men and the obeying women, and the truthful men and the truthful women, and the patient men and the patient women and the humble men and the humble women, and the almsgiving men and the almsgiving women, and the fasting men and the fasting women, and the men who guard their private parts and the women who guard, and the men who remember Allah much and the women who remember -- Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a mighty reward.

THINK!!!!

Isn't simplicity a modest practice, then?

And...What's the point in doing "Make-up" and showing off jewellary while wearing a head-cover (Hijab) or...What would tight dresses do..(for both genders)? esp. in the private areas...making them..... 'public' or what...!!!