The Lost Virtue: Reviving Ghayrah (Protective Jealousy) in an Age of Moral Decay
Author: Sr. Hana Ibrahim
The beauty of divine law lies in its perfect prescription of an ideal civilization. Allah Most High sent down His Gracious Book and Noble Messenger ﷺ to prepare the way for us as a mercy for our community. By delineating the noble qualities of the ideal Muslim, the Shariah fosters and cultivates the individual’s natural inclination towards piety. One such civilizational value which has been lost among the Muslim ummah, especially those affected by Western thought, is ghayrah, both for the spouse and the dīn as a whole. Although there is no precise English equivalent for the term “ghayrah”, it may be understood as a form of protective jealousy (though the word jealousy carries connotations that do not fully capture its intended meaning). Imām al-Suyūṭī describes ghayrah as a feeling of anger to protect the most honorable of things, namely spousal relationships. This profound emotion, when rightly directed, safeguards the purity of the heart and the integrity of the community. It is a moral compass that preserves honor, restrains indecency, and upholds the sanctity of what Allah Most High has deemed sacred.
Yet despite its noble place in our faith, this virtue has become increasingly rare in today’s world. Modern society, with its rapid technological progress and unrestricted access to the world of kufr (disbelief), has caused widespread fitnah (tribulation) amongst Muslims, particularly through feminist narratives that redefine modesty and gender roles in ways that misalign with Islam. These modern ideologies distort traditional values, deluding women with secular ideals and fostering an aversion toward traditional notions of masculinity. The West promotes the illusion that true freedom lies in adopting its ideals, from their clothing to social roles, dismissing divine guidance as outdated or oppressive. Meanwhile, many men, who are expected to shield them from that corrupted way of life, have instead become complicit in facilitating it.
Allah Most High says, “Men are caretakers of women, since Allah has made some of them excel the others, and because of the wealth they have spent. So, the righteous women are obedient, (and) guard (the property and honor of their husbands) in (their) absence with the protection given by Allah” (al-Nisāʾ: 34). Rather than assume their role as the protectors, some “modern” Muslim men encourage their women to embrace the very lifestyle that Allah Most High warns against in the Quran. Allah Most High says, “Tell the believing men that they must lower their gazes and guard their private parts; it is more decent for them. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women that they must lower their gazes and guard their private parts, and must not expose their adornment, except that which appears thereof, and must wrap their bosoms with their shawls, and must not expose their adornment” (al-Nūr: 30-31). In the modern digital world, both Muslim men and women proudly post themselves online, engage freely with the opposite gender, and pollute their minds with indecent entertainment. Women publicly display their adornment and men both encourage and normalize that indecent exposure.
Just as the lack of ghayrah has disrupted the sanctity of family life, its absence extends to our relationship with Islam itself. The West has clouded the minds of the ummah, persuading many to see adherence to religion as a weakness while celebrating open disbelief as progress. Whereas the Companions took pride in Islam and defended the honor of the Prophet ﷺ, Muslims today often conceal their values and sit silently as their religion is mocked, trading the honor of representing the dīn for the comfort of blending into disbelief. The Companions raised the banner of Islam while the modern Muslim now hides it away from enemy sight. This lost sense of ghayrah for Islam reflects a deep spiritual complacency, where the desire for worldly acceptance outweighs the duty to uphold and defend the sanctity of our faith.
Our longing to assimilate to a society of disbelief has resulted in a lack of ghayrah for our greatest blessings. In reviving the concept of ghayrah, Muslims must recognize that it is a vital expression of faith and dignity. It is through ghayrah that one protects not only personal honor, but also the sanctity of Islam itself. The decline of this virtue reflects a deeper spiritual weakness as our ummah loosens its attachment to divine guidance and the prophetic example. To restore it, we must reorient our values toward the Quran and the Sunnah, striving to emulate the Prophet ﷺ in his unwavering modesty, courage, and moral clarity. By rekindling this sacred sense of protectiveness over our faith, families, and identities, we can safeguard our hearts from the moral decay of the modern world and reclaim the nobility that once defined the believers.
