Ten Examples of the Haya' of the Salaf

1 - Abu Musa al-Ash'ari:

Anas bin Malik said:

"When Abu Musa would sleep, he would wear a small over garment, fearing that his 'awrah would be exposed."

['Siyar A'lam an-Nubala''; 2/399]


2 - Ibn 'Abbas:

"He would not enter the bathroom except that he was alone, and would be wearing a thick outer garment, saying: "I am shy from Allah Seeing me in the bathroom without any clothing.""

['Siyar A'lam an-Nubala''; 3/355]


3 - 'A'ishah:

"I used to enter the building in which the Messenger of Allah and my father were buried while I was dressed lightly, saying: 'These are just my husband and father.'

However, when 'Umar was buried, by Allah, I never entered this building except that my clothing was wrapped tightly around my body, out of shyness from 'Umar."

[al-Hakim's 'Mustadrak' (4/7), and he declared it authentic]


4 - Hisham bin 'Ammar:

Mu'awiyah bin Aws narrated:

"I saw Hisham bin 'Ammar, and when he would walk in the street, he would look down to the ground, and he would never raise his head to the sky, out of shyness from Allah - the Mighty and Majestic."

['Siyar A'lam an-Nubala''; 11/430]


5 - al-Humaydi:

"Abu Bakr bin Maymun came and knocked on the door of al-Humaydi, and assumed that he was given permission to enter. So, he entered, finding al-Humaydi with his thigh exposed. al-Humaydi began to cry, saying: "By Allah, you have just laid your eyes on something that nobody has seen since I have reached adulthood!""

['Siyar A'lam an-Nubala''; 19/122]


6 - Muhammad bin Yahya adh-Dhuhli:

Abu al-'Abbas al-Azhari said:

"I heard the servant of Muhammad bin Yahya adh-Dhuhli saying, while he was being washed: "I served him for thirty years, and I would give him his water, and I never even saw his leg, and I was his property.""

['Siyar A'lam an-Nubala''; 12/279]


7 - al-Imam al-Bukhari:

Muhammad bin Abi Hatim narrated:

"Some of my companions said to me: "We were at the house of Muhammad bin Salam, and Muhammad bin Isma'il al-Bukhari entered upon his upon his return from Iraq. So, he began to inform us of the tribulation that the people were being put through, as well as what had happened to Ahmad bin Hambal, etc.

When al-Imam al-Bukhari exited the house, Muhammad bin Salam said to those present: "Have you ever seen a virgin with as much shyness as this man?""

['Siyar A'lam an-Nubala''; 12/418]


8 - Ibn al-Qayyim narrated that some of the Salaf said:

"If one does something in secret that he is shy from doing in public, this means that he means nothing to himself."

['Madarij as-Salikin'; 2/353]


9 - Shams ad-Din al-Maqdisi:

"If my leg becomes exposed while I am alone, I rush to cover it up while making istighfar."

['al-Mukhtar al-Masun min A'lam al-Qurun'; 1/540]


10 - Muhammad bin Ahmad al-Ghumari:

He would refuse to fall asleep in the presence of anyone, saying: "I fear that some bad smell would emanate from me while I am sleeping."

['al-Mukhtar al-Masun min A'lam al-Qurun'; 2/758]