Sahih al-Bukhari — Hadith 9

This hadith establishes modesty (haya) not as a cultural preference or social nicety but as an integral part of faith itself. The word 'haya' in Arabic encompasses a rich spectrum of meaning: modesty, self-respect, bashfulness, shame before God, and moral scruple. By naming it as one of the branches of faith, Islam elevates modesty from a personal trait to a spiritual obligation. The companion narration in Sahih Muslim (54) adds that the highest branch is the declaration of monotheism and the lowest is removing something harmful from a path — showing faith ranges from the profound to the practical.