This excerpt is taken from the book 500 Questions and Answers for Women, which is based on the fatwas of the scholars of Haramain. The translation was done by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
رَحِمَ اللَّهُ نِسَاءَ الْأَنْصَارِ، لَمْ يَمْنَعْهُنَّ حَيَاؤُهُنَّ أَنْ يَتَفَقَّهْنَ فِي الدِّينِ
"May Allah have mercy on the women of the Ansar; their modesty did not prevent them from seeking understanding in religion."
(Hasan: Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 642)
However, the statement "There is no modesty in religion" requires clarification regarding the specific context in which modesty is not considered a part of religion. Since authentic sayings complement and explain one another, we can say that if this phrase is used in an academic discussion, during question-answer sessions, or in the context of seeking religious understanding, then it is valid.
But if it is stated in absolute terms, without any qualification, then it is incorrect because the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) has said:
الحَيَاءُ مِنَ الإِيمَانِ
"Modesty is a part of faith."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 24; Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 36)
Thus, while seeking knowledge, one should not let undue shyness hinder learning, but at the same time, modesty remains an integral part of faith.
— (Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani رحمه الله)
Question:
How accurate is the statement: "La Ḥayāʾ fi ad-Dīn" (There is no modesty in religion)?Answer:
Even if this statement is considered correct in some contexts, we find its reasoning in an established saying of Sayyidah Aisha (رضي الله عنها):رَحِمَ اللَّهُ نِسَاءَ الْأَنْصَارِ، لَمْ يَمْنَعْهُنَّ حَيَاؤُهُنَّ أَنْ يَتَفَقَّهْنَ فِي الدِّينِ
"May Allah have mercy on the women of the Ansar; their modesty did not prevent them from seeking understanding in religion."
(Hasan: Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 642)
However, the statement "There is no modesty in religion" requires clarification regarding the specific context in which modesty is not considered a part of religion. Since authentic sayings complement and explain one another, we can say that if this phrase is used in an academic discussion, during question-answer sessions, or in the context of seeking religious understanding, then it is valid.
But if it is stated in absolute terms, without any qualification, then it is incorrect because the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) has said:
الحَيَاءُ مِنَ الإِيمَانِ
"Modesty is a part of faith."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 24; Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 36)
Thus, while seeking knowledge, one should not let undue shyness hinder learning, but at the same time, modesty remains an integral part of faith.
— (Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani رحمه الله)