The tradition-oriented analysis on the relationship between the gender and moral virtues with an emphasis on the Shi’a teachings (a case study on self-control and modesty against the carnal lust)

One of the fundamental issues in moral studies is the difference between men and women from the aspect of moral characteristics. In modern times, the advocates of the equity of men and women, including certain of the Shi’a thinkers, attempt to deny the existence of these differences, therefore, they do not believe in distinguishing the rules based on gender and its undeniable influence. This issue has been dealt with from different perspectives. In this article, we have addressed this topic with a tradition-oriented analysis. By investigating the hadith books and the comments and viewpoints of the Shi’a translators and commentators sub the traditions denoting that the women’s modesty (ḥayā’) and self-control (ṣabr) against the carnal lust excel that of men, we have realized that these traditions are reliable in Shi’a teachings from the aspects of isnad and denotation. Moreover, the experimental studies, confirm these differences. Therefore, substantiation of the existence of such differences in the Shi’a teachings is a case for negation of the assumption of the absolute equity in the moral characteristics of man and woman.