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J • !.. (""' ,,, J ,,,.. J "',,.. I!.,;$- , ""• \ ".,':. _. :1 ;:. f"· u_y ࢃ Ji.:::::=U "Then they both ate of the tree, and so their private parts became manifest to them, and they began to cover themselves with the leaves of Paradise for their covering" (Ta-Ha 121).2 Like all natural characteristics, this quality may be nurtured and allowed to grow or it may be stunted to the point that the person completely loses this quality. Beyond the natural feeling of hayaa', there can be an acquired aspect that is directly related to the strength of one's faith.3 This is the hayaa' that comes about by realizing that Allah is always present and He sees everything that one does. There is no escape from Allah. When a person realizes this, he 1 Al-Muqaddam, p. 8. 2 Some people may possess this natural form of hayaa' and due to it alone they do not perform certain deeds. However, this motive is not accompanied with an intention to please Allah. In fact, unbelievers many times act based on this reason. In that case, the person's hayaa' alone was his motive and, hence, it is not a deed that shall be rewarded by Allah. 3 Al-Qadhi Iyaadh stated that hayaa' can either be received naturally or acquired through effort. Whatever the case might be, in order to use it in the proper way requires effort, thought, intention and knowledge. Therefore, it forms part of imaan, even if it were a person's natural characteristic. Al-Qurtubi stated that the hayaa' which is acquired is part of imaan and is the portion that one is held responsible for. However, if a person is naturally endowed with hayaa', that will help him in acquiring the correct hayaa' and applying it properly. See al-Nawawi, Sharh sahih, vol. 2, p. 5; al-Jeelaani, vol. 2, p. 56. Hadith #20: "If you feel no shame, then . . . " will be ashamed to perform any act that is displeasing to Allah. This remembrance of Allah is one of the most important means by which one increases his hayaa'.1 Another helpful factor is for the person to think about all of the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon him. If a person thinks about all of the blessings that he has received from Allah, he becomes very shy to use the blessings that Allah has given him in ways that are displeasing to Allah. For example, if he really thinks about how great a blessing his eyesight is, he will be ashamed to use this blessing from Allah in ways that are displeasing to Him. Another way by which one may increase his hayaa' is to associate with the people of hayaa'. One can learn from their example and behavior. More importantly, in their presence, one will be too embarrassed or shy to do anything shameful. This feeling of shame and modesty, Allah willing, will develop and grow in the person to the extent that even in the presence of others, he will continue to have that characteristic. The Importance and Virtues of Hayaa ' The Prophet (peace be upon him) discussed the importance and virtues of hayaa' on numerous occasions. This, in itself, may be considered a sign of how important hayaa' is for the faith and behavior of a Muslim. Upon reading those hadith, the importance and essential nature of hayaa' will become manifest. In one hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, .... ,,. .... J .... .r:-':11 ea w.br da 1_` ু w ! 0a)'1_, bc1 "Hayaa' and Imaan are two companions that go together. If one of them is lifted, the other is also lifted."2 In essence, the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated that a person who has no hayaa' could not possibly have any imaan. Obviously, then, for a person to have imaan, he must have hayaa'. This hadith demonstrates how essential hayaa' is to a person's faith. In another hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) noticed one person finding fault with another due to his hayaa' or shyness. The Prophet (peace be upon him) then told the former, 1 Al-Muqaddam, p. 10. 2 Recorded by al-Haakim. According to al-Albaani, it is sahih. See al-Albaani, sahih al-Jaami, vol. 1, pp. 609-61 0. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi "Al-Hayaa' is part of Imaan." (Recorded by Muslim.) In another hadith with a similar purport, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated, J ,.. ,,.. ltl "' ... J ... J 0 ,,.,,. a ,.. J. ,.. ,,.. J U.t.:1 1IJ2f' ill\ "ii ;j\ "i J0 - t '. 1 '·-ীt; :(:\ . [ , "•. • r . J ., , "•. • Ŵ\I \  J   y ࡚ . u r:" J c.:-:. J u ࢂ J c.:-:. u ·;t ,. J o IP ,.. ,.. ેૈ)11 Ã (\ dাlj .Y-pl i:; (.S_\rl , , "Imaan has seventy some-odd or sixty some-odd branches. The most virtuous of them is the statement, 'There is none worthy of worship except Allah,' and the slightest of them is to remove something harmful from the road. And hayaa is a branch of imaan." (Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.) Ibn Qutaiba stated that hayaa' keeps a person from committing sins in the same manner that imaan does. It is referred to as imaan or part of imaan because it should have the same effect as imaan. It is mentioned in particular in this hadith because it calls to or leads a person to all of the other branches of faith. It is like a foundation for taqwa and imaan. 1 In another hadith, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, ,.. , ,,.. o ,.. o J ,.. o ..-: o J J o . lk.J\' lk.JI ', I.DI' • ৺, 11 . . Ŵ"( . I ઢ"I '. I ,, 1\ ! e d . J : . rX d