عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏‏ الإيمان بضع وسبعون، أو بضع وستون شعبة‏:‏ فأفضلها قول لا إله إلا الله، وأدناها إماطة الأذى عن الطريق، والحياء شعبة من الإيمان

Abu Hurairah RA: The Prophet ﷺ said, “Imaan has over seventy branches – or over sixty branches – the uppermost of which is the declaration: ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’; and the least of which is the removal of a harmful object from the road, and modesty is a branch of Imaan.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

Haya` (modesty) is literally defined as a feeling prompted by fear, for doing an action that will draw a reprimand or admonishment from others. In terms of the Shariah, it can be defined as a character trait that urges a person to abstain from evil deeds and shortcomings in fulfilling the rightful obligations of people.

The highest branch of Imaan is to utter the testimony of faith because it relates to the Oneness of Allah and no other branch of Imaan holds any weight if it is absent.

Modesty has been singled out because it generally upholds the remaining branches of Imaan.

One who has genuine modesty fears disgrace in both worlds, hence he acts on all divine commands and abstains from all prohibitions. The highest form of modesty is that one should constantly be wary that Allah should not see him doing anything that He has forbidden.

One can develop this state of mind by muraqabah (pondering and reflection) and acceptance of the truth.

EASY GOOD DEED – Helping a Muslim

To help a Muslim in some important work and to do it for the pleasure of Allah or to remove his troubles and worries, is an act which has been promised much reward by the Blessed Prophet ﷺ:

مَنْ نَفَّسَ عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ الدُّنْيَا نَفَّسَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَمَنْ يَسَّرَ عَلَى مُعْسِرٍ فِي الدُّنْيَا يَسَّرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ وَمَنْ سَتَرَ عَلَى مُسْلِمٍ فِي الدُّنْيَا سَتَرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ وَاللَّهُ فِي عَوْنِ الْعَبْدِ مَا كَانَ الْعَبْدُ فِي عَوْنِ أَخِيهِ

Abu Hurairah RA narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Whoever relieves a Muslim of a burden from the burdens of the world, Allah will relieve him of a burden from the burdens on the Day of Judgement. And whoever helps ease a difficulty in the world, Allah will grant him ease from a difficulty in the world and in the Hereafter. And whoever covers (the faults of) a Muslim, Allah will cover (his faults) for him in the world and the Hereafter. And Allah is engaged in helping the worshipper as long as the worshipper is engaged in helping his brother.” [Tirmidhi]

Showing someone the way, sharing someone’s load or helping him with it, and all other acts of public service are included in the acts defined by this hadith.

Those who help others are truly much blessed, as the hadith says:-

عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْمُؤْمِنُ يَأْلَفُ وَيُؤْلَفُ وَلا خَيْرَ فِيمَنْ لا يَأْلَفُ وَلا يُؤْلَفُ وَخَيْرُ النَّاسِ أَنْفَعُهُمْ لِلنَّاسِ

Jabir RA reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The believer is friendly and befriended, for there is no goodness in one who is neither friendly, nor befriended. The best of people are those who are most beneficial to people.” [Al-Mu’jam al-Awsaṭ]

Hence all occasions of service, big or small, must be sought for; this increases one’s merits.

If someone is a victim of tyranny, it is the duty of every Muslim to save him from it.

A Hadith tells us that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said:

الْمُسْلِمُ أَخُو الْمُسْلِمِ

Abu Hurairah RA narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The Muslim is the brother to the Muslim …” [Tirmidhi]

And a brother does not leave his brother helpless nor does he lie to him nor makes false promises, nor treats him with cruelty.

Helping a Muslim includes appropriate refutal of any wrong charges or insinuations levelled against another Muslim.

Abu Darda RA reports that our Holy Prophet ﷺ has said:

‏ مَنْ رَدَّ عَنْ عِرْضِ أَخِيهِ رَدَّ اللَّهُ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ النَّارَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

“Whoever protects his brother’s honour, Allah protects his face from the Fire on the Day of Resurrection.” [Tirmidhi]