The Seventy-Seven Branches of Faith in Islam by Imam al-Bayhaqi

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦 𝐛𝐲 𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐦 𝐚𝐥-𝐁𝐚𝐲𝐡𝐚𝐪𝐢

Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR

Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) reported the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) as saying :

Faith has over seventy branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god but Allah, and the humblest of which is the removal of a bone from the road. And modesty is a branch of faith. [Sunan Abi Dawud 4676]

The “Seventy-Seven Branches of Faith” is a collection of Qur’anic verses and Prophetic narrations compiled by Imam al-Bayhaqi (رحمه الله‎). In it, he explains the essential virtues that reflect true faith [iman].

The “77 Branches of Faith” are divided into three categories:

I) Thirty Qualities are Connected to the Heart

To belief in Allāh Most High.
To believe that everything other than Allāh was non-existent. Thereafter, Allāh Most High created these things and subsequently they came into existence.
To believe in the existence of angels.
To believe that all the heavenly books that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Qur’an, all other books are not valid anymore.
To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ alone.
To believe that Allāh Most High has knowledge of everything from before-hand and that only that which He sanctions or wishes will occur.
To believe that Resurrection will definitely occur.
To believe in the existence of Heaven.
To believe in the existence of Hell.
To have love for Allāh Most High.
To have love for the Messenger of Allāh, ﷺ.
To love or hate someone solely because of Allāh.
To execute all actions with the intention of religion alone.
To regret and express remorse when a sin is committed.
To fear Allāh Most High.
To hope for the mercy of Allāh Most High.
To be modest.
To express gratitude over a bounty or favour.
To fulfill promises.
To exercise patience.
To consider yourself lower than others.
To have mercy on the creation.
To be pleased with whatever you experience from Allāh Most High.
To place your trust in Allāh Most High.
Not to boast or brag over any quality that you posses.
Not to have malice or hatred towards anybody.
Not to be envious of anyone.
Not to become angry.
Not to wish harm for anyone.
Not to have love for the world.

II) Seven Qualities are Connected to the Tongue

To recite the Testimony of Faith [Kalimatu-sh Shahādah] with the tongue.
To recite the Qur’ān.
To acquire knowledge.
To pass on knowledge.
To make supplications [du’a] to Allāh Most High.
To make invocations [dhikr] of Allāh Most High.
To abstain from the following:
- lies,
- backbiting,
- vulgar words,
- cursing, and
- singing that is contrary to the Sharī’ah.

III) Forty Qualities are Connected to the Entire Body

To make ablution [wudū], take bath [ghusl], and keep one’s clothing clean.
To be steadfast in offering the prayer [salāt].
To pay the tithe [zakāt] and Sadaqatu-l Fitr.
To fast.
To perform the Hajj.
To make i’tikāf.
To move away or migrate from that place which is harmful for one’s religion [din].
To fulfill the vows that have been made to Allāh Most High.
To fulfill the oaths that are not sinful.
To pay the expiation [kaffārah]for unfulfilled oaths.
To cover those parts of the body that are obligatory [fard] to cover.
To perform the ritual slaughter [Udhiya/Qurbani].
To enshroud and bury the deceased.
To fulfill your debts.
To abstain from prohibited things when undertaking monetary transactions.
To NOT conceal something true which you may have witnessed.
To get married when the nafs desires to do so.
To fulfill the rights of those who are under you.
To provide comfort to one’s parents.
To rear children in the proper manner.
To NOT sever relations with one’s friends and relatives.
To obey one’s master.
To be just.
To NOT initiate any way that is contrary to that of the generality of the Muslims.
To obey the ruler, provided what he orders is not contrary to the Sharī’ah.
To make peace between two warring groups or individuals.
To assist in noble tasks.
To command the good and forbid the evil.
To mete out punishments according to the Shari’ah, IF it is the government.
To fight the enemies of religion [din] whenever such an occasion presents itself.
To fulfill one’s trusts (amana).
To give loans to those who are in need.
To see to the needs of one’s neighbour.
To ensure that one’s income is pure.
To spend according to the Sharī’ah.
To reply to one who has greeted you.
To say yarhamuka-Llāh [Allāh have mercy on you!] when anyone says alhamduli–Llāh [all praise is for Allāh] after sneezing.
To NOT cause harm to anyone unjustly.
To abstain from games and amusements contrary to the Shariah.
To remove pebbles, stones, thorns, sticks, and the like from the road.

Allah knows Best.

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