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...
Category: Speech & The Tongue
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.
He who speaks, laughs and jokes much
He who speaks much, laughs much and jokes much, then his dignity and respect is reduced, and he who persists in [doing] something, becomes known by it.
Satisfied with cheating and deceit
It used to be said, [that] whoever is satisfied with cheating / deceit, then he is [regarded as being] from its people.
The remembrance of Allaah is of two types
The remembrance of Allaah is [of] two [types]: i) The remembrance with the tongue, and that is good and beautiful; - and
His general speech
Such was [the case of] Ibn Seereen, that his speech in general was [peppered with] سبحان الله و بحمده سبحان الله العظيم.
Secretly standing the night in prayer
Ayyoob as-Sikhtiyaanee would secretly stand the night in prayer, and when dawn came he would raise his voice as if [to suggest to his family] he had just awoken.
A secretive man
Ibraaheem ibn Ad.ham رحمه الله was a secretive man; and I never saw him openly glorifying Allaah, nor [openly doing] any acts of charity.
Humility even in front of his family
It was reported regarding ar-Rabee' ib Kuthaym that when a family member would enter his room, he would [hasten to] cover his Qur.aan.
There are six for whom I pray in secret
There are six [people] for whom I pray in secret, one of them being ash-Shaafi'ee رحمه الله.