Modesty (Haya)

عَنْ أَبي مَسْعُودٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ مِمَّا أَدْرَكَ النَّاسُ مِنْ كَلاَمِ النُّبُوَّةِ الأُولَى: إِذَا لَمْ تَسْتَحْيِ فَاصْنَعْ مَا شِئْتَ».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that among the teachings of the early prophets that were circulated among people and passed from one generation to another until reaching the early generation of this Ummah: Consider what you want to do and do it if it is not something to feel ashamed of; but leave it if it is something you feel ashamed of. Modesty prevents committing villainous deeds, and one who has no share of modesty will indulge in all types of immoral and evil deeds.

• Modesty is the core of noble morals.
• Modesty is from the prophets' traits and it has been reported from them.
• Modesty is what makes a Muslim engage in whatever brings beauty and adornment and abandon whatever causes defilement and disgrace.
• An-Nawawi said: The command here indicates permissibility, i.e., if you want to do something, then do it if it does not cause you to feel ashamed before Allah and people; otherwise, do not do it. This is the keystone of Islam. This means that one should feel ashamed of abandoning what is commanded, namely the obligatory and the recommended, and should feel ashamed of doing what is prohibited, namely the unlawful and the disliked. As for what is permissible, one is allowed to feel ashamed of doing or abandoning it. The Hadīth, thus, includes the five rulings. It is said: The command here is meant as a threat, meaning: If modesty is taken from you, then do whatever you want, and Allah will recompense you for it. It is said: It is an order meant to be a statement, i.e., whoever does not feel shame does whatever he wants.

صحيح البخاري (8/ 29) (6120). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (2/ 1252). تطريز رياض الصالحين، لفيصل آل مبارك (ص1045). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (6/ 656).