حياة السلف بين القول والعمل

Concealing and keeping good deeds secret: Al-Hasan ibn Al-Rabi’ said: The Caliph’s letter to Ibn Idris, may God have mercy on him, was read while I was present: From Allah’s servant Harun, Commander of the Faithful, to Abdullah ibn Idris. He said: Ibn Idris gasped and fell after noon. We got up for the afternoon prayer and he was still in that state. He woke up just before sunset, and we poured water on him. Then he said: “To God we belong and to Him we shall return. He has come to know me so well that he writes to me! What sin has brought this upon me?!” [Al-Siyar (its abridgment) 2/796].

Concealing and keeping good deeds secret: On the authority of Sahnun, may God have mercy on him, he said: Some of those who came before would want to say a word, and if he had said it, many people would have benefited from it, so he would withhold it and not say it for fear of boasting. [Al-Siyar (its abridgment) 3/983].

Concealing and keeping good deeds secret: Asim Al-Ahwal said: Abu Al-Aliyah, may God have mercy on him, would get up and leave if more than four people sat with him. [Al-Siyar (its abridgment) 1/479].

Concealing and hiding good deeds: Bishr bin Al-Harith, may God have mercy on him, said: I do not know of a man who loves to be known except that his religion is lost and he is disgraced. [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 3/94].

Concealing and keeping good deeds secret: Bishr bin Al-Harith, may God have mercy on him, said: A man who loves to be known by people will not find the sweetness of the Hereafter. [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 3/94].