Islam is a comprehensive religion that guides every aspect of human life. This religion is based on four fundamental matters: beliefs, acts of worship, transactions, and ethics and manners. In the present article, we are discussing a very fundamental and central topic of ethics and manners, “Haya” (modesty/shyness), which is actually the root and foundation of the entire moral system. It will be clarified in the light of the Quran and Sunnah that Haya is not just a moral trait but an essential part of faith, the spirit of religion, and a guarantee of social purity. In this article, the reality of Haya, its types, its virtues, and its evidences from the Quran and Hadith will be explained in detail.
The Importance of Haya in Islam
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) declared Haya as the most prominent moral trait of the religion of Islam.
Hadith: The Fundamental Morality of Religion
(( إِنَّ لِکُلِّ دِیْنٍ خُلُقًا ، وَخُلُقُ الْإِسْلَامِ الْحَیَائُ ))
Translation:
“Every religion has a distinctive moral trait, and the most prominent moral trait of Islam is Haya (modesty/shyness).”
Haya is the Entire Religion
Hazrat Qurrat bin Iyas (RA) narrates:
( بَلْ ہُوَ الدِّیْنُ کُلُّہٗ )
Translation:
“Modesty is the entire religion.”
This hadith is clear evidence that modesty is not merely a part but represents the whole religion.
Modesty is a branch of faith
(( اَلْإِیْمَانُ بِضْعٌ وَّسَبْعُوْنَ… وَالْحَیَائُ شُعْبَۃٌ مِّنَ الْإِیْمَانِ ))
Translation:
“Faith has more than seventy (or more than sixty) branches, the best of which is to say La ilaha illallah, and the least of which is removing something harmful from the road, and modesty is a branch of faith.”
The mutual relationship between modesty and faith
(( اَلْحَیَائُ وَالْإِیْمَانُ قُرِنَا جَمِیْعًا ))
Translation:
“Modesty and faith are together; when one ends, the other also ends.”
This hadith clarifies the reality that the lack of modesty is actually a sign of weakness or decline of faith.
Definition of Modesty
According to the scholars:
“Haya (modesty) is a moral quality that prevents a person from indecent, obscene, and lowly words and actions and encourages goodness and virtue.”
That is, haya prevents a person from sins under the fear of Allah and the awareness of being accountable before Him.
Types of Haya
➊ Natural Haya
This is the haya that is innate in human nature, even found in children, such as covering the private parts.
Evidence from the Quran
﴿فَلَمَّا ذَاقَا الشَّجَرَۃَ بَدَتْ لَھُمَا سَوْاٰتُھُمَا﴾
Translation:
“When Adam and Eve tasted the fruit of the tree, their private parts became apparent to them, and they began to cover themselves with the leaves of Paradise.”
This verse is evidence that haya is included in human nature.
Haya of a Virgin Girl
(( وَلَا تُنْکَحُ الْبِکْرُ حَتّٰی تُسْتَأْذَنَ… أَنْ تَسْکُتَ ))
Translation:
“A virgin girl should not be married off without her permission… and her permission is her silence.”
This is also the best example of natural haya.
➋ Faith-based Haya
Faith-based haya is that a person avoids sins with the conviction of Allah’s supervision.
Evidence from the Quran
﴿اِنَّ اللّٰہَ کَانَ عَلَیْکُمْ رَقِیْبًا﴾
Translation:
“Indeed, Allah is ever watchful over you.”
﴿وَاللّٰہُ بَصِیْرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ﴾
Translation:
“Allah is watching all your deeds.”
﴿یَعْلَمُ خَآئِنَۃَ الْاَعْیُنِ وَمَا تُخْفِی الصُّدُوْرُ﴾
Translation:
“Allah knows the treachery of the eyes and what the hearts conceal.”
Proper Modesty from Allah
(( اِسْتَحْیُوا مِنَ اللّٰہِ حَقَّ الْحَیَائِ ))
Translation:
“Be modest before Allah as modesty is due.”
The Prophet ﷺ explained that true modesty is that a person protects all his limbs from disobeying Allah.
The True Meaning of Modesty Before Allah Almighty
It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( اِسْتَحْیُوا مِنَ اللّٰہِ حَقَّ الْحَیَائِ ))
Translation:
“Be modest before Allah as modesty is due.”
The Companions (RA) said:
یَا رَسُولَ اللّٰہِ! إِنَّا نَسْتَحْیِیْ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ
“O Messenger of Allah! We are modest before Allah, Alhamdulillah.”
