When Abu Waa.il would pray [a voluntary prayer] in his home, he would weep profusely; [and such was the level of his humility that] if the entire world was offered to him to do [the same] so someone could see him – he would not do so.
Category: Words of Wisdom
Not be seen to be praying voluntary prayers
I have not seen a man [whom Allaah has] raised [in rank] like Maalik ibn Anas; he would not be seen to be praying voluntary prayers, nor voluntary fasting – yet he must have had a secret [hoard of righteous deeds].
A man broke down and began sobbing
al-Hasan was preaching [to the people] when a man [broke down and] began sobbing; so al-Hasan said to him: ‘By Allaah you will [even] be questioned as to what you intended by this [tearful sobbing].’
Three signs of a hypocrite
There are three signs of a hypocrite: He is lazy when alone, and becomes active when others are around him, and keenly carries out tasks when praised.
The status of ‘Abdullaah Ibn al-Mubaarak
Allaah did not raise the status of [‘Abdullaah] Ibn al-Mubaarak except for the secret hoard [of his righteous deeds] he had.
Out of his fear of showing off
ar-Rabee’ ibn Khuthaym only ever prayed a voluntary prayer in his local masjid once.
Therein is iniquity
It used to be said: ‘For him whose secret hoard [of deeds] is superior to his open hoard [of deeds] – therein is much excellence; and for him whose secret hoard [of deeds] are worse than his open hoard [of deeds] – therein is iniquity.
Hiding his daily routine from others
My father would not sleep [at night] until he had read half of the Qur.aan, and when he finished his recitation, he would wrap himself in his cloak then take a short nap.
A secret hoard of righteous deeds
They would yearn that a man [from amongst them] would have a secret hoard of righteous deeds that neither his wife nor any other would know about.
Never once saw him praying a voluntary prayer
I accompanied Muhammad ibn Aslam for more than 20 years, and never once saw him praying a voluntary prayer except on the day of Jumu’ah; [I understood why, when] I once heard him saying: ‘If I was able to pray a voluntary prayer such that my two angels could not see me, I would have done so – out of fear of showing off’.