Narrated by Abu Huraira (ra): The Prophet said, “Faith (Belief) consists of more than sixty branches (i.e. parts). And Haya is a part of faith.” (Bukhari)We also learn from the Prophet (saws) the importance of having Haya’ and how it is not something to be ashamed of, but instead, one should be concerned and ashamed if they do not possess it within their character.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar (ra): The Prophet (saws) passed by a man who was admonishing his brother regarding Haya and was saying, “You are very shy, and I am afraid that might harm you.” On that, Allah’s Apostle said, “Leave him, for Haya is (a part) of Faith.” (Bukhari)Now the above hadith is also a form of proof that “shyness” is not just something regarding women but also an attribute that believing men should have, for it is an indication if their fear of Allah and an indication of the value of their Deen.
Abdullah ibn Umar (ra) narrated that the Prophet (saw) said: “Indeed haya (modesty) and Iman are Companions. When one of them is lifted, the other leaves as well.” (Baihaqi)There are many verses in the Qur’an and many ahadith explaining the reasons behind observing Hijab. The Islamic Shariah has not stopped at giving the Commandments of Hijab, it has also clarified every such thing which directly relates to these commandments and, with the slightest carelessness, may result in vulgarity and immodesty. In other words such things have also been forbidden in order to close the doors to indecency and lewdness, in return providing a stronger pillar for Haya’.
Narrated on the authority of Anas bin Malik, the Prophet (saw) said: When lewdness is a part of anything, it becomes defective; and when haya is a part of anything it becomes beautiful. (Tirmidhi)So it is only obvious that Hijab plays an extremely important role in regards to Haya’. For Hijab prevents lewdness and Haya’ backs this up and then a person’s Iman becomes even stronger. So both things work together in a partnership. At the time of our beloved Prophet (saw) as soon as the verses of Hijab were revealed, all the Quraish and Ansar ran home to their wives and daughters and close female relatives to tell them to cover themselves. The ones who had veils used them and the ones who did not have veils made some right away. For instance the following hadith tells us:
Narrated by Aisha (ra): May Allah have mercy on the early immigrant women. When the verse “That they should draw their veils over their bosoms” was revealed, they tore their thick outer garments and made veils from them. And when the verse “That they should cast their outer garments over themselves” was revealed, the women of Ansar came out as if they had crows over their heads by wearing outer garments. (Abu Dawood)This indicates that all these women wanted to guard their modesty which is why they followed out the orders of Allah. Yet, another verse talk about the level of modesty in Aisha (ra):
Narrated Aisha (ra): “I used to enter my house where Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) was and take off my garment, saying that only my husband and my father were there; but when Umar was buried along with them, I swear by Allah that I did not enter it without having my clothes wrapped round me owing to modesty regarding Umar.” (at-Tirmidhi and Ahmed)If women in today’s society choose not to wear the veils, but some belief in their hearts, than they might be categorised as Muslim women but not Mumineen. The truth is that Haya’ is a special characteristic of a Mu’min ( believing, practicing Muslims). People who are ignorant of the teachings of the Prophet (saws) do not concern themselves with Haya’ and Honour. Haya’ and Iman are interdependent; therefore either they both exist together or they both perish. Thus, the Prophet (saws) has said in one hadith,
“When there is no haya left, then do as you please.”Today vulgarity and all its ingredients have become a common place even among well-known Muslims in the zeal of imitating the disbelievers. It is these people who have been struggling to bring Muslim women out of Hijab into immodesty and indecency. They have adopted the lifestyles of the disbelievers more than the traditions of the Prophet (saws). Such people are in a dilemma. On the one hand, they desire to freely look at the half-clad bodies of their wives and daughters of other Muslims on the streets; and on the other hand, they do not have the courage to deny the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the Prophet (saws). Neither can they say they have given up Islam, nor can they bear to see Muslim women wear Hijab and showing some Haya’.
