1/12. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 37a — Modesty Brings Goodness
Clarifying the number of branches of faith, the best and the least of them, the virtue of modesty (Al-Haya') and the fact that it is part of faith
Modesty Brings Nothing but Goodness: A Hadith on Haya
Sahih Muslim : 37a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 37a
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ الْمُثَنَّى - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا السَّوَّارِ، يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عِمْرَانَ بْنَ حُصَيْنٍ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ " الْحَيَاءُ لاَ يَأْتِي إِلاَّ بِخَيْرٍ " . فَقَالَ بُشَيْرُ بْنُ كَعْبٍ إِنَّهُ مَكْتُوبٌ فِي الْحِكْمَةِ أَنَّ مِنْهُ وَقَارًا وَمِنْهُ سَكِينَةً . فَقَالَ عِمْرَانُ أُحَدِّثُكَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَتُحَدِّثُنِي عَنْ صُحُفِكَ .
'Imran bin Husain Narrated from:
The Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) said: Modesty brings forth nothing but goodness. Bushair b. Ka'b said: It is recorded in the books of wisdom, there lies sobriety in it and calmness of mind in it, Imran said: I am narrating to you the tradition of the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) and you talk of your books.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 37aIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 63USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 59
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 37a
This hadith about modesty brings goodness gives a strong and simple Prophetic statement. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that modesty brings forth nothing but goodness. Bushair b. Ka'b then mentioned what was recorded in books of wisdom about sobriety and calmness of mind. 'Imran responded firmly, saying he was narrating the tradition of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم), while Bushair was speaking from his books. The main lesson is not a long debate; it is that the Prophetic word is treated with great care. The hadith also teaches that haya is not presented here as harmful. In the Prophet’s words, it brings good.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said modesty brings nothing but goodness.
- 'Imran gave strong weight to the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم).
- The narration shows care in not setting other statements against a Prophetic report.
- Modesty is presented here as a source of good.
