حياة السلف بين القول والعمل

Concealing and keeping good deeds secret: Al-Hasan Al-Basri, may God have mercy on him, said: A man might be a scholar sitting with people, and some people might think that he cannot express himself, although nothing prevents him from speaking except his dislike of becoming famous. [Al-Zuhd by Imam Ahmad / 446, 447].

Concealing and keeping good deeds secret: Al-Shafi’i, may God have mercy on him, said: I wish that people would learn from me and that nothing of it would be attributed to me. [Sifat al-Safwa 2/553].

Concealing and keeping good deeds secret: On the authority of Abu Bakr bin Ayyash, may God have mercy on him, he said: The least benefit of silence is safety, and that is enough for well-being. And the least harm of speaking is notoriety, and that is enough for affliction. [Al-Siyar (its abridgment) 2/787].

Concealing and keeping good deeds secret: On the authority of Abu Musa, may God be pleased with him, he said: We went out with the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, on a military expedition, and we were six men taking turns. He said: Our feet became sore, and my feet became sore, and my toenails fell off, so we used to wrap our feet with rags. So it was called the Expedition of Dhat al-Riqa‘ because we used to wrap our feet with rags. Abu Burda said: Abu Musa narrated this hadith and then mentioned it and said: Why did I mention this report? - as if he disliked that something of his deeds should be revealed - and he said: God will reward him for it. [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 1/200].

Concealing and keeping good deeds secret: On the authority of Al-A’mash, he said: Hudhayfah ibn Al-Yaman, may God be pleased with him, cried during his prayer. When he finished, he turned around and saw a man behind him. He said: Do not tell anyone about this. [Al-Muntazam 5/106].