What is the modesty that is a branch of faith?
2026-10-13
F211 · Selected fatwas
Shaykh Ibn Bāz
الشيخ عبد العزيز بن عبد الله بن باز
Original Q&A · Complete published question and answer
Complete published question and answer. Ḥayāʾ is rendered as modesty in the sense of moral shame and restraint, rather than a blanket endorsement of social timidity. Hadith collection attributions are reproduced as stated by the Shaykh.
النص العربي
السؤال الأصلي
السائل الذي أرسل بهذه الرسالة عاطف عبدالله من حائل، يقول في هذا السؤال: قال الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم: الحياء شعبة من الإيمان ما معنى الحياء؟ وهل هذا حديث؟
الجواب
نعم، حديث صحيح، يقول النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في الصحيحين: الإيمان بضع وسبعون شعبة، أو قال: بضع وستون شعبة، فأفضلها: قول لا إله إلا الله، وأدناها: إماطة الأذى عن الطريق، والحياء شعبة من الإيمان والحياء خلق كريم قلبي، خلق في القلب يقتضي الانكفاف عما لا ينبغي هذا الحياء، الحياء: خلق كريم في القلب يقتضي أن ينكف صاحبه عما لا ينبغي من المعاصي، يستحي لا يفعل المعاصي، ولا يفعل الأشياء التي تنتقد عليه، يمنعه حياؤه من ذلك، فهو من الإيمان.
وقد مر النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم على رجل يعظ أخاه في الحياء، يقول له: دع عنك الحياء، فقال له صلى الله عليه وسلم: دعه فإن الحياء من الإيمان فالحياء خلق كريم قلبي، يمنع صاحبه من الخصال الذميمة، والأخلاق المنحرفة، ويحمله على مكارم الأخلاق، ومحاسن الأعمال. نعم.
المقدم: جزاكم الله خيرا سماحة الشيخ.
English translation
English translation prepared for SalafAlSalih.com from the cited Arabic source. It is not an official translation.
Original question
ʿĀṭif ʿAbd Allāh from Ḥāʾil, who sent this letter, asks: The Messenger ﷺ said, ‘Modesty is a branch of faith.’ What does modesty mean? Is this a hadith?
Answer
Yes, it is an authentic hadith. The Prophet ﷺ says in the two Ṣaḥīḥ collections: ‘Faith has seventy-some branches—or he said sixty-some branches—the highest of which is saying “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah,” and the lowest is removing harm from the road; modesty is a branch of faith.’ Modesty is a noble quality of the heart, a quality that requires refraining from what is improper. This is modesty: a noble quality in the heart that leads its possessor to refrain from what is improper, from sins. He feels shame and does not commit sins or do things for which he would be censured; his modesty prevents him from that. It is therefore part of faith.
The Prophet ﷺ passed a man who was admonishing his brother about modesty, telling him to put it aside. The Prophet ﷺ said to him: ‘Leave him, for modesty is part of faith.’ Modesty is thus a noble quality of the heart that prevents its possessor from blameworthy traits and deviant conduct, and moves him towards noble character and good deeds. Yes.
Presenter: May Allah reward you, Your Eminence.
Source and editorial notes
Official Ibn Bāz website, fatwa 11879
الموقع الرسمي للشيخ عبد العزيز بن باز
Official Ibn Bāz website
Complete published Arabic question and answer checked against the official source, including follow-up exchanges and closing words where present. Arabic diacritics omitted, directional formatting marks removed and honorific glyphs expanded for display. Source footnotes are kept separate.