Hadith #3

IslamWiki Explanation — IslamWiki Scholarly Team

This hadith establishes that iman has many branches — with the upper level being the testimony of faith (la ilaha illallah) and the lower level being removing harm from the road. Hayaa is placed in between as 'a branch of iman.' Imam al-Nawawi explains that 'sixty-odd or seventy-odd branches' refers to the various acts of faith, both internal (beliefs) and external (deeds). This hadith demonstrates that iman is not merely internal conviction but encompasses an entire way of life. Ibn Uthaymin notes that scholars have compiled detailed lists of these branches, and many scholars have written books on this topic including Imam al-Bayhaqi (Shu'ab al-Iman). The placement of hayaa specifically as a branch of iman confirms its essential role: just as a tree branch is connected to and nourished by the root, hayaa is connected to and nourishes the root of iman. The mention of removing harm from the road as the lowest branch shows that iman encompasses all acts that benefit Muslims and society.