Then the Prophet ﷺ said:
(( لَیْسَ ذَاکَ، وَلٰکِنَّ الْاِسْتِحْیَائَ مِنَ اللّٰہِ حَقَّ الْحَیَائِ أَنْ تَحْفَظَ الرَّأْسَ وَمَا وَعٰی، وَالْبَطْنَ وَمَا حَوٰی، وَلْتَذْکُرِ الْمَوْتَ وَالْبِلٰی، وَمَنْ أَرَادَ الْآخِرَۃَ تَرَکَ زِیْنَۃَ الدُّنْیَا ))
Translation:
“True modesty before Allah is that a person protects his head and what is in it (eyes, ears, tongue), protects his stomach and what enters it, remembers death and the decay of the grave, and whoever seeks the Hereafter leaves behind the adornments of this world.”
This hadith clarifies that modesty is not merely about feeling shy but about submitting the entire body and life to the obedience of Allah.
Advising Modesty Before Allah
Sa’id bin Yazid Ansari (RA) narrates that a person said:
( یَا رَسُولَ اللّٰہِ! أَوْصِنِیْ )
“O Messenger of Allah! Advise me.”
Then the Prophet (PBUH) said:
(( أُوْصِیْکَ أَنْ تَسْتَحْیِیَ مِنَ اللّٰہِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ کَمَا تَسْتَحْیِیْ رَجُلًا مِنْ صَالِحِیْ قَوْمِکَ ))
Translation:
“I advise you to be modest before Allah as you are modest before a righteous man from your people.”
Modesty Always Brings Goodness
Hazrat Imran bin Husain (RA) narrates:
(( اَلْحَیَائُ لَا یَأْتِیْ إِلَّا بِخَیْرٍ ))
Translation:
“Modesty always brings goodness.”
Modesty is an Ornament and Shamelessness is Disgrace
Hazrat Anas bin Malik (RA) narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
(( مَا کَانَ الْحَیَائُ فِیْ شَیْیٍٔ إِلَّا زَانَہٗ، وَلَا کَانَ الْفُحْشُ فِیْ شَیْیٍٔ إِلَّا شَانَہٗ ))
Translation:
“That in which there is modesty, it beautifies it, and that in which there is shamelessness, it disfigures it.”
Modesty is beloved to Allah Almighty
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said to Ashaj Abdul Qais (RA):
(( إِنَّ فِیْکَ لَخُلُقَیْنِ یُحِبُّہُمَا اللّٰہُ: الْحِلْمُ وَالْحَیَائُ ))
Translation:
“There are two qualities among you that Allah loves: patience and modesty.”
Allah Almighty Himself is characterized by the attribute of modesty
Hazrat Salman Al-Farsi (RA) narrates:
(( إِنَّ اللّٰہَ حَیِیٌّ کَرِیْمٌ یَسْتَحْیِیْ إِذَا رَفَعَ الرَّجُلُ إِلَیْہِ یَدَیْہِ أَنْ یَرُدَّہُمَا صِفْرًا ))
Translation:
“Indeed, Allah Almighty is very modest and generous; when a servant raises his hands before Him, Allah feels modesty that He should return them empty.”
The unparalleled modesty of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ
Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (RA) narrates:
(( کَانَ رَسُولُ اللّٰہِ ﷺ أَشَدَّ حَیَائً مِنَ الْعَذْرَائِ فِیْ خِدْرِہَا ))
Translation:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was more modest than a virgin girl sitting behind a curtain.”
This is the very modesty that perfected the character of the Noble Prophet ﷺ.
Practical Examples of the Modesty of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ
Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها narrates that once the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was present in her house with his calves or thighs uncovered. At that time, Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه sought permission, and the Prophet ﷺ granted it and continued the conversation in that state. Then Hazrat Umar رضي الله عنه came, and still, he did not change his state. But when Hazrat Uthman رضي الله عنه asked for permission, the Prophet ﷺ immediately sat up straight and adjusted his clothes.
Later, Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها said:
“O Messenger of Allah! When Abu Bakr and Umar came, you did not make any adjustment, but when Uthman came, you corrected your state?”
The Noble Prophet ﷺ replied:
(( أَلَا أَسْتَحْیِیْ مِنْ رَجُلٍ تَسْتَحْیِیْ مِنْہُ الْمَلَائِکَۃُ ))
Translation:
“Shall I not have modesty before the one from whom even the angels feel modesty!”
This Hadith is a clear proof of the great attribute of modesty of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).
The Great Example of Modest Women in the Quran
In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty has mentioned the incident of two modest girls, which is narrated in the story of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him).
Verses of the Holy Quran
﴿ وَ لَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدْیَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَیْہِ اُمَّۃً مِّنَ النَّاسِ یَسْقُوْنَ وَ وَجَدَ مِنْ دُوْنِھِمُ امْرَاَتَیْنِ تَذُوْدٰنِ … ﴾
Translation:
“And when Moses reached the well of Midian, he found there a group of people watering (their animals), and two women standing apart, holding back their animals. Moses asked: What is your matter? They said: We do not water until the shepherds have finished, and our father is very old. Then Moses watered their animals, then withdrew to the shade and prayed: O my Lord! Whatever good You send down to me, I am in need of it.”
