In the hadiths of Our Prophet the word is mentioned as the other name of the Archangel Gabriel-May Allah commend and salute him-.
This word also passed to Turkish and it is commonly used in the meaning of the habits like chastity, innocence, good manners, modesty, being honest, esteem, reliability which express high virtue.
It also has the sense of shyness and modesty.
In the Noble Quran and hadiths the word “namus” is mostly used in place of “chastity”, “modesty and to protect one's private parts ”, the believers who have those qualities and morals are appraised.
“The Believers must (eventually) win through; Those who humble themselves in their prayers; Who avoid vain talk; Who are active in deeds of charity; Who abstain from sex; Except with those joined to them in the marriage bond or (the captives) whom their right hands possess for (in their case) they are free from blame; But those whose desires exceed those limits are transgressors” (1)
The Noble Quran calls men and women who are believers to be chaste and to avoid their eyes looking to prohibited things and to protect private parts. The Noble Quran commands women to veil themselves in order to protect their chastity.
“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.”
“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands their fathers their husbands' fathers their sons their husbands' sons their brothers or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons or their women or the slaves whom their right hands possess or male servants free of physical needs or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! turn ye all together towards Allah that ye may attain Bliss.” (2)
Believers are fond of to their honor and chastity. They abstain from all kinds of excessive behaviors that will overshadow those qualities and cause themselves to be known as unchaste and dishonest. They take the measures to protect their innocence.
Also by the order of The Noble Quran they avoid saying lies about chaste people and to slander against them.
“And those who launch a charge against chaste women and produce not four witnesses (to support their allegation) flog them with eighty stripes: and reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors” “ (3)
They learn the ways to protect their innocence and they apply them in their daily lives.
“Women impure are for men impure and men impure are for women impure; and women of purity are for men of purity and men of purity are for women of purity: these are not affected by what people say: for them there is forgiveness and a provision honorable.” (4)
Obviously the thing that increases the honor of a believer and embellishes him with virtues and cause to raise his value is his own understanding of chastity and the feeling of honor. A believer abstains from low and mean behaviors. He is such a person who is chosen among people in respect of morals and virtues. He never looks with bad intention to chastity and honor of anybody. Just as he regards his chastity and honor as valued he also regards the honor of his Muslim brother as valued and protects similarly.
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(1)Chapter Mü'minûn, 23/1-7.
(2) Chapter Nûr, 24/30-31.
(3) Chapter Nûr, 24/4.
(4) Chapter Nûr, 24/26.
All kinds of bad morals and evil behaviors lower quality of a believer. Doubtlessly looking to prohibited things, to commit adultery, to follow the things that lead one to adultery, not to protect the limits of clothing that Islam proposes harms to chastity. One of the most beautiful feelings that protect chastity and honor is shyness. Our Prophet declared:
“People also have learned from the word of Prophets that: do whatever you like if you are not ashamed.” (1)
The feeling of modesty and chastity are the requirements of faith for the believers. They are aware of the fact that Allah sees them everywhere.
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(1) Ebu Davud, Modesty/6.