The two Sahihs likewise relate—through Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him—that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Faith comprises sixty-some, or seventy-some, branches. The loftiest of them is the utterance lā ilāha illā Allah (there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah); the lowliest is removing something harmful from the road; and modesty is a branch of faith.”

Here the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, clarified that whoever possesses one of those blameworthy qualities retains a portion of hypocrisy until he gives it up.

It is also firmly established in the two Sahihs that he said to Abu Dharr—one of the noblest believers—“You are a man in whom there remains a trace of jāhiliyya (pre-Islamic ignorance).” Abu Dharr replied, “O Messenger of Allah, even at my advanced age?” He said, “Yes.”

In another sound report he stated:

“Four traits in my community belong to the practices of jāhiliyya: boasting about one’s forefathers, and disparaging the lineage of others,