These two girls stood apart from non-mahram men, which was a practical proof of their modesty.
The Girl Who Walked with Modesty
﴿ فَجَآئَتْہُ اِحْدٰھُمَا تَمْشِیْ عَلَی اسْتِحْیَآءٍ ﴾
Translation:
“Then one of the two girls came walking with modesty.”
This verse explicitly indicates that the walk of a modest woman is full of modesty.
The Unmatched Modesty of the Female Companions (May Allah be pleased with them)
➊ Arranging the Veil for the Feet
Hazrat Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها asked the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم about what women should do with the edges of their clothes.
(( یُرْخِیْنَ شِبْرًا … فَیُرْخِیْنَہُ ذِرَاعًا لَا یَزِدْنَ عَلَیْہِ ))
Translation:
“She should hang one edge over, then hang it over one hand, no more than that.”
This is evidence that the female companions رضي الله عنهن felt modest even about their feet being visible.
➋ Face covering during Ihram
Hazrat Aisha رضي الله عنها narrates:
(( فَإِذَا حَاذَوْا بِنَا سَدَلَتْ إِحْدَانَا جِلْبَابَہَا عَلٰی وَجْہِہَا ))
Translation:
“When men would come near us, we would cover our faces with a veil.”
➌ Modesty of a woman destined for Paradise
Hazrat Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه narrates that a woman was distressed about being uncovered despite having epilepsy.
(( إِنْ شِئْتِ صَبَرْتِ وَلَکِ الْجَنَّۃُ ))
Translation:
“If you are patient, Paradise is for you.”
The woman endured the illness but could not endure being uncovered.
➍ Incident of Hazrat Asma رضي الله عنها
Hazrat Asma bint Abi Bakr (RA) refused to ride the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) mount solely because non-mahram men were present.
(( فَاسْتَحْیَیْتُ أَنْ أَسِیْرَ مَعَ الرِّجَالِ ))
Translation:
“I felt shy to walk among men.”
Serious Consequences of Shamelessness and Social Destruction
Respected gentlemen!
When modesty and honor vanish from a society, obscenity, nudity, and moral decline spread rapidly. Because modesty is part of faith, and when faith weakens, the path to sins becomes easy.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) clearly stated:
(( اَلْحَیَائُ وَالْإِیْمَانُ قُرِنَا جَمِیْعًا فَإِذَا رُفِعَ أَحَدُہُمَا رُفِعَ الْآخَرُ ))
Translation:
“Modesty and faith are connected; when one is removed, the other is also removed.”
This is why when shamelessness becomes common in society, faith weakens, and then adultery, obscenity, lewdness, immodesty, and uncontrolled mixing of men and women become widespread.
Some Prominent Manifestations of Shamelessness
➊ Promotion of obscenity through media
Today, immorality is being normalized through electronic media, print media, and social media. Scenes of obscenity are shown in dramas, films, advertisements, and even religious programs.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ یُحِبُّوْنَ اَنْ تَشِیْعَ الْفَاحِشَۃُ فِی الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَہُمْ عَذَابٌ اَلِیْمٌ فِی الدُّنْیَا وَالْاٰخِرَۃِ ﴾
Translation:
“Those who wish for immorality to spread among the believers will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter.”
➋ Carelessness of the eyes
A major cause of immorality is looking with improper gaze. When men and women look at forbidden scenes, desire arises in the heart, which later leads to sins.
Allah Almighty commands:
﴿ قُلْ لِّلْمُؤمِنِیْنَ یَغُضُّوا مِنْ اَبْصَارِہِمْ وَیَحْفَظُوا فُرُوْجَہُمْ ﴾
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts.”
And regarding women, He says:
﴿ وَقُلْ لِّلْمُؤمِنٰتِ یَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ اَبْصَارِہِنَّ وَیَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوْجَہُنَّ ﴾
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts.”
➌ Women leaving their homes without necessity
A modest woman does not leave her home without necessity. Allah Almighty commands:
﴿ وَقَرْنَ فِیْ بُیُوْتِکُنَّ ﴾
“And remain in your houses in quietness.”
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
(( اَلْمَرْأَۃُ عَوْرَۃٌ فَإِذَا خَرَجَتِ اسْتَشْرَفَہَا الشَّیْطَانُ ))
Translation:
“A woman is ‘awrah’ (something to be covered); when she goes out of her house, Satan beautifies her in the eyes of people.”
➍ Immodesty and Display of Adornment
Purdah (veil) is a symbol of a woman’s honor and dignity, but today it is considered an outdated notion.
