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Major Principles in Islam: Haya (modesty)

ByShaykh Haytham Tamim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjtM8T7hOis

What is haya?

One of the main principles of Islam is al-haya.  Al-haya is an Arabic term, which has three different translations in English.  One is shyness, and we refer to someone shy as hayee. This is one translation.  The other translation is modesty, depending on the context, as the translation of the word depends on the context in which it has been used in Arabic. The third translation is bashfulness. As you can see, they are all in the same orbit. We will explore the concept of haya in the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and examine its branches.

Modesty is good

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned haya in many narrations, some of which are very beautiful.

Imran ibn Husain (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

وعن عمران بن حصين رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ((الحياء لا يأتي إلا بخير))؛ متفق عليه.

‘Modesty/shyness only brings good.’ (Agreed upon

In another narration, he said:

 ((الحياء خير كله))، أو قال: ((الحياء كله خير)). وفي رواية لمسلم

‘Modesty is all good,’ or he said, ‘All modesty is good.’ (Muslim)

This hadith is saying ‘Modesty is all good,’ or he said, ‘All modesty is good.’ (Muslim)

This hadith is saying that the outcome of haya is always good. There are some exceptions, but in principle, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was defining and clarifying what haya is about – not the definition of haya, but the outcome of haya.

If you put yourself in the shoes of the listener 1400 years ago, when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said these words, what did his audience understand about the concept of haya? Haya was already a familiar word to the Arabs of that time. However, Islam refined and expanded its meaning, setting clear boundaries and guidance on its application. The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not introduce a new word; rather, he explained its deeper implications, ensuring that his audience understood where to draw the line—whether in accordance with traditional interpretations or with added dimensions brought by Islam.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was reinforcing its importance, encouraging people to cultivate this trait. Imam an-Nawawi (may Allah be pleased with him) also emphasised the significance of haya in his book Riyadh us-Saliheen (The Gardens of the Righteous), particularly in the chapter on etiquettes (Kitab ul-Adab). He discussed modesty, its virtues, and the narrations that encourage its practice. When a person embodies these qualities as taught by the Prophet (peace be upon him), they not only enhance their character but also draw closer to people and, ultimately, to Allah Almighty.

Imam Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his book “Riyad as-Salihin” (Book of Ethics, Chapter on Modesty and its Virtue and Encouraging it):

“Ethics are the morals by which a person behaves, and they have many types, including: generosity, courage, good-heartedness, openness of heart, and a pleasant character, among many others.

Ethics are essentially the commendable traits that a person embodies, including modesty. Modesty is an internal quality that drives a person to do what is admirable and beautiful, while refraining from actions that are disgraceful and shameful.

A modest person feels shy in the presence of others when they act in ways contrary to decency; they feel shy before Allah when committing sins, and they feel shy when neglecting obligations or not doing what should be done. Thus, modesty is a part of faith.

For this reason, Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with both him and his father) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed by a man from the Ansar who was advising his brother about modesty, encouraging him to uphold it.

Modesty is part of faith

The Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasised that modesty is part of faith, and in another hadith he said:

‘Faith has seventy-plus branches; the highest of which is the declaration that there is no god but Allah, and the least of which is removing harmful things from the road, and modesty is a branch of faith.’  (Bukhari and Muslim)

When a person possesses modesty, they walk with a straight posture—not hastily, which is blameworthy, nor lazily, which is also blameworthy. Likewise, when they speak, they do so only with good and pleasant words, with etiquette and in a refined manner to the best of their ability.

Haya is one of the branches of imaan.  We have other narrations as well that highlight the importance of haya. If a person lacks modesty, they may act freely without restraint, as it has been narrated in a hadith:

‘Indeed, among the things that people have inherited from the earlier prophetic teachings is: If you do not feel shy, then do as you wish.’ (Bukhari)

This means that if a person desires to commit a wrongful act and feels no sense of shyness or hesitation—no internal restraint—this is a sign of moral corruption. In such a state, they may feel free to act however they please. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) addressed this when he said, “Do as you wish.”

