You know how it is, someone has confided in you
something, they’ve told you a nice juicy bit of news, and now you want
to tell the whole world They didn’t specifically tell you to keep a
secret did they…but you’re not sure, ok maybe you’ll just tell one
person, they wont mind if it’s only one person, they’re not gonna tell
anyone else are they…Or…it’s good news and they won’t mind, yeh they’ll
be happy if I tell everyone…won’t they…
This is all too common nowadays. How many of us can say that we have never divulged another’s secret? And many times it leads to gossip and backbiting. Regardless of whether it is good news or bad news, anything someone tells you in confidence is a secret, a trust placed upon you.
“Verily, Allaah commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom they are due” [al-Nisa’ 4:58]
And betraying a trust is a sign of hypocrisy.
It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are four qualities, whoever has all of them is a pure hypocrite, and whoever has some of them has a characteristic of hypocrisy until he gives it up: when he is entrusted with something he betrays that trust; when he speaks he lies; when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he disputes he resorts to lies and falsehood.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 34; Muslim, 58.
And among the most evil of people is the one who exposes his wife’s secrets.
It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Among the most evil of people before Allaah on the Day of Resurrection will be a man who is intimate with a woman and she with him, then he spreads her secret.” Narrated by Muslim, 1437.
So what else is classified as a secret?
Narrated from Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “If a man tells you something then looks around, it is a trust.” (Tirmidhi)
"Gatherings are a trust, so he who attends should not reveal a talk except in matters that are impermissible to be kept secret being detrimental to Muslims".
And in a version in Abu-Dawud: "Gatherings are a trust except three: One in which blood is unlawfully shed, or an impermissible sex is permitted or a gathering where an unlawful property is unjustly taken".
If someone tells you something privately, unless they tell you otherwise, IT IS A SECRET
And if someone exposes your secret, do not expose theirs, The Prophet said
"Be trustworthy with whoever trusts you and betray not whoever betrays you "
And for those who try to find out the secrets of others will have their secrets sought out by Allah, as the Prophet s.a.w said:
"O assembly of those who have believed with their tongues, but into whos hearts faith has not yet reached! Do not backbite the Muslims, nor seek out their secrets! For, whoever seeks out the faults of his brother, Allah will seek out his secrets. And, whoever has his secrets sought out by Allah, Allah will disgrace him, even [if he hides] in the depths of his house. (Abu Dawud)
And indeed a painful torment for those who want to know eavesdrop on others secrets.
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever eavesdrops on the conversation of other people when they do not want him (to listen), or they move away from him, molten lead will be poured into his ears on the Day of Resurrection.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 7042.
And for those who safeguard the secrets of others, their secrets will be kept by Allah.
Those who help a Muslim in hardship in this world, will be protected by Allah from suffering hardship in the Hereafter. Those who help the unfortunate, Allah will help them both in this world and in the Hereafter. Those who keep the secrets of a Muslim in this world, will have their secrets kept by Allah in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah will help His servants as long as they help their fellow Muslim brothers. (Muslim)
And the Prophet s.a.w also "He who does not expose a Muslim, Allah will not expose him in this world and in the hereafter" (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Ali ibn Abi Talib, said “He who does not have the Sunnah of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger and the Sunnah of His chosen ones, has nothing”. It was asked, “What is the Sunnah of Allah?” He replied, safeguarding secrets. It was asked, “What is the Sunnah of the Messenger?” He replied, “Being gentle with people.” It was asked, “what is the Sunnah of His chosen ones?” He replied, “Bearing people’s harms.”
And to end a couple of examples of how secrets were kept by the Sahabah.
Thabit r.a reported: Anas r.a said: The Messenger of Allah s.a.w came to me while I was playing with the boys. He greeted us and sent me on an errand. This delayed my return to my mother. When I came to her, she asked, "What detained you?'' I said; