The Virtue of Keeping Good Deeds Hidden: A Key to Spiritual Growth
Among the seven who will be shaded on the day when there will be no shade except His shade, are:
((ورجل تَصَدَّقَ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَأَخْفَاهَا حَتَّى لاَ تَعْلَمَ شِمَالُهُ مَا تُنْفِقُ يَمِينُهُ))
“A person who gives charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given.”
(وَرَجُلٌ ذَكَرَ اللهَ خَالِيًا فَفَاضَتْ عَيْنَاهُ))
“A person who remembers Allah in seclusion and his eyes get flooded with tears.” [Bukhāri (1423)]
The Prophet ﷺ said:
((من استطاع منكم أن يكون له خبء من عمل صالح فليفعل))
“Whoever of you is able to keep a share of good deeds hidden, then let him do so.”
[صححه الألباني في صحيح الجامع 5/240)]
Az-Zubair ibn Al-‘Awwām radhiyallahu ‘anhu said:
«اجعلوا لكم خبيئة من العمل الصالح كما أن لكم خبيئة من العمل السيئ».
“Keep a share of good deeds hidden, just as you keep a share of bad deeds hidden.”
[الزهد للإمام أحمد]
Ibrāhīm Al-Ḥarbi, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
«كانوا يستحبّون أن يكون للرجل خبيئة من عمل صالح لا تعلم به زوجتُه ولا غيرها».
They (the Salaf) would encourage one to keep a portion of righteous deeds that neither his wife nor anyone else knew about.”
[ترتيب المدارك وتقريب المسالك (2/51)]
Imām Mālik, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
«مَن أحب أن يَفْتَحَ له فُرجةً في قلبه، وينجو من غمرات الموت، وأهوال يوم القيامة؛ فليكن في عمله في السر أكثر منه في العلانية».
“Whoever desires to open a window (of light) in his heart and to be saved from the agonies of death and the terrors of the Day of Judgment, let him increase his (good) deeds in private more than in public.”
[ترتيب المدارك وتقريب المسالك (2/51)]
Sufyan Ath-Thawri, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
«كل شيء أظهرته من عملي فلا أعده شيئًا لعجز أمثالنا عن الإخلاص إذا رآه الناس»
“Any of my deeds that I make public, I consider to be of no value, for people like us are incapable of sincerity when others see our actions.”
Ash-Shafi’ee, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
«من أحبّ أن يفتح الله قلبه ويرزقه الحكمة فعليه بالخلوة وقلّة الأكل وترك مخالطة السفهاء وبعضِ أهل العلم الذين ليس معهم إنصاف ولا أدب»
“Whoever loves that Allah opens his heart and grants him wisdom, let him seclude himself, eat less, and avoid associating with the foolish and those scholars who lack fairness and manners.”
[مناقب الشافعي للبيهقي (2/172)]
Bishr ibn Al-Ḥārith rahimahullah said:
«لا أعلم رجلًا أحب أن يُعرف إلا ذهب دينه وافتضح»
“I do not know of anyone who loved to be known except that his religion was lost and he was exposed.”
He also said:
«لا يجد حلاوة الآخرة رجل يحب أن يعرفه الناس»
“No one will taste the sweetness of the Hereafter if he loves to be known by people.”