Quranic Perspective on Haya (modesty)
Haroon Rashid
“O children of Adam! We have indeed sent down to you clothing to cover your shame, as well as clothing for beauty. But clothing that guards (against evil) ,that is the best. These are among the signs of Allah for those who think and take caution”. (Al Araf 7:26).
And those who preserve their chastity (these will dwell in Gardens, honoured) (Al Muminun 23:5).
The Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) said;“When lewdness is a part of anything, it becomes defective; and when haya is a part of anything it becomes beautiful. (Tirmidhi).
“Haya does not bring anything except good”. (Bukhari).
Haya is an Arabic word derived from the word hayat, which means life. Haya (modesty) is the hallmark of a Muslim. A Muslim always lives by Haya. Words like self respect, abstinence, modesty, bashfulness, chastity and purity translate the same word into English. Actually Haya is simply not translatable into any other language.
The original meaning of haya refers to a bad and uneasy feeling accompanied by embarrassment, caused by one’s fear of being exposed for some unworthy or indecent conduct. Islamically, haya is an attribute which encourages believers to avoid anything distasteful. Further haya is a type of internal body protection system. A believer needs clothing to cover and guard his/ her body externally.
Same is the case; he/ she needs protection and clothing to cover his/ her internal body organs. Therefore it can be defined as internal body clothing so that thoughts, feelings, love, care etc might be protected.
The opposite of haya is indecency, indulgence and impurity which means baseness in words and actions and by which bitterness creates in sayings. Muslim is not dry- minded, hard hearted and stiff talker. These are all qualities of hell people and muslims are meant for paradise.
In Haya, the best model is the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh). It is better to drop right but not Haya. He (Pbuh) said: Indecency disfigures everything and Haya( modesty) enhances the charm of everything. (Tirmidhi).
Haya plays a huge role in the lives of Muslims because it is a very important part of our Iman (faith/belief). If we don’t have any form of Haya within us then it is most likely that our Iman is very weak.
It is among the most significant differences that separate human beings from the other living creatures. The feeling of honour exists inside every person from the time of birth. And this feeling automatically forces the person to take some measures towards modesty ( haya).Haya is a human ornament. It is special characteristic of a Mumin (believing, practising Muslims).
Haya (modesty) is important for both men and women. People who remain ignorant of the teachings of the Prophet (Pbuh) do not concern themselves with modesty and honour. Haya(modesty)restraints from indulging in a desire for something. Similarly faith makes men ready to put down sins and to be obedient to Almighty Allah. Haya keeps Muslims stand on the right Path. It (haya) internally rebukes, scolds, condemns and warns a person. It (modesty) also stops from false hidden motives, evil looks, nudity and bad feminine urges.
This great concept of haya or modesty should be promoted through all possible means and at all levels and by everyone: educators, teachers, lecturers, parents and preachers. It is unfortunate that today, and because of technological misuse, this great concept is threatened.
Therefore it is greater responsibility for the Muslim preachers, parents, educators, etc to not let the evildoers distort and promote and corrupt haya’. Muslims should learn, master and use information technology (IT) positively to promote what is good and beneficial. By mastering IT they should make deliberate efforts to be in control of it and minimize its negative destructive side such as by designing and producing filtering software’s.
