Haya (Islam)


Haya is an Arabic word that means "natural or inherent, shyness and a sense of modesty". In Islamic terminology, it is mainly used in the context of modesty. The word itself is derived from the word Hayat, which means "life". The original meaning of Haya refers to "a bad or uneasy feeling accompanied by embarrassment". Haya encourages Muslims to avoid anything considered to be distasteful or abominable. Haya plays an important role in Islam, as it is one of the most important parts of Iman. The antonym of Haya in Arabic is badha'a or fahisha.

Scripture

Qur'an

The Qur'an mentions Haya twice:

Hadiths

Haya is mentioned often in hadith passages, where the word is used to express shyness, modesty, and decency.



Importance

Haya is important for men and women in Islamic cultures. In the Qur'an, verses explain how men and women should behave. According to the values of Haya, a man must control himself by marrying as young as possible or fasting if he cannot afford to marry, in order for them not to be overtaken by the whispers of Sheytan. Women must conceal themselves, in order to avoid harassment.
"Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty..."