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Preserving Good Deeds from Envy
by
Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah
(d.728)
-Rahimullaah-
Translated
By
Abbas Abu Yahya
Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah -Rahimullaah- mentions in his explanation of the saying of Allaah Ta’ala:
ادعوا ربَّكم تضرُّعًا وخُفيةً إنه لايحبُّ المعتدين…
<<Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret.>> [al-Aaraaf: 55] there are ten benefits of hiding your Dua’, and from amongst these benefits he said:
‘Indeed the greatest of blessings is turning to Allaah and worshipping Him. Every blessing has the equivalent of it being envied by an envious person, whether openly or secretly. There is no greater blessing than of turning to Allaah and worshipping Him [making Dua’], indeed the souls of the envious are attached to that blessing.
There is nothing more secure for the person who is envied than hiding his blessing from the envious person. Indeed Yaqoob said to Yusuf -alayhi as-Sallam:
﴿قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ لاَ تَقْصُصْ رُؤْيَاكَ عَلَى إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُواْ لَكَ كَيْدًا﴾
< < O my son! Relate not your vision to your brothers, lest they arrange a plot against you. > > till the end of the Ayaah.
How many of the people who have hearts, a connection and status with Allaah Ta’ala may perhaps have spoken about it, and informed people about it, and the envious one tried to plunder him over these blessings.
This is why the righteous and elderly are advised to keep their secrets with Allaah Ta’ala, and not to allow anyone to be acquainted with them.
This issue of hiding the blessing is of great benefit, its people know is benefits. Therefore, if it is commanded to do so in your Dua’/supplications, then this also includes the Dua’ for requesting this, and the Dua’ of praising Allaah.
Living and turning to Allaah Ta’ala is from the great treasures which has a right to be hidden from the eyes of the envious.’
[From: ‘Majmoo al-Fatawa’ 15/18-19]