Malu

Abu Mas'ud 'Uqbah bin 'Amr al-Ansari al-Badri, radiyallahu 'anhu, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:

"Among the things that people have found from the words of the previous prophets was: 'If you feel no shame, then do as you wish.'"

[Al-Bukhari]

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Possible interpretations of the text

Due to the form of the text, it may be interpreted in many possible meaningful ways. Imam Ibnu Rajab pointed out two interpretations of the text according to early scholars:

First interpretation: If you have no modesty, then do whatever you wish and Allah will punish you for what you do.

This mode of expression is well known in the Arabic language, and it is used for threatening someone. This mode is used by the Qur'an in Surah Fussilat: ayat 40.

Second interpretation: If you are contemplating an act and it is an act such that there is no reason to be ashamed of doing it before Allah or the people, then you may do that act.

Modesty is used as a criterion over whether or not to do a certain act. The command here is in the form of displaying permission.

However, there is a valid third interpretation given by Ibnu al-Qayyam who is a scholar from the eighth Hijrah century. He is in the view that the command is not what is meant by this statement. Instead, it is a statement of fact. The meaning is: If a person does not have any modesty, then there is nothing to prevent him/her from doing anything.

Haya' is one of the most important factors that keeps a person from committing a sinful act. If a person has no haya', he/she will do almost anything.

Haya' or modesty is a great Islamic concept that leads to goodness and keeps a Muslim away from doing a bad or indecent act when its level is maximized. Treating bad actions, as shown by revelation, as evil acts and feeling ashamed of Allah to do it and ashamed of the community, are ways of acquiring haya'. Iman and haya' are linked. When there is iman, there is haya', and vice versa. All of us are borne with natural haya'. However it is subject to be spoiled due to environment and dominating ideologies. Technology misuse has its negative and destructive impact on haya'. Muslims need to be aware of such challenges and exert their effort to overcome them. Haya' cannot be used as an excuse for not doing good deeds and acts.

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Semalam, 20/11/08,usrah kat rumah Izzah semua. Kak Syude kupaskan hadith ni,yg aku rasa agak menarik. Berkenaan dengan malu.

Dalam komuniti melayu khususnya, kita sangat sinonim dengan malu

"malu tak kena tempat"

"malu bertanya kawan,sesat cari jalan pulang"

"tak tau malu"

Selama hampir 3 tahun belajar dekat dublin ni, memang pelajar2 melayu ni antara yang pemalu. malu nak bertanya pada lecturer. termasuk la aku. (tapi aku lebih kepada malas). pelajar melayu diam jer dalam kelas dan mingle sesama sendiri. ini tak dapat dielakkan sebab hampir 35% pelajar didalam kelas pun bebudak malaysian. tpi bile bebudak PMC(twinning) ni balik march ni,memang akan surut la malaysian. kena la mingle dengan dengan Irish mates n n international student yg lain.

Berbalik isu malu. Kadang-kadang ni, malu tu subjektif. Ada sesetengah org ni, memang tak tau malu la. extrovert. expressive.tak tau malu bukan in a negative way la. diorg senang mingle dengan org lain. easy going. senang ramah. people person la kata org.

Ada plak yg mmg pemalu la.contohnya aku. eh,betula la. try tanya dr aziz. malu nak start conversation. malu nak bertanya. malu nak luahkan isi hati. tpi ni dgn org yg aku tak biasa dan tak rapat. tp kalu dah rapat, no hal.

tapi kadang2,aku sedih dgn org tak tau malu in a negative way. seolah-olah bangga dengan benda2 yang mmg dilarang dalam Islam.hairan pun ada.mungkin diorang masih tidak memahami al-haya'.aku doa sangat aku dihindar dr benda2 yg maksiat dan berdosa, sbb tidak mungkin andai Allah palingkan hati ini (nauzubillah), aku mungkin akan jadi org yg tidak tau malu dalam berbuat dosa (nauzubillah).

Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate from the truth after You have guided us, and bestow upon us mercy from Your grace. Verily You are the Giver of bounties without measure. (3:8)