Bashfulness of the Prophets and Pious Predecessors

10/01/2012| IslamWeb

In Jaami‘ Al-‘Uloom wal-Hikam, Ibn Rajab said, "Know that there are two types of bashfulness: that which is innate and not acquired. It is one of the most sublime morals that Allah The Almighty grants to the slave. Therefore, it was narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: "Bashfulness brings only what is good." It prevents one from committing evil deeds or adopting bad morals. On the other hand, it urges adopting noble and sublime morals. Given this, bashfulness is one of the characteristics of faith."

It was narrated on the authority of ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said, "A person who is bashful does not disobey Allah The Almighty, and a person who is pious will be saved."

Al-Jarraah ibn ‘Abdullaah Al-Hakami the warrior of the people of Ash-Shaam, said, "I abandoned sins for forty years out of bashfulness and then I achieved piety."  Then he added, "It was narrated in a Mursal Hadeeth by Al-Hasan, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet said: "Bashfulness has two forms: a type that is part of faith and a type that is impotence." This could be the words of Al-Hasan, may Allah be pleased with him.

Bishr ibn Ka‘b Al-‘Adawi said to ‘Imraan ibn Husayn, may Allah be pleased with him, "We find in some books that a form of bashfulness is due to showing tranquility and veneration towards Allah The Almighty and a form of it is due to weakness." ‘Imraan, may Allah be pleased with him, became angry and said, "I narrate to you from the Messenger of Allah and you object it!"

It is as ‘Imraan, may Allah be pleased with him, said, the praiseworthy bashfulness meant in the words of the Prophet, , is that moral which urges doing what is good and abandoning what is evil. As for weakness and impotence which entail neglecting the rights of Allah The Almighty or His slaves, this is not a part of bashfulness. Rather, it is weakness, debility, impotence and meanness.

Bashfulness of the Prophets

Bashfulness of Moosa, may Allah exalt his mention:

It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, , said: "Moosa was bashful and used to cover his body completely out of his bashfulness." [Al-Bukhari]

Bashfulness of the Messenger of Allah, :

It was narrated on the authority of Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said, "The Prophet was more bashful than a virgin in her private room. If he saw a thing which he disliked, we would recognize that (feeling) in his face." [Al-Bukhari]

As for his bashfulness of his Lord, it was narrated on the authority of Maalik ibn Sa‘sa‘ah, may Allah be pleased with him, that when prayer was obligated as fifty prayers per day, the Prophet , kept going and coming between Moosa, may Allah exalt his mention, and his Lord asking Him to reduce them until they finally became five. Moosa, may Allah exalt his mention further advised him to return to his Lord and ask Him to reduce the prayers, but the Prophet, , responded: "I kept asking my Lord until I became bashful. Rather, I will be satisfied and submit." [Al-Bukhari]

It was narrated on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said, “A woman asked the Prophet how to wash herself after menstruation. She mentioned that he taught her how to take a bath and then told her to take a piece of cotton with musk and purify herself. She said, "How should I purify myself with that?" He (the Prophet ) said "Purify yourself with it, Subhaan-Allah (Glory be to Allah)!" and he covered his face with his hand." ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, added, "I pulled her towards me for I understood what the Prophet meant and, therefore, said, 'Follow (with the cotton) the trace of the blood.'"[Muslim

Bashfulness of the Companions:

Bashfulness of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him:

Once, As-Siddeeq, may Allah be pleased with him, addressed the Muslims and said, "O people! Show Allah His due reverence. Since I have given the Messenger of Allah the pledge of allegiance, by Allah, I never went out to answer the call of nature without having my head covered out of bashfulness of Allah The Almighty." [Makaarim Al-Akhlaaq]

He also said, "A person who lacks bashfulness lacks piety; and if a person lacks piety, his heart dies."

He also said, "A person who is bashful does not disobey (Allah The Almighty); a person who does not disobey is pious; and a person who is pious will be saved." 

Bashfulness of ‘Uthmaan, may Allah be pleased with him:

Talking about ‘Uthmaan, may Allah be pleased with him, and his bashfulness, Al-Hasan Al-Basri said, "He used to be alone at home with the door closed, and when he took off his clothes to wash himself, his bashfulness prevented him from standing up straight."

Bashfulness of Abu Moosa Al-Ash‘ari, may Allah be pleased with him:

It was narrated that he said: "I perform Ghusl (ritual bath) in the house while the lights are out, nevertheless, I cannot stand upright unless I put on my garment due to my bashfulness of my Lord." [Az-Zuhd by Imaam Ahmad]

It was narrated on the authority of Qataadah, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said, "Abu Moosa used to perform Ghusl in the house while the lights were out while crouching and bending his back. He did not stand upright until he put on his clothes."

It was narrated on the authority of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said, "Abu Moosa Al-Ash‘ari, may Allah be pleased with him, used to wear his clothes when he went to sleep out of fear that his ‘Awrah (private parts) would be exposed."

Bashfulness of Abu Muslim Al-Khawalaani :

Abu Muslim Al-Khawalaani, may Allah have mercy on him, said, "It is from the favors of Allah The Almighty upon me that I have not done anything to make me bashful for thirty years except for having sexual intercourse with my wife."

Bashfulness of Muhammad ibn Seereen :

Muhammad ibn Seereen said, "I have never had sexual intercourse with a woman, neither while being awake or asleep (i.e.,in a dream) but with Umm ‘Abdullaah (i.e., his wife). If I saw a woman in a dream, I would lower my gaze as soon as I knew that she is unlawful to me."

Therefore, one of the righteous predecessors, said, "I wish my reason while I am awake was like that of Ibn Seereen during sleep."

Bashfulness of Abu ‘Uqbah Al-Jarraah :

He was a brave hero, venerated, very tall, a noble worshipper and reciter of the Quran. He said, "I abandoned sins for forty years out of bashfulness and then I was granted piety." [As-Siyar

Bashfulness of Al-Aswad ibn Yazeed :

When Al-Aswad ibn Yazeed was in the agonies of death, he wept. It was said to him, "What is this impatience?" He replied, "Who is more worthy to do so than I? By Allah, if I will be given forgiveness from Allah The Almighty, I will be bashful of Him regarding my deeds. It happens that a man does a little fault against another who pardons him, nevertheless the first man is bashful of him."