حياة السلف بين القول والعمل

Beware of feigning asceticism and obscurity: It was mentioned to Sufyan al-Thawri, may God have mercy on him, that those who wear woolen clothes, and he said: What is wrong with them? May they be bereft - three times - they conceal pride in their hearts and show humility in their clothing, and by God, one of them is more impressed with his clothing than the wearer of a fine cloak is with his fine cloak. [Uyun al-Akhbar 2/738].

The situation of some of the Salaf who considered it permissible to make good deeds visible: Abu Muslim al-Khawlani, may God have mercy on him, said: I did not do any deed that I cared about who saw it, except when a man was alone with his wife or relieved himself. [Sifat al-Safwa 4/428].

The situation of some of the early Muslims who considered it permissible to make good deeds visible: On the authority of Nasr bin Ali, he said: Abdullah bin Ghalib, may God have mercy on him, used to say when he woke up: God has blessed me with good things last night; I recited such and such, I prayed such and such, I remembered such and such, and I did such and such. So it was said to him: O Abu Firas: Someone like you should not say such a thing! So he would say: God Almighty says: “And as for the favor of your Lord, speak of it” [Ad-Duha: 11], and you say: Do not speak of the favor. [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 1/384].

The situation of some of the Salaf who considered it permissible to make good deeds visible: On the authority of Saeed bin Amer, he said: Al-Jariri, may God have mercy on him, came back from a journey, and his brothers came to greet him, so he began to tell them about what God had done for him on his journey, things he liked and things He had averted from him that he disliked, and he spoke about that, and he spoke well and eloquently, and he said: It used to be said: Part of gratitude is enumerating the blessings. [Al-Zuhd by Imam Ahmad / 610].

On the authority of Hassan bin Atiyyah, may God have mercy on him, he said: A man’s prayer at home is a secret act. [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 2/266].