But does this statement encourage wrongdoing? Absolutely not. Rather, it serves as a warning from the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Consider if your son or daughter insists on doing something wrong, and despite your warnings, they remain determined, you might say, “Fine, do whatever you want.” But are you encouraging them to proceed? No, it’s a stern warning—implying that if they go ahead with their decision, they will face consequences, such as punishment or being grounded.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) consistently taught the Ummah about halal, haram, moral boundaries, good character, and virtuous practices. Among these teachings is a beautiful narration recorded by Imam al-Bukhari in his Sahih, which I will now share.

The story of the modest companion

Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once passed by a man from the Ansar. Who was this man? We don’t know. Scholars of hadith, such as Ibn Hajar, who commented on Sahih al-Bukhari, stated that he was unable to identify the names of the two companions in this narration.

What we do know is that one Ansari companion was advising his friend about his shyness. The Prophet (peace be upon him) happened to overhear their conversation as he passed by. He did not intentionally stop to listen but, upon hearing what was being said, he intervened and directed his speech towards the man giving advice. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Leave him alone, for modesty (haya) is part of faith.” (Bukhari)

In many cultures today, shyness is often seen as a negative trait—a form of weakness or social anxiety. However, this hadith highlights that the Prophet (peace be upon him) affirmed haya as a virtue, linking it directly to iman (faith).

Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) provided further elaboration on this narration by referencing another book of Imam al-Bukhari, Al-Adab al-Mufrad. The details of this conversation, as found in Al-Adab al-Mufrad, offer a deeper insight:

The Ansari man advising his friend was concerned that his shyness was causing him harm—perhaps preventing him from standing up for his rights or fully engaging in society. He encouraged his friend to be less shy, suggesting that excessive shyness could be detrimental.

At this moment, the Prophet (peace be upon him) intervened—not to rebuke the advisor, but to affirm the value of haya. He clarified that modesty should not be discouraged, as it is an essential part of faith.

This hadith does not suggest that all forms of shyness are beneficial. There are situations where excessive timidity can lead to injustice or personal harm. However, the Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasised that haya, in its proper form, is a noble trait that should be nurtured rather than suppressed.

It does not mean that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was encouraging us to leave our rights to others and allow people to step all over us. The hadith is saying this is a good trait – so maintain it, don’t delete it from your practice. When you lose it, you lose good things.  Of course, you need to monitor it so it is not excessive. However, don’t attack the attribute itself. Don’t say he’s too shy, unless his shyness means that he cannot express himself, or ask for his rights, or stand up for himself. If this is the case, he has to overcome his shyness.  

Ibn Hajar’s commentary helps us understand that haya should not be confused with weakness. Instead, it is a form of inner dignity and self-restraint that prevents a believer from engaging in wrongdoing and encourages a sense of humility before Allah.

How scholars defined haya

Raghib al-Asfahani, a renowned scholar of hadith and Quranic studies, provided a unique definition of haya. He described it as a combination of two traits: cowardice and chastity. This perspective is quite distinct, as I have not come across another scholar who defined haya in this way.

Other scholars have also offered their definitions, such as Ibn Qutayba, who stated that haya prevents a person from committing sins. As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him said):

Haya is part of imaan. (Bukhari and Muslim)

Modesty (haya) is part of imaan, and iman leads to Paradise. Obscenity (al-badha’a) is part of harshness, and harshness leads to the Hellfire. (Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and Ahmad)

We see from this that haya (modesty) leads to Jannah (Paradise), while al-badha’a (obscenity/harshness) leads to Hellfire.

Haya is part of imaan, because imaan prevents you from committing sins and haya prevents you from committing sins. The reason is that when you commit a sin, no one sees you but Allah Almighty.  When you have haya between you and Allah Almighty, you are conscious that He is the One who is watching you, the One who provided you with these faculties, the One who provided you with money, health, opportunities, and knowledge. You recognise that everything you are breathing and using is from Him.  You feel shy to use what He has given you to disobey Him; this is haya between you and Allah Almighty.  This is how it links to imaan, because it is rooted in your belief in Allah Almighty, you feel shy to disobey Him.

The other dimension is haya between you and people. Sometimes you refrain from doing things in public, because you do not want people to call you a sinner, so you refrain from wrongdoings. This fear of what they might say helped you be a good person, because you refrained from doing the wrong thing. This is why Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in the beginning “Modesty/shyness only brings good.”

