The Prophet Muhammad was sent to perfect good manners and character, and Allah Almighty has distinguished Islam with the virtue of Haya (modesty). It was narrated from Anas that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Every religion has its distinct characteristic, and the distinct characteristic of Islam is modesty.” Haya (modesty) is a quality that leads the soul to practice good deeds and abandon evil deeds. The Arabic word for modesty is Haya. This word covers different meanings and characteristics, such as shame, modesty, bashfulness, and every quality that guides and restrains the soul, mind, and body.
What Is Haya in Islam?
Ibn Al-Qayyim, an early scholar of Islam, wrote:
”Haya is of the most superior qualities, of the greatest in status, and of the most beneficial. Indeed, it is quintessential to humanness, for whoever carries no Haya has no share of humanness other than flesh, blood, and outward appearance. Likewise, there is no potential for good in a person without it. Were it not for this quality, he would never be hospitable to a guest, keep a promise, fulfill a trust, take care of anyone’s needs, prefer what is pleasant, avoid the obscene, cover his private parts, or abstain from fornication. Were it not for Haya, many people would not have fulfilled any of their obligations, nor acknowledged the rights of any being, nor kept the ties of kin, nor even shown kindness to parents.”
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) made modesty a way of life and a standard for measuring goodness and evil. Thus, any attempt to be characterized by modesty is an act of worship, as the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: “Iman has sixty odd or seventy odd branches. The uppermost of all these is the Testimony of Faith: ‘La ilaha illallah’ (there is no true god except Allah) while the least of them is the removal of a harmful object from the road. And shyness is a branch of Iman.” Haya brings nothing but goodness. If Haya is removed from a Muslim, then all kinds of evil may follow.
The Importance of Haya in Islam
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) warned us about the consequences of lacking Haya when he said: “One of the things people have learned from the words of the earliest prophecies is: ‘If you do not feel any shame, do whatever you like.”
This Hadith also carries another important meaning besides its warning. Allah sees all actions, whether they are done in public or in private, no matter what you do in public or private. He said in Surah Fussilat (41:40):
”Do whatever you will; indeed, He is Seeing of what you do.”
(اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ).
The Different Types of haya
There are different forms of Haya:
1- Haya from Allah
This is the greatest form of Haya. It is the fear of being seen by Allah while committing a sin. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, “Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not achieve this state of devotion, then (take it for granted that) Allah sees you.” By following the commands of Allah and avoiding His prohibitions, a Muslim can achieve the Haya from Allah. Ibn Mas’ud told of the Prophet saying to his companions one day, “Show due respect towards Allah.” On their replying, “Prophet of Allah, we show due respect towards Allah, praise be to Allah,” he said, “That is not what I mean; but he who shows due respect to Allah must guard the head and what it retains, must guard the belly and what it contains, and remember death and what comes after it; and he who desires the next world must abandon the adornment of this world. He who does that has shown due respect towards Allah.”
2-Haya from people
This is achieved through abstaining from harming people, physically or emotionally, ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Amr reported Allah’s messenger as saying, “The Muslim is he from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe, and the Emigrant is he who abandons what Allah has prohibited.” Another form of modesty towards people is abstaining from exposing a person’s wrongdoings. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Every one of my followers will be forgiven except those who expose (openly) their wrongdoings. An example of this is that of a man who commits a sin at night which Allah has covered for him, and in the morning, he would say (to people): “I committed such-and-such a sin last night,’ while Allah had kept it a secret. During the night Allah has covered it up but in the morning he tears up the cover provided by Allah Himself.”
3-Haya from Oneself
This type of modesty is a characteristic of people of honour and generosity. Modesty can prevent a Muslim from doing wrongdoings that may diminish his self-respect before Allah and in the eyes of people.
We ask Allah for guidance, piety, self-control and contentment. May Allah fill our hearts with the fear and love for Him.
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