Modesty And Guarding One's Aurah (Intimate Parts) Even When Alone

عَنْ بَهْزِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَوْرَاتُنَا مَا نَأْتِي مِنْهَا وَمَا نَذَرُ قَالَ احْفَظْ عَوْرَتَكَ إِلَّا مِنْ زَوْجَتِكَ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِذَا كَانَ الْقَوْمُ بَعْضُهُمْ فِي بَعْضٍ قَالَ إِنْ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ لَا يَرَيَنَّهَا أَحَدٌ فَلَا يَرَيَنَّهَا قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِذَا كَانَ أَحَدُنَا خَالِيًا قَالَ اللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَنْ يُسْتَحْيَا مِنْهُ مِنْ النَّاسِ

Bahz b. Hakim said that his father told on the authority of his grandfather: 

I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, from whom should we conceal our private parts and to whom can we show?’

He replied, ‘Conceal your private parts except from your wife and from whom your right hands possess (slave-girls).’

I then asked, ‘Messenger of Allah, (what should we do), if the people are assembled together?’

He replied, ‘If it is within your power that no one looks at it, then no one should look at it.’

I then asked, ‘Messenger of Allah if one of us is alone, (what should he do)?’

He replied, ‘Allah is more entitled than people that bashfulness should be shown to him.’

Grade: Hasan (Al-Albani)

Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 4017

https://sunnah.com/abudawud/33/9

Lessons:

1. Muslims must always guard their aurah except in front of their spouses. 

2. Even when alone, it is encouraged for one to cover one’s aurah out of shyness towards Allah. 

Let us guard our modesty!