Even in some extreme scenarios, when people may have taken your right and you couldn’t defend yourself, because of your bashfulness or shyness, it brings goodness to you, because Allah Almighty will compensate you for that. Of course, shyness is not meant to be the cause of you losing your rights, but if you tried but couldn’t protect yourself, next time train yourself to be a bit more stronger and slowly, slowly achieve ‘protection mode’ and be able to protect your rights. 

Modesty, as imam ar-Raghib said is the retraction of the soul from shameful acts and it is a characteristic of humans that keeps them from indulging in every desire, distinguishing them from animals. It is a combination of cowardice and chastity, hence a modest person cannot be corrupt while a brave person is rarely shy. Thus shyness has an element of cowardice, as it prevents one from being outspoken, and defending himself. Not only this, shyness incorporates chastity, which is iffah in Arabic.

The protective nature of haya

Imam al-Halimi, in his definition of haya, said that the essence of haya is the fear of blame associated with wrongdoing, which is a very nice definition. The reason haya always leads to good is because it acts as a shield—it protects a person from engaging in haram (forbidden acts) and discourages them from makruh (disliked acts). By doing so, haya naturally guides a person towards righteousness.

Other scholars have elaborated on haya in relation to different categories of actions. They explain that haya functions differently depending on the nature of the act:

  • Prohibited acts (haram) – Haya towards haram actions is obligatory. A person must feel a sense of shyness and restraint that prevents them from committing sinful acts.
  • Disliked acts (makruh) – Haya towards makruh actions is recommended. While avoiding them is not obligatory, a person of strong faith and character will naturally refrain from such acts.
  • Permissible acts (mubah) – These are actions that are neither haram nor disliked. Whether one exercises haya in such matters depends on cultural norms and personal preference.

The last category is based on custom – when a common custom is not prohibited or disliked, then it is permissible and it’s your decision to do it or not.  This is why Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) says haya only brings good because it protected you from haram, and disliked acts.

Fear Allah

Haya in Allah also comes from contemplating the blessings He bestowed on us. It leads the wise person to feel shy about using these blessings to commit sins. When a person reflects on Allah’s countless blessings, it makes them feel ashamed of using those very blessings to commit sins.

Some scholars beautifully expressed this concept by saying:

“Fear Allah Almighty in accordance with His power over you, and feel shy of Allah Almighty in accordance with His closeness to you.”

We can connect this with the famous Hadith Jibril, where Jibril asked:

“O Muhammad, tell me about Ihsan.”

Prophet (peace be upon him) responded:

“Ihsan is to worship Allah as though you see Him, and if you cannot see Him, then know that He sees you.” Bukhari and Muslim)

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) replied by saying ihsan is to worship Allah Almighty as though you can see Him. The closer you are to Him, the more you are conscious of Him, the more elevated your status becomes.   

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him), a highly respected companion and one of the fuqaha (jurists) among the Sahabah, narrated that one day, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said to his companions:

“Be shy before Allah as He truly deserves.”

Hearing this command, the companions (may Allah be pleased with them) responded:

“Indeed, we feel shy before Allah, and we praise Him (Alhamdulillah) for granting us this sense of haya between us and Him.”

However, the Prophet (peace be upon him) clarified that this was not enough. He then explained how to truly embody haya before Allah by giving a practical criterion for self-assessment.

How to measure your haya before allah

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“The one who is truly shy before Allah should safeguard: 1. His head and what it contains.
2. His stomach and what it holds.”

What does it mean to safeguard the head? It means one’ eyes, ears and tongue, which are responsible for your good things and bad things. Also it refers to thoughts. The eyes and ears are the sources which feed the brain. You can have a brain, but if you don’t have eyes, ears and tongue then you have very limited sensory perception. The brain processes what we receive through our eyes, our ears and what we say and what we talk and so on. Accordingly our book is full of what we say, what we see, what we talk, what we hear. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is saying, if you want to check yourself, and have true shyness from Allah Almighty, then you should safeguard your head and what it contains. This is the first thing.

