Our Mother of Modesty (Part 1 of Retreat Lectures)

I recently attended the Spring Youth Retreat in Hamza Masjid, New York. This retreat had about six lectures from different scholars on the issues of hayaa (modesty). This is such an important topic, and masha’Allah the scholars did a wonderful job covering it. These are the notes I took, I’ll put them up in parts. They’re not exactly comprehensive. You can listen to the lectures here.

“Our Mother of Modesty” By Shaykh Abdur Rahman Ahmad

This lecture covered the traits of the wife of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, Aisha (ra). She possessed a great deal of hayaa, a perfect role model.  She was the daughter of Abu Bakr (ra), the closest man to the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, she was born into a family of Muslims. When Aisha (ra) was six, the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم had a dream in which Jibraeel (as) appeared three nights in a row and showed the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم Aisha (ra) and told him she was going to be his wife. After the Battle of Badr, she was of a suitable age to live with the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. Her waleema (wedding reception) was an event of simplicity and modesty. It was in her house that the wahi (revelation) used to come to the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم

Hayaa is actually something that prevents you from doing anything unlawful, anything evil whether in private or in public. There is a voice inside the heart that gives you a little hint, a little whisper that prevents you from doing the sin.

Aisha (ra) had so much knowledge that the sahabah (companions of the Prophet ﷺ) used to come and study from her. Her knowledge included:

• Understanding of the Quran and Hadith (sayings of the Prophet)
• Skilled language, she could memorize and recite poetry easily
• Medical knowledge (When the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم was nearing his death, many people used to prescribe him medicine and herbs and Aisha (ra) would learn a great deal from that)

Aisha (ra) was only 18 when the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم passed away yet she transferred many hadiths, and was considered the greatest scholar.

My Thoughts: Subhan’Allah if we could be an inch of what Aisha (ra) was, then we’re set! It’s so crazy how people think Islam doesn’t respect women, if they could only look at the status of women in the Prophet’s time then they would have no question. These women are great role models for women and men.