R o a d 2 R e v i v a l Poisons of the Heart The Islamic Concept of ḤayĀʾ Dr Abu Zayd Feb 2 2012 Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass
INTRODUCTION Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass ONE: HISTORY An Important Perspective I narrate from Shaykh Walīd Idrīs who narrates from14 consecutive teachers from Imām Bukhārī:
al- B u k h ā r ī 5684 Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass ONE: HISTORY An Important Perspective I narrate from Muḥammad Akram Nadwī who narrates from Wahbah al-Zuhaylī who narrates from 14 contiguous teachers from Imām Nawawī from 6 contiguous teachers from Imām Bukhārī:
al- B u k h ā r ī 5684 Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass ONE: HISTORY
“From the teachings of the previous prophets that people inherited is: ‘If you feel no shame, then do as you wish.’” [Al-Bukhari 3224-5, 5655, Abu Daud 4164, Ibn Majah 4173, Ahmad 16470, 16485, 21313, Musannaf Abd al- Razzaq 20149, Sharh al-Sunnah of al-Baghawi 3597, al-Tabarani, Malik 339]
al- B u k h ā r ī 5684 Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass ONE: HISTORY
We Learn 2 Things: 1. Earliest Human Teaching 2. Survived to Our Times
The Quintissential Adamic Traiditon: This is the Only Tradition that we possess in a sort of contiguous and continuous chain to our father Adam !
al- B u k h ā r ī 5684 Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass ONE: HISTORY
Islam perfected it:
“Every religion has a character, and the character of Islam is Haya.” [Ibn Majah 4171, 4172, authenticated by al-Albānī and al-Hilālī]
al- B u k h ā r ī 5684 Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass ONE: HISTORY
Comprehensive Prophetic Words ‘If you feel no shame, then do as you wish.’
1. Warning 2. Observation 3. Methodology
al- B u k h ā r ī 5684 Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass
Part 2: THE CONCEPT Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass TWO: CONCEPT
• Sense of shyness, modesty, bashfulness, hesitation • Sense of shame and honor associated with violating a ethical or social norm • Moral Conscience • From the word for “life” Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass TWO: CONCEPT The Absence of Moral Restraint • The curious case of Phineas Gage (1823-1860)
• The economic recession • Global wars • The rape of the planet Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass
Part 3: NURTURING ḤAYĀʾ Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass 3: NURTURE Nurturing ḤAYĀʾ
2 Types 1. Natural 2. Acquired (Through Faith)
[Bukhārī, Muslim]
Ḥayāʾ and Imān go together. When one is lifted, so is the other.
[al-Ḥākim, authenticated by al-Albānī] Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass 3: NURTURE 7 Steps to Nurturing ḤAYĀʾ 1. Connect with God
God has a greater right to be shy towards than any human being. Bukhārī
I counsel to exhibit modesty towards God, just as you exhibit modesty before a pious person in your midst.
[al-Bayhaqī, authenticated by al-Albānī] Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass 3: NURTURE 7 Steps to Nurturing ḤAYĀʾ 2. Hiding rather than Confessing your Sins
“Whoever conceals [the faults, offenses] of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his in this world and the Hereafter.” [Muslim #4867, Tirmidhi #1843, Abu Dawud #4295, Ibn Majah #221, Ahmad #7118]
All of my nation is apt to be forgiven except for those who commit sins openly, like a person who does something at night, which Allah concealed for him, yet in the morning he announces it. He spent the night being concealed by Allah
and in the morning he uncovered that concealment. [Bukhārī] Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass 3: NURTURE 7 Steps to Nurturing ḤAYĀʾ 3. Avoid Foul Language
Lewdness doesn’t appear in anything without blemishing it, and haya without beautifying it. [Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, authenticated by al-Albani] Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass 3: NURTURE 7 Steps to Nurturing ḤAYĀʾ 4. Protect Yourself in Public Restrooms
The Prophet saw a man washing himself in the open, and said from the minbar: Verily Allah is has attributes of forbearance, great modesty and concealment, therefore if any of you washes himself, he should conceal himself. [Nasai 403, Abu Daud 3497, Ahmad 17287] Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass 3: NURTURE 7 Steps to Nurturing ḤAYĀʾ 5. Modest Clothing / Ḥijāb
Tight revealing clothes
Obscene/crude messages Tank tops, unbuttoned shirts Hide your 6-packs Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass 3: NURTURE 7 Steps to Nurturing ḤAYĀʾ 6. Early Marriage
Parents need to get over cultural barriers, excessive educational expectations Students need to get over unrealistic beauty requirements
Young people, whoever is able should get married, for it lowers your gaze and protects your chastity; and whoever is unable should fast, for that decreases your temptation. [Bukhārī, Muslim] Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass 3: NURTURE 7 Steps to Nurturing ḤAYĀʾ 7. Lowering the Gaze
Al ۚ -ḤAYĀʾ: Your ۚ Moral Compass 3: NURTURE
Tell believing7 Steps men toto lower Nurturing their gaze and remain ḤAYĀʾ chaste. That is purer for them. God is aware of what they do. 7. Lowering the Gaze
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Say to believing women that they should lower their gaze and remain chaste and not to reveal their adornments -- save what is normally apparent thereof, and they should fold their shawls over their bosoms. They can only reveal their adornments to their husbands or their fathers or their husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons or their brothers or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons or maidservants or those whom their right hands possess or their male attendants who have no sexual desire or children who still have no carnal knowledge of women. Nor should they swing their legs to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. Believers, turn to God, every one of you, so that you may prosper. [al-Nur 24:30-31] Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass 3: NURTURE 7 Steps to Nurturing ḤAYĀʾ 7. Lowering the Gaze
Changing the Channel Looking Away Turning off the half-time show Avoid certain places, people and channels
Al-ḤAYĀʾ: Your Moral Compass 3: NURTURE Final Remarks Turn to God in Repentance
Every son of Adam makes mistakes, but the best of those who make mistakes are those who repent. [Tirmidhi] With Greater Challenges Come Greater Rewards