Haya in Islam | Importance of haya in Islam

Haya in Islam

Haya means conscience, shame, modesty, shyness, and all related feelings that prevent a person from indecent behavior. It is the cloth/garment of the believer. Haya and honor are such innate human qualities; through which the assembly of multifarious moral qualities takes place in human beings.

Prophet (saw) was shyer. He called Haya a part of faith. What else did the Prophet (saw) say about Haya? Because of Haya in humans, clarity and purity develop. The interest in accountability is created in people. Even from all complications, crookedness, depravity, and defilement, one can be freed by shame or honor. Prophet (saw) said: 'Shyness/Haya is a special branch of faith' (Bukhari, Muslim, and Mishkat).

Shyness/Haya is not only a special quality of human faith but also a quality of Allah Ta'ala and His Messenger. They both have this quality. It is mentioned in the hadith-

i. 'Your Lord is shy, most Merciful. When the servant raises both hands in His court, He is ashamed to return the servant empty-handed.' (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and Mishkat)

ii. Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (RA) narrates, Prophet (saw) was shyer than a veiled virgin. When he disliked something we could tell by his look. This hadith was also narrated by Hazrat Anas (RA). He also said that he was shyer than Kumari.

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iii. On the authority of Hazrat Sahl Ibn Saad (RA), he said, Prophet (saw) was very shy. Whatever was asked of him, he would give it. Shy or Shame protects people from all evil deeds. Shameless people can always do brutally evil things. Nothing can turn him from evil. This is why the Messenger of Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: 'If you have no shame, you can do whatever you want.' (Bukhari and Mishkat)

Prophet (saw) little advice on modesty is very important for the Ummah. And that is-

Prophet (saw) was passing by an Ansari Sahabi one day. At that time his brother was advising him not to be too shy. (Because it is harmful to the pursuit of livelihood and the acquisition of knowledge) Prophet (saw) said, 'Let him remain like this. Since Haya is a part of faith. [Bukhari and Mishkat; Hadith narrated by Hazrat Umar (RA)]

Importance of haya in Islam

Haya is important for Muslims and for both men and women in Islamic culture. In the Qur'an, verses explain how men and women should behave. According to haya's values, a man should control himself by marrying as young as possible. If a man cannot afford to marry, he should fast, so that he is not overpowered by his lusts and the evil counsels of Satan. Haya's values ​​dictate that women should also hide.

'O Prophet! Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity. It is more sacred to them. Surely Allah is well aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts and not reveal their adornment which is commonly seen. Let them draw their veils over their breasts, and not reveal their hidden adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their fathers-in-law, their sons, their stepsons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, or their sister's sons, their fellow women, those ˹bondwomen˺ in their possession, male attendants with no desire, or children who are still unaware of women’s nakedness. They should not be tripped up by drawing attention to their hidden embellishments. O you who believe, turn to Allah in repentance, so that you may be successful.' (Qur'an Nur, 30–31)

Haya is of the most exalted qualities, the greatest in dignity, and the most beneficent. In fact, it is essential to humanity, because a person who does not bear any Haya has no part of humanity except flesh, blood, and outward appearance. Similarly, (without it) there is no possibility of goodness in a person. Without this quality, he would never be hospitable to guests, keep promises, fulfill deposits, take care of someone's needs, love what is desirable, avoid obscenity, cover his private parts or abstain from adultery. Without Haya, many people would not be able to fulfill their responsibilities, recognize the rights of a being, maintain the bonds of kinship, or even be kind to their parents. The driving force behind these actions is either religious, i.e. hoping for a good outcome at the end, or it is mundane, i.e. the owner's haya in the eyes of creation. Therefore, if there was no shyness/haya on the part of the Creator or the creation, one would not have indulged in this act.