Then you should safeguard your stomach and what it holds. What does this mean?  It means be careful about what you eat. only eat what is halal. Do you seek the halal, do you drink what is halal? What you consume affects your relationship with Allah Almighty, it affects your supplication, because Allah does not accept the duas of someone who is consuming what is haram. He will not respond to your call, because you’re eating haram. In the very famous hadith the very dusty, dishevelled Bedouin going travelling through the desert begging Allah Almighty. Though he outwardly appears to be fulfil all the conditions of an accepted dua, Allah Almighty does not respond to him, because his food and drink were haram and gotten from haram earnings.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

“Verily Allah the Exalted is pure. He does not accept but that which is pure. Allah commands the believers with what He commanded the Messengers. Allah the Almighty has said: “O you Messengers! Eat of the good things and act righteously” [23:51-53]. And Allah the Almighty also said: “O you who believe! Eat of the good things that We have provided you with” [2:167-172]. Then he (the Prophet) mentioned (the case of) the man who, having journeyed far, is dishevelled and dusty and who stretches out his hands to the sky (saying): “O Lord! O Lord!” (while) his food was unlawful, his drink was unlawful, his clothing was unlawful, and he is nourished with unlawful things, so how can he be answered?” (Muslim)

There’s a correlation between eating, drinking, and the acceptance of supplications as well as salah. Therefore we have to safeguard our head and what it contains and safeguard our stomach and what it holds and remember death. 

Haya is to detach from the trappings of life and under attack in modern life

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us that whoever desires the Hereafter should not be attached to the adornments of the dunya (worldly life), as mentioned in Imam at-Tirmidhi and Imam Ahmad This does not mean one must abandon worldly possessions altogether, but rather that the dunya should not take over one’s heart. Those who detach their hearts from dunya and prioritise the Hereafter have truly embodied haya before Allah Almighty.

Haya is not just a personal trait but a means of self-purification and prioritising the Hereafter over worldly distractions.

Unfortunately, in today’s world, many aspects of modern education, media, entertainment, and social norms actively work to destroy haya. Whether through films, cartoons, books, or online platforms, there is a constant push against modesty, dignity, and moral integrity. The very values that Islam upholds are often ridiculed or distorted.

Yet, haya is a natural trait that Allah Almighty instills in every human being—even children exhibit modesty from a young age. While some may be excessively shy, most display a balanced and healthy form of haya. However, when society actively targets and weakens this trait, it opens the door to all forms of moral corruption.

This is why the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“Haya only brings good.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Now, let’s reverse this statement—if haya brings good, then what happens when haya is lost? The result is evil, moral decline, and recklessness.

Haya as a spiritual safeguard

Haya acts as a moral protection mechanism—a brake that prevents a person from falling into sin. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) constantly emphasised the importance of maintaining and checking our moral brakes. Just as we conduct MOT (maintenance checks) for our cars, we must regularly assess our haya to ensure that we stay on the right path.

But unlike a yearly MOT, our spiritual self-check must be done daily. The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us that maintaining haya requires constant awareness, reflection, and self-discipline.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) as the ultimate example of haya

When we read the Shama’il (characteristics) of the Prophet (peace be upon him), we find that he was described as:

“More modest than a virgin in her chamber.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

His haya was so evident that when he felt shy, his face would turn red. One of the most striking examples of this is when a woman approached him with a very private question.

She asked:

“O Messenger of Allah, how should a woman purify herself after menstruation?”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) responded:

“Take a piece of cloth and cleanse yourself with it.”

However, the woman, eager for more clarity, asked:

“How should I use it?”

At this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) became visibly shy, and his face turned red. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), noticing his discomfort, stepped in and told the woman:

“Come, I will teach you.”

Even though the Prophet (peace be upon him) was extremely modest, he never shied away from speaking the truth. His haya never prevented him from delivering the message of Allah Almighty. He was firm when upholding the truth, standing strong in his mission without concern for how others perceived him.

Balancing haya and speaking the truth

This brings us to an important point—haya does not mean silence in the face of truth. The Prophet (peace be upon him) balanced modesty with unwavering courage. He (peace be upon him) was shy when it came to matters of personal modesty, but when it came to delivering Allah’s message, standing for justice, and defending the truth, he was firm, fearless, and unwavering.

As believers, we must strike the same balance—cultivating haya in our character while remaining bold in upholding the truth.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught his companions how to develop, maintain, and strengthen haya.

Based on the session delivered by Shaykh Haytham Tamim to the Convert Club on 22 Oct 2024. Transcribed by S Javaid.

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