Allah Almighty commands:
﴿ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاہِلِیَّۃِ الْاُوْلٰی ﴾
“And do not display your adornment like the display of the former times of ignorance.”
And He said:
﴿ یُدْنِیْنَ عَلَیْہِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِیْبِہِنَّ ﴾
“And they should draw their veils over their bosoms.”
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said about such women:
(( نِسَائٌ کَاسِیَاتٌ عَارِیَاتٌ … لَا یَدْخُلْنَ الْجَنَّۃَ ))
“There will be women who are clothed yet naked… they will neither enter Paradise nor smell its fragrance.”
➎ Going out wearing perfume
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
(( أَیُّمَا امْرَأَۃٍ اسْتَعْطَرَتْ فَمَرَّتْ بِالْقَوْمِ فَہِیَ زَانِیَۃٌ ))
Translation:
“When a woman passes by people wearing perfume so that they may smell her fragrance, she is like a woman who commits adultery.”
➏ Mixing of men and women and seclusion
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
(( اَلْحَمْوُ الْمَوْتُ ))
“A brother-in-law (husband’s close relative) is death.”
And he said:
(( لَا یَخْلُوَنَّ رَجُلٌ بِامْرَأَۃٍ إِلَّا کَانَ ثَالِثَہُمَا الشَّیْطَانُ ))
“No man should be alone with a woman, for the third among them is Satan.”
➐ Adultery: The Worst Form of Indecency
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنٰی اِنَّہٗ کَانَ فَاحِشَۃً وَسَاءَ سَبِیْلًا ﴾
“And do not approach adultery; indeed, it is an immorality and an evil way.”
More Forms of Indecency and Emphasis on Avoiding Them
➑ Shaking Hands with Non-Mahram Women
Modesty requires that men and women who are non-mahram avoid shaking hands with each other. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave a stern warning regarding this matter.
(( لَأَنْ یُّطْعَنَ فِی رَأْسِ أَحَدِکُمْ بِمِخْیَطٍ مِنْ حَدِیْدٍ خَیْرٌ لَّہُ مِنْ أَنْ یَّمَسَّ امْرَأَۃً لَا تَحِلُّ لَہُ))
Translation:
“It would be better for one of you to have an iron needle driven into his head than to touch a woman who is unlawful for him.”
➒ Men Resembling Women and Women Resembling Men
This is also a dangerous form of immorality that men adopt the features of women and women adopt the appearance of men.
(( لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللّٰہِ ﷺ الْمُتَشَبِّہِیْنَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ بِالنِّسَائِ، وَالْمُتَشَبِّہَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَائِ بِالرِّجَالِ ))
Translation:
“The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, cursed men who imitate women and women who imitate men.”
➓ Seclusion with a non-mahram
The Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, declared seclusion between a non-mahram man and woman as the door to Satan.
(( أَلَا لَا یَخْلُوَنَّ رَجُلٌ بِامْرَأَۃٍ إِلَّا کَانَ ثَالِثَہُمَا الشَّیْطَانُ ))
“Beware! No man should be alone with a woman, for the third among them is Satan.”
◈ Familiarity with brothers-in-law, brothers-in-law (husband’s brothers), and other close non-mahram relatives
Islam has made it clear that brothers-in-law, brothers-in-law (dewar), cousins, etc. are also non-mahrams. Casual conversation, joking, and seclusion with them lead to temptation.
(( اَلْحَمْوُ الْمَوْتُ ))
“The brother-in-law (husband’s close male relative) is death.”
◈ Giving servants and drivers unrestricted freedom in the house
Allowing domestic servants, drivers, or other non-mahram individuals to come and go freely in the house is also a major cause of immorality and temptation.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) even forbade effeminate men from approaching women:
(( لَا یَدْخُلْنَ ہٰؤُلَائِ عَلَیْکُنَّ ))
“Do not allow these people to enter your presence.”
◈ Adultery: The Worst Form of Immorality
The extreme of immorality is adultery, which Allah Almighty has counted among the major sins and has forbidden even approaching it.
﴿ وَ لَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنٰٓی اِنَّہٗ کَانَ فَاحِشَۃً وَسَآئَ سَبِیْلًا ﴾
Translation:
“Do not even approach adultery; indeed, it is an immorality and an evil way.”
Conclusion
Modesty is, in fact, the foundation of Islam’s moral system. As long as modesty, veiling, honor, and piety remain in society, faith is secure and the society remains pure. But when modesty disappears, shamelessness, obscenity, adultery, and moral corruption become widespread. Today, the Muslim Ummah most urgently needs this quality to revive modesty in their lives in the light of the Quran and Sunnah, to protect their homes, their society, and their generations from the storm of shamelessness.
May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to adopt true modesty, to act upon it, and to avoid all paths leading to shamelessness.
Ameen, O Lord of the Worlds.
