WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.869 Our mother ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her. 00:00:10.869 --> 00:00:15.650 “O ‘A’ishah, and from where would the resemblance come?” 00:00:15.650 --> 00:00:22.300 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, praised modesty (haya’). 00:00:22.300 --> 00:00:25.980 He said, “Modesty is entirely good.” 00:00:25.980 --> 00:00:27.699 Narrated by Muslim. 00:00:27.699 --> 00:00:30.460 He, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, also said, 00:00:30.460 --> 00:00:33.700 “Modesty brings nothing but good.” 00:00:33.700 --> 00:00:35.890 Narrated by al-Bukhari. 00:00:36.130 --> 00:00:39.530 When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, passed 00:00:39.530 --> 00:00:41.810 by a man from the Ansar 00:00:41.810 --> 00:00:45.530 who was admonishing his brother for being too modest, 00:00:45.530 --> 00:00:46.770 he said to him, 00:00:46.770 --> 00:00:49.969 “Leave him, for modesty is part of faith.” 00:00:49.969 --> 00:00:52.140 Narrated by al-Bukhari. 00:00:52.140 --> 00:00:55.020 If this is the description of modesty, 00:00:55.020 --> 00:00:58.500 it cannot lead to the loss of rights 00:00:58.500 --> 00:01:01.140 or the spread of ignorance among people, 00:01:01.140 --> 00:01:05.609 especially since modesty is a branch of faith. 00:01:05.609 --> 00:01:08.689 However, what some people fall into 00:01:08.689 --> 00:01:10.569 is confusing modesty 00:01:10.569 --> 00:01:13.250 with certain negative traits 00:01:13.250 --> 00:01:17.569 that lead to the loss of rights and silence in the face of injustice, 00:01:17.569 --> 00:01:19.890 such as fear, cowardice, and weakness. 00:01:19.890 --> 00:01:22.799 They label these as modesty. 00:01:22.799 --> 00:01:25.400 Al-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:28.200 “As for the statement that modesty is entirely good 00:01:28.200 --> 00:01:30.400 and brings nothing but good, 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:32.760 some people may find this difficult to reconcile 00:01:32.760 --> 00:01:35.079 because a modest person 00:01:35.079 --> 00:01:38.599 might be too shy to confront someone they respect with the truth, 00:01:38.599 --> 00:01:42.640 and thus abandon enjoining good and forbidding evil. 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:44.439 Modesty might also lead them 00:01:44.439 --> 00:01:46.959 to fail to fulfill certain rights, 00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:50.640 and other such things known in common custom.” 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:55.040 The answer to this is what a group of scholars provided, 00:01:55.040 --> 00:01:58.719 among them Shaykh Abu ‘Umar Ibn al-Salah, may Allah have mercy on him: 00:01:58.719 --> 00:02:01.319 “This obstacle we have mentioned 00:02:01.319 --> 00:02:03.680 is not true modesty; 00:02:03.719 --> 00:02:06.719 rather, it is incapacity, weakness, and baseness. 00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:11.280 Its labeling as modesty is merely a colloquial usage by some, 00:02:11.280 --> 00:02:15.759 applied metaphorically due to its resemblance to true modesty. 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:18.000 The reality of modesty is 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:20.800 a character trait that prompts one to abandon what is ugly 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:23.719 and prevents one from falling short in the rights of those who are entitled to them, 00:02:23.719 --> 00:02:25.659 and the like.” 00:02:25.659 --> 00:02:27.780 Abu Qatadah said: 00:02:27.780 --> 00:02:31.139 “We were with ‘Imran Ibn Husayn in a group, 00:02:31.139 --> 00:02:33.620 and among us was Bashir Ibn Ka‘b. 00:02:33.620 --> 00:02:36.340 ‘Imran narrated to us that day, 00:02:36.340 --> 00:02:37.460 and he said: 00:02:37.460 --> 00:02:41.020 ‘The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 00:02:41.020 --> 00:02:43.620 Modesty is entirely good.’” 00:02:43.620 --> 00:02:46.020 Bashir Ibn Ka‘b said: 00:02:46.020 --> 00:02:49.819 “We find in some books or wisdom 00:02:49.819 --> 00:02:53.259 that part of it is tranquility and dignity for the sake of Allah, 00:02:53.259 --> 00:02:54.979 and part of it is weakness.” 00:02:54.979 --> 00:02:56.020 He said: 00:02:56.020 --> 00:02:59.460 ‘Imran became so angry that his eyes turned red, 00:02:59.460 --> 00:03:00.819 and he said: 00:03:00.860 --> 00:03:05.699 “Do I not see myself narrating to you from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:03:05.699 --> 00:03:07.620 and you are contradicting it?” 00:03:07.620 --> 00:03:08.740 He said: 00:03:08.740 --> 00:03:11.060 ‘Imran repeated the hadith. 00:03:11.060 --> 00:03:12.060 He said: 00:03:12.060 --> 00:03:13.819 Bashir repeated his objection. 00:03:13.819 --> 00:03:15.620 ‘Imran became angry. 