Questioner:

The statement “There is no shyness in the religion” has been circulating upon the tongues of the people.

Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz bin ʿAbdullāh bin Bāz:

This is correct linguistically and in meaning. This is similar to what the woman (Umm Sulaym) said to the Prophet ﷺ  “Verily, Allāh is not shy of (telling you) the truth. Is it necessary for a woman to take a full bath after she has a wet dream (nocturnal sexual discharge?)”

The meaning of the statement “there is no shyness in the religion” is (in reference) to the shyness that should not prevent one from asking questions for the purpose of learning and comprehending in the religion. Shyness should not prevent you from asking about your religion and to comprehend it.

If the intended (meaning of this wording) was that there is no shyness in the religion in totality, then this is incorrect, the Prophet ﷺ mentioned: “Shyness is a part of faith”, shyness that prevents one from sins is (the type of shyness that is) from faith and the Prophet ﷺ mentioned: “If you do not have shyness, do as it pleases you”.

However, if the intent behind this statement is that shyness should not prevent one from asking questions for the purpose of learning and comprehending in the religion then this intent is correct.

Shyness is of two types:

1. The type of shyness that prevents one from comprehending  his religion, this type of shyness is prohibited and it is not to be considered as shyness,

2. The type of shyness that prevents you from bad manners and sins. This is the shyness that is demanded and this is what the religion of Islam came with, as it is reported in the narration: “There are over 70 branches of faith. The highest is to bear witness that, ‘There is none worthy of worship except Allāh and Muḥammad (Allāh bless him and give him peace) is the Messenger of Allāh [lā ilāha illā-Allāh Muḥammad Rasūl Allāh]. The lowest is the removal of harm from the road and one of the branches of faith is shyness”

Shyness that prevents you from evil is a branch of faith, for verily shyness is a great and noble characteristic which prevents one from evil actions, and keeps one upon good actions. If the intent (behind this statement) is that there is no shyness in the religion in totality, then no.