Wifāq ul Ulāma (SA) ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN 'ULAMA
The Hayaa of Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) – continued
Hazrat ‘Aa’ishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) reports the following:
On one occasion, Rasulullah (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was lying down in my home and his kurta was slightly moved from the area of his blessed thighs or his blessed shin, though his blessed thighs and shins were covered by his lungi.
During that time, Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) requested permission to enter. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) permitted Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to enter, while he was lying down in that condition, and spoke to him.
After some time, Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) requested permission to enter. Rasulullah (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) permitted Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to enter and spoke to him while he remained in the same condition.
Thereafter, Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) requested permission to enter. When Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) sought permission to enter, Rasulullah (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) immediately sat up and straightened his clothing, placing his kurta over his lungi. Rasulullah (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then permitted him to enter, after which they spoke for some time.
Hazrat ‘Aa’ishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) then mentioned:
When Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) left, I asked Rasulullah (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), “I noticed that when Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) entered, you remained lying down. Thereafter, when Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) entered, you also continued to lie down. However, when Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) entered, you sat up and straightened your clothing.” Rasulullah (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “How can I not display extra hayaa before a man who is such that even the angels display hayaa before him?”
(Saheeh Muslim #2401)
In another similar narration, Rasulullah (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) is a man who possesses an exceptionally high level of hayaa. I feared that if I had to permit him to enter while I was in that condition, (then due to his exceptionally high level of hayaa,) he would feel reserved in expressing his need to me.”
(Saheeh Muslim #2402)