00:03:15.620 --> 00:03:16.740 He said: 00:03:16.740 --> 00:03:18.780 We kept saying to him, 00:03:18.780 --> 00:03:21.419 “He is one of us, O Abu Nujayd, 00:03:21.419 --> 00:03:23.500 there is no harm in him.” 00:03:23.500 --> 00:03:25.780 Narrated by Muslim. 00:03:25.780 --> 00:03:29.259 ‘Imran Ibn Husayn was angry with Bashir 00:03:29.259 --> 00:03:33.539 for contradicting the hadith of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:03:33.539 --> 00:03:37.379 with what he found in the cultures of other nations. 00:03:37.379 --> 00:03:39.300 The duty of the believer 00:03:39.300 --> 00:03:43.340 is to submit to the words of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 00:03:43.340 --> 00:03:45.219 with absolute submission, 00:03:45.219 --> 00:03:47.580 and not to prioritize anyone’s opinion over his, 00:03:47.580 --> 00:03:50.270 nor to contradict it with anything. 00:03:50.270 --> 00:03:53.430 Modesty is an innate trait in women, 00:03:53.430 --> 00:03:55.750 developing with them from a young age, 00:03:55.789 --> 00:03:59.469 yet it is susceptible to alteration and change 00:03:59.469 --> 00:04:04.110 according to the upbringing one receives in their primary environment, 00:04:04.110 --> 00:04:09.759 or the effects of mixing with men in the various arenas of life. 00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:13.759 Modesty increases and decreases in both men and women, 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:16.759 and the fortunate one is he who increases in modesty 00:04:16.759 --> 00:04:19.189 and increases in faith. 00:04:19.189 --> 00:04:21.189 In a beautiful story 00:04:21.189 --> 00:04:24.829 that took place in the presence of ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, 00:04:24.829 --> 00:04:31.670 the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, utilized it to teach and nurture ‘A’ishah, 00:04:31.670 --> 00:04:35.579 while answering the question of the Ansari woman. 00:04:35.579 --> 00:04:38.259 From ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her: 00:04:38.259 --> 00:04:41.500 Umm Sulaym the Ansari woman said: 00:04:41.500 --> 00:04:43.220 “O Messenger of Allah, 00:04:43.220 --> 00:04:47.300 Allah, the Almighty, is not shy of the truth. 00:04:47.300 --> 00:04:51.420 Does a woman have to perform ghusl if she sees in a dream what a man sees?” 00:04:51.420 --> 00:04:53.790 “Does she have to perform ghusl or not?” 00:04:53.829 --> 00:04:55.550 ‘A’ishah said: 00:04:55.550 --> 00:04:58.829 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 00:04:58.829 --> 00:04:59.870 “Yes, 00:04:59.870 --> 00:05:03.149 she must perform ghusl if she sees the fluid.” 00:05:03.149 --> 00:05:04.829 ‘A’ishah said: 00:05:04.829 --> 00:05:06.550 I turned to her 00:05:06.550 --> 00:05:08.509 and said, “Shame on you! 00:05:08.509 --> 00:05:11.110 Does a woman actually see that?” 00:05:11.110 --> 00:05:16.069 The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, turned to me and said: 00:05:16.069 --> 00:05:18.790 “May your right hand be rubbed with dust, O ‘A’ishah! 00:05:18.790 --> 00:05:21.269 From where would the resemblance come?” 00:05:21.269 --> 00:05:23.290 Narrated by Muslim. 00:05:23.290 --> 00:05:27.250 This story contains several educational benefits: 00:05:27.250 --> 00:05:30.610 Among them is the sagacity and intelligence of Umm Sulaym, 00:05:30.610 --> 00:05:36.009 as she prefaced her question with an introduction that would excuse her for what she wanted to mention, 00:05:36.009 --> 00:05:39.889 which a woman would normally be shy to mention in front of men. 00:05:39.889 --> 00:05:41.370 She said: 00:05:41.370 --> 00:05:45.689 “Allah, the Almighty, is not shy of the truth.” 00:05:45.689 --> 00:05:48.209 Al-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:05:48.209 --> 00:05:49.810 “The scholars said: 00:05:49.810 --> 00:05:52.850 Its meaning is that He does not refrain from explaining the truth, 00:05:52.850 --> 00:05:56.050 or from setting forth a parable of a mosquito or something similar, 00:05:56.050 --> 00:05:59.129 as He, the Glorified and Exalted, said: 00:05:59.129 --> 00:06:11.420 “Lo! Allah disdaineth not to coin the similitude even of a gnat. Those who believe know that it is the truth from their Lord; but those who disbelieve say: What doth Allah wish (to teach) by such a similitude? He misleadeth many thereby, and He guideth many thereby; and He misleadeth thereby only miscreants;” (2:26) 00:06:11.420 --> 00:06:17.209 Thus, I do not refrain from asking about what I am in need of.” 00:06:17.209 --> 00:06:19.009 It was also said that its meaning is: 00:06:19.009 --> 00:06:23.370 “Allah does not command modesty regarding the truth, nor does He permit it.” 00:06:23.370 --> 00:06:27.209 She said this as an apology before her question 00:06:27.209 --> 00:06:29.529 regarding what she needed to know, 00:06:29.529 --> 00:06:33.209 which women are usually shy to ask about 00:06:33.209 --> 00:06:36.209 or mention in the presence of men. 00:06:36.209 --> 00:06:40.290 Among the benefits is the eagerness of the female Companions to gain understanding in the religion. 