Imam Zijad’s Corner: BASHFULNESS IS PART OF FAITH ~ AL HAYA MINAL IMAN 

The Messenger of God, Muhammad (S) said: “Indeed, every religion has fine and praiseworthy demeanor, and the demeanor of Islam is Al Haya’ (bashfulness).”        {Ibn Majah}

This Hadith means that among all the religions which existed before Islam each one had one prominent characteristic or another except Al Haya’. In other words, among all the moral values the position that Al Haya’ occupies in Islam is the most dominant and sublime and this was not the case in the earlier religions so much as it is in Islam.

If it was like stars in the other religions, it shines forth like the sun in Islam. For these reasons, the attention of Muslims is invited to this prominent position and importance of Al Haya’. While they should adopt all good moral values, they are aksed specifically to give a distinct position to Al Haya’. Al Haya’ rests at the top of the list in good manners of exceptional believers.

Al Haya’ means bashfulness, shyness, deservedness, etc. It is a much praised habit for it prevents its owner from doing something that is wrong. It also brings only good to its owner, as the Messenger of God (S) said: “Al Haya’ does not bring anything except good.” {Bukhari, Muslim}

Once the Messenger of God (S) was passing by a man who was blaming someone for his bashfulness. The Messenger (S) told him to leave the person adding: “Al Haya is a part of Faith, and Faith leads into Jannah and  Al Bitha’ {indecency-shamelessness)  is a part of corruption or disgust (Al Jafa’) and corruption leads to Jahannam.”     {Ibn Majah, Ahmad, Tirmithi}

As it can be seen from the Hadith, the Haya’ is related with character (Akhlaq} and it helps in bringing up moral people with virtuous behavior which will lead them to Jannah. Ibn Al Qayyim, may God be pleased with him, said that Al Haya’ is a part of life, and depending on how much Al Haya’ heart possesses, actually reflects how much moral character an individual has. The smaller amount of Al Haya’ the individual shows, the greater deficiency of spiritual life and ineffectiveness his/her ability and competence reflects. The Messenger of God, Muhammad (S) said: “The Faith consists of more than sixty branches, and Al Haya is a part of Faith.” {Al Bukhari}

Al Haya’ may be practiced between a servant and his/her Rabb (Lord), when a servant shows bashfulness (Al Haya’) before the Lord, especially in committing disobedience be it openly or secretly. Almighty God informs us: “God knows the fraud of the eyes, and all that the breasts conceal.” {Al Gafir 19}

The shyness between God and His servants is the shyness of honor, because Almighty God is shy to refuse His servant when he/she raises his/her hands in supplication (Du’a).

As for shyness between the individual and other people, it is that which prevents him/her from committing a wrong, and thus hates people witnessing his/her feeling of humiliation and guilt.