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.
Category: Words of Wisdom
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’.
He would pinch his nose
Ayyoob as-Sikhtiyaanee was tender hearted, and when he would become tearful in front of his companions, he would pinch his nose to give [them] the impression he had a cold, and if he feared he would be overcome by tears, he would get up [and leave the gathering].
If anyone did speak to him, he would respond to them
al-Awzaa’ee would not speak to anyone after the fajr prayer until [after] he had engaged himself in the remembrance of Allaah; And if anyone did speak to him, he would respond to them.
One good turn deserves another
I went out with my father and we came to Madeenah. Maalik ibn Anas then sent us a plate of fresh dates. So he (my father) then placed 1,000 deenaars and returned it (the plate) to him.