Haya (Modesty)

A reverence for someone which restrains one from exhibiting familiarity. The regard for the exaltedness of a person which prevents open display of inner feelings and makes one behave in a moderate manner. The Holy Prophet says:

“He who is as modest before God Almighty as he ought to Be, is always modest in thinking, eating and drinking and Always remembers death in the hope of success in the Hereafter. He who does this is truly modest before God.”

When Shaikh Juanid of Baghdad was asked about haya, he said, “Haya is to be grateful to the Almighty for His Limitless Bounties and to review his own inability to thank Him as He ought to be thanked.”

To abstain from complaints and claims before the Almighty is also haya.

Modesty is of the following kinds:

1. Haya az irtikaab-e-gunah: (Haya is embarrassment of one’s shameful deeds) When Adam committed the transgression and could not face the Divine Lord, God said to him “O, Adam are you fleeing from Us.” Adam replied, “No, my Lord, I hide due to my shame.”

2. Haya-e-taqseer: (modesty of shortcoming)This is to express one’s inability to be equal to a religious obligation,

“O, Lord I have been unable to worship thee as thou

Ought to be worshipped and I have been unable to know

Thee as thou ought to be known.

3. Haya-e-ijlaal: (modesty at sight of Majesty) It is like the haya of the angel Israfeel, who conceals his face under his wings, in awe of the Majesty of Allah.

4. Haya-e-karam-e-akhlaaq: (decorum as courtesy) When the Holy Prophet invited his companions for dinner and after the meal, Hesitated to ask them to leave out of haya.

5. Haya-e-hashmat: (decorum for the dignity of a relationship) Like Hazrat Ali who could not ask the Holy Pophet about aonturnal discharge, as he was his son-in-law. He sent Miqdad bin Ahmed to represent the question to the Holy Prophet.

6. Haya-e-istihqaar: (holding back at the humbleness of a request) It means to regard something so insignificant that one feels ashamed of mentioning it. As Hazrat Musa (Moses) once said to God Almighty, “My Lord I need something worldly but I am ashamed of asking You because it is so small.” God replied, “You can ask Me for anything including salt for your bread and grass for your goat.”

7. Haya-e-in’aam: (decorum after a favour) It means to refrain from mentioning one’s act of kindness and grace to someone. Concealling sins of a person who has successfully crossed the bridge to Paradise (pul siraal), God Almighty will inform him in a sealed letter, “You did what you did but I refrain from mentioning it and I grant you forgiveness.”

A reverence for someone which restrains one from exhibiting familiarity. The regard for the exaltedness of a person which prevents open display of inner feelings and makes one behave in a moderate manner. The Holy Prophet says:

“He who is as modest before God Almighty as he ought to Be, is always modest in thinking, eating and drinking and Always remembers death in the hope of success in the Hereafter. He who does this is truly modest before God.”

When Shaikh Juanid of Baghdad was asked about haya, he said, “Haya is to be grateful to the Almighty for His Limitless Bounties and to review his own inability to thank Him as He ought to be thanked.”

To abstain from complaints and claims before the Almighty is also haya.

Modesty is of the following kinds:

1. Haya az irtikaab-e-gunah: (Haya is embarrassment of one’s shameful deeds) When Adam committed the transgression and could not face the Divine Lord, God said to him “O, Adam are you fleeing from Us.” Adam replied, “No, my Lord, I hide due to my shame.”

2. Haya-e-taqseer: (modesty of shortcoming)This is to express one’s inability to be equal to a religious obligation,

“O, Lord I have been unable to worship thee as thou

Ought to be worshipped and I have been unable to know

Thee as thou ought to be known.

3. Haya-e-ijlaal: (modesty at sight of Majesty) It is like the haya of the angel Israfeel, who conceals his face under his wings, in awe of the Majesty of Allah.

4. Haya-e-karam-e-akhlaaq: (decorum as courtesy) When the Holy Prophet invited his companions for dinner and after the meal, Hesitated to ask them to leave out of haya.

5. Haya-e-hashmat: (decorum for the dignity of a relationship) Like Hazrat Ali who could not ask the Holy Pophet about aonturnal discharge, as he was his son-in-law. He sent Miqdad bin Ahmed to represent the question to the Holy Prophet.

6. Haya-e-istihqaar: (holding back at the humbleness of a request) It means to regard something so insignificant that one feels ashamed of mentioning it. As Hazrat Musa (Moses) once said to God Almighty, “My Lord I need something worldly but I am ashamed of asking You because it is so small.” God replied, “You can ask Me for anything including salt for your bread and grass for your goat.”

7. Haya-e-in’aam: (decorum after a favour) It means to refrain from mentioning one’s act of kindness and grace to someone. Concealling sins of a person who has successfully crossed the bridge to Paradise (pul siraal), God Almighty will inform him in a sealed letter, “You did what you did but I refrain from mentioning it and I grant you forgiveness.”