What does “modesty accompanies deprivation” mean in the saying, “Awe accompanies despair, and modesty accompanies deprivation”?

Here, *ḥayāʾ* means ignorant shame, as opposed to wise shame. Wise shame is the spirit and lifeblood of faith; its absence can lead a person to disbelief. Chastity, ethical consideration and purity of soul are among its forms. But in matters where Islamic law neither forbids nor discourages something, any show of shame amounts, in a sense, to imposing deprivation on oneself.

Suggested translation of the hadith: “Awe (groundless fear) is paired with despair, and shame (ignorant shame) with deprivation. Opportunity passes more swiftly than a cloud, so make the most of good opportunities.”

عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: الْحَيَاءُ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ وَ الْإِيمَانُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ.
الكافي (ط - الإسلامية)، ج‏2، ص: 106

Shame is part of faith, and faith is in Paradise.

Here, *ḥayāʾ* means wise, faith-inspired shame.

َ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْحَيَاءُ حَيَاءَانِ حَيَاءُ عَقْلٍ وَ حَيَاءُ حُمْقٍ فَحَيَاءُ الْعَقْلِ هُوَ الْعِلْمُ وَ حَيَاءُ الْحُمْقِ هُوَ الْجَهْلُ.
الكافي (ط - الإسلامية)، ج‏2، ص: 106

“Shame is of two kinds: wise shame and foolish shame. Wise shame springs from knowledge, while foolish shame springs from ignorance.”

This hadith makes a beautiful distinction between wise and ignorant shame!

َ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: الْحَيَاءُ عَلَى وَجْهَيْنِ: فَمِنْهُ الضَّعْفُ، وَ مِنْهُ قُوَّةٌ وَ إِسْلَامٌ وَ إِيمَانٌ»
قرب الإسناد (ط - الحديثة)، متن، ص: 46

The Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said: “Shame is of two kinds: shame that stems from weakness, and shame that stems from strength and from Islam and faith”—that is, shame whose source is faith.

In short: Any shame in the face of truth is a sign of weakness and foolishness. One should feel no shame in standing up for what is right, speaking the truth, seeking knowledge and good deeds, or enjoying lawful pleasures in an appropriate way.

مَنِ اسْتَحْيَى مِنْ قَوْلِ الْحَقِّ فَهُوَ أَحْمَق‏
عيون الحكم و المواعظ (لليثي)، ص: 440

Whoever is ashamed to speak the truth is foolish.

البقرة : 26 إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَسْتَحْيي‏ أَنْ يَضْرِبَ مَثَلاً ما بَعُوضَةً فَما فَوْقَها فَأَمَّا الَّذينَ آمَنُوا فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَ أَمَّا الَّذينَ كَفَرُوا فَيَقُولُونَ ماذا أَرادَ اللَّهُ بِهذا مَثَلاً يُضِلُّ بِهِ كَثيراً وَ يَهْدي بِهِ كَثيراً وَ ما يُضِلُّ بِهِ إِلاَّ الْفاسِقينَ
God is not ashamed to set forth a parable—even of a gnat, or something smaller. Those who believe know that it is the truth from their Lord. But those who disbelieve say, “What does God mean by this parable?” By it He lets many go astray and guides many; yet He lets none go astray by it except the defiantly disobedient.

َ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَسْتَحْيِي مِنَ الْحَق‏
دعائم الإسلام، ج‏1، ص: 115

The Master, Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon him: “Indeed, God is not ashamed to speak the truth!”

ُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَقُولُ: خُذُوا عَنِّي خَمْساً: لَا يَخَفْ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَّا ذَنْبَهُ، وَ لَا يَرْجُو إِلَّا رَبَّهُ، وَ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي مَنْ لَا يَعْلَمُ أَنْ يَتَعَلَّمَ، وَ لَا يَسْتَحْيِ الْعَالِمُ إِذَا سُئِلَ عَمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُ أَنْ يَقُولَ: اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ، وَ الصَّبْرُ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الرَّأْسِ فِي الْجَسَد
الأصول الستة عشر (ط - دار الحديث)، ص: 309

The Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon him, said: “Take these five lessons from me: Let no one fear anything but their own sin; let no one place their hopes in anyone but their Lord; let no one be ashamed to learn what they do not know; let no scholar be ashamed, when asked about something they do not know, to say, ‘God knows best’; and patience stands to faith as the head stands to the body.”