Malik b Uhaimir reported that he heard the Prophet (saw) saying that, “Allah (swt) will not accept any good deeds or worship of an immodest and vulgar person.” We asked “Who is a vulgar and immodest person?” He replied, “A man who’s wife entertains Ghair-mehram men.”Now the word “entertains” implies that she is showing off her beauty instead of keeping herself covered up. If the Muslim brothers of today’s society knew the benefits of Haya’ and Hijab, they would definitely not tolerate the opposite. At the time of our beloved Prophet (saws) the husbands could not even imagine their wives leaving the houses unveiled let alone go out and beautify themselves for other men to get “free looks”. The following hadith shows this fact clearly:
Narrated by Al-Mughira: Sa’d bin ‘Ubada said, “I will not hesitate killing my wife with a sword if I see her with another man” This news reached Allah’s Apostle who then said, “You people are astonished at Sa’d's Ghira (self-respect, honour). By Allah, I have more Ghira than he, and Allah has more Ghira than I, and because of Allah’s Ghira, He has made unlawful shameful deeds and sins done in open and in secret. And there is none who likes that the people should repent to Him and beg His pardon than Allah, and for this reason He sent the warners and the givers of good news. And there is none who likes to be praised more than Allah does, and for this reason, Allah promised to grant Paradise (to the doers of good).” ‘Abdul Malik said, “No person has more Ghira than Allah.” (Sahih Bukhari)So this should be enough to understand why Hijab is so important for women to establish Haya’ in themselves and live the lives of true mu’mineen. Sometimes the situation becomes a such that people will have done wrong/sins for such a long period of time that they will not be able to differentiate between right and wrong. Another way to put this is that, a person’s exceeding indulgence in indecency results in the loss of wisdom and the ability to see good deeds from bad deeds. As the Prophet (saw) said:
“I have a sense of Honour ( a part of Haya’). Only a person with a darkened heart is deprived of Honour.”The merits of maintaining Haya’
” Surely Allah (is One who) has Haya’ and is the Protector. He loves haya and people who cover each others faults.”(Bukhari)Secondly, Haya itself is a Greatness of Islam as our Prophet indicated:
“Every way of life has a innate character. The character of Islam is Haya’.”Or
“Every Deen has an innate character. The character of Islam is modesty (Haya’).” (Abu Dawood)Thirdly, Haya’ only brings good and nothing else. Our Prophet (saw) said:
“Haya does not bring anything except good.” (Bukhari)Fourthly, Haya is a very clear indication of our Iman. As the Prophet (saw) had mentioned to the Ansar who was condemning is brother about being shy:
“Leave him, for Haya’ is (a part) of Faith.” (Bukhari)Fifthly, last but not least, Haya leads us to PARADISE. As the Prophet (saws) told us:
“Haya’ comes from Iman; Iman leads to Paradise. Obscenity comes from antipathy; and antipathy leads to the fire.” (Bukhari)The actual word Haya’ is derived from Hayat. This means life. It is only obvious that when someone has Hay’a in them, they will LIVE a life of Islam. On the other hand if they do not have Hay’a they are living a life that is dead “Islamically” but alive according to this dunya.
“Haya and Trustworthiness will be the first to go from this world; therefore keep asking Allah for them.” (Baihaqi)In conclusion, we must understand that Haya’ is important for both men and women. Men are to control themselves by getting married as young as possible or if they cannot afford that, they should fast. Women are told to conceal themselves so that the men will not be over taken by the whispers of Sheytan and will not disrespect or take advantage of the women. There are many verses in the Qur’an that have clearly explained how we have to behave and Allah is All-Knowing therefore He knew that we would face these problems living in this society, and that is no excuse to change Islam and only practice what we feel is right. Allah (swt) has told men how to guide their modesty and has told women how to guide their modesty. If either one of them refuse to follow the commandment of their Lord, may Allah have mercy on them and may He guide them to the straight path.
“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty…….” (Qur’an Nur, 30-31)
