Hayaa’ is a part of faith ||| Hayaa’ in the places we go

Abu Hurairah (Raji.) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Faith or belief consists of more than sixty branches or parts, and Hayaa’ is a part of faith”.

There is no true English definition of the word ‘Hayaa’’ but the closest one can get to it is shame, modesty, and bashfulness. Hayaa’ is an essential characteristic of a Muslim; it must be obtained in order to attain faith as they come together as a pair:

Abdullah ibn Umar (Raji.) narrated that: The Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed Hayaa’ and Iman are companions. When one of them is lifted, the other leaves as well.”

Hayaa’ in the places we go 

To have Hayaa’ means to dislike everything that is wrong according to Islam, so even if we may not be committing wrong ourselves, if there is immorality around us, we should feel the repugnance in our hearts when around such places.

We are much more exposed to these environments in the West, compared to most of the Muslim world, with places such as bars, pubs, nightclubs and beaches.

It was narrated that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (Raji.) said: The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him not sit at a table where wine is being drunk.” [ Narrated by Ahmad, 126; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 7/6.]

Author / Aamir Shamsi
Emergency Medicine Doctor in London