If we changed the [famous] saying ‘the walls have ears’ to ‘the angels write [everything]’, we would certainly produce a generation which only fears Allaah, and is conscious of Allaah in their speech…
Category: Words of Wisdom
Privately, he would weep profusely
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…
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…
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. And there are three signs of the jealous one
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…
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.