The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said:
“Modesty is of two kinds: one is rational modesty, and the other is irrational modesty.[1]”
Rational modesty is that a person observes propriety in society and refrains from committing improper acts.
One may say to a person: Have some modesty! Do not throw trash and garbage cans into the alley; do not harm people; do not pour dirty, polluted, and foul-smelling water into the street; do not trouble others, and so on. This type of modesty is commendable—this is modesty based on reason.
But irrational modesty is when someone tells their child: Go to your uncle’s house to offer congratulations for the holiday. If the child replies: I feel embarrassed; I am too modest to do that, this is called foolish modesty.
Considering that many personality problems have their roots in childhood, what should be done to save children from this irrational modesty?
To overcome this type of modesty, collective games should be revived and promoted. Parents must encourage their children to socialize with others, to move with enthusiasm, to play with their peers, and thereby to remove the veil of irrational modesty, which is a state of passivity and a sign of weakness and helplessness. In this way, children are prepared for social life.
Group sports are also beneficial for those who are interested in speaking and delivering speeches before an audience, as shyness does not allow such an opportunity. They provide an appropriate ground for overcoming timidity. When children bond with one another, they can also share their spiritual values during play and sports and express the thoughts they wish to convey. This itself is a form of practice in public speaking.
These days, as children are forced to stay at home more because of the coronavirus, we must be careful that the virus of shyness and timidity does not take hold of them. While observing health protocols, we should make the best use of opportunities to be together—especially through games and interactions within the family, such as a father playing with his children and the like. After this illness has been removed and set aside, social interactions, children’s games, and group sports should be quickly revived and restored.
(Taken from the book “The Objectives of Physical Education and the Educational Views of Islam” by the late Hujjat al-Islam Falsafi, with modifications and additions)
Tags: Education – ethics – modesty – Prophet – اخلاق – پیامبر
Footnote:
[1] Al-Kāfī, vol. 2, p. 106.