00:06:40.290 --> 00:06:43.009 Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:06:43.009 --> 00:06:44.810 “In this hadith 00:06:44.810 --> 00:06:48.370 is a clarification of the state of the women of that time, 00:06:48.410 --> 00:06:50.889 in their concern for the affairs of their religion 00:06:50.889 --> 00:06:52.569 and asking about them. 00:06:52.569 --> 00:06:55.569 This is incumbent upon every believing man and woman: 00:06:55.569 --> 00:06:59.699 if they are ignorant of something in their religion, they must ask about it.” 00:06:59.699 --> 00:07:03.740 Among the benefits is that modesty does not prevent one from seeking knowledge. 00:07:03.740 --> 00:07:06.220 Al-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:07:06.220 --> 00:07:11.300 “It indicates that whoever encounters an issue should ask about it, 00:07:11.300 --> 00:07:15.220 and not refrain from asking out of shyness to mention it, 00:07:15.220 --> 00:07:18.420 for that is not true modesty, 00:07:18.420 --> 00:07:20.939 because modesty is entirely good, 00:07:20.939 --> 00:07:24.180 and modesty brings nothing but good. 00:07:24.180 --> 00:07:28.220 Refraining from asking in this situation is not good; 00:07:28.220 --> 00:07:29.699 rather, it is evil. 00:07:29.699 --> 00:07:32.589 So how could it be modesty?” 00:07:32.589 --> 00:07:37.790 Among the benefits is the permissibility of a woman asking a chaste scholar about her religious affairs, 00:07:37.790 --> 00:07:41.870 even if it is something one is usually shy to mention. 00:07:41.870 --> 00:07:43.069 Among the benefits is 00:07:43.069 --> 00:07:48.509 the use of beautiful language to express one’s intent without obscenity, 00:07:48.509 --> 00:07:50.870 as Umm Sulaym said: 00:07:50.870 --> 00:07:54.829 “Does a woman have to perform ghusl if she sees in a dream what a man sees?” 00:07:54.829 --> 00:07:57.259 “Does she have to perform ghusl or not?” 00:07:57.259 --> 00:07:58.420 Among the benefits is 00:07:58.420 --> 00:08:01.180 that women are the counterparts of men 00:08:01.180 --> 00:08:05.180 regarding the issue of nocturnal emission and what follows from it. 00:08:05.180 --> 00:08:07.620 Among the benefits is correcting the one who is mistaken 00:08:07.620 --> 00:08:11.100 and rectifying their opinion with evidence and proof. 00:08:11.100 --> 00:08:16.620 ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, disapproved of Umm Sulaym’s question, 00:08:16.660 --> 00:08:20.339 so the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, corrected her 00:08:20.339 --> 00:08:23.519 and explained the truth of the matter to her. 00:08:23.519 --> 00:08:27.639 Among the benefits is using rational deduction for religious issues, 00:08:27.639 --> 00:08:32.080 for the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to ‘A’ishah, 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:35.720 in explaining that a woman experiences nocturnal emission and sees the fluid, 00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:36.960 by saying: 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:39.549 “And from where would the resemblance come?” 00:08:39.549 --> 00:08:43.149 Among the benefits is that a woman who asks about her religion, 00:08:43.149 --> 00:08:46.549 even regarding issues that are considered shameful, 00:08:46.549 --> 00:08:48.549 is acting in a praiseworthy manner, 00:08:48.549 --> 00:08:51.470 and it is not permissible to admonish, discourage, 00:08:51.470 --> 00:08:53.590 or condemn her action. 00:08:53.590 --> 00:08:57.710 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, defended Umm Sulaym 00:08:57.710 --> 00:09:00.870 for her question about nocturnal emission, 00:09:00.870 --> 00:09:04.870 which is when a woman sees in her dream what a man sees 00:09:04.870 --> 00:09:09.070 of full intimacy between her and a man. 00:09:09.070 --> 00:09:13.990 ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, praised the women of the Ansar, 00:09:13.990 --> 00:09:15.429 saying: 00:09:15.429 --> 00:09:18.509 “How excellent are the women of the Ansar! 00:09:18.509 --> 00:09:22.860 Modesty did not prevent them from gaining understanding in the religion.” 00:09:22.860 --> 00:09:25.340 O Allah, grant us understanding in Your religion, 00:09:25.340 --> 00:09:27.580 teach us what benefits us, 00:09:27.580 --> 00:09:32.539 benefit us with what You have taught us, and increase us in knowledge. 00:09:32.539 --> 00:09:36.059 We will continue in a future meeting, if Allah wills. 00:09:36.059 --> 00:09:42.289 And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. 00:09:42.289 --> 00:09:45.889 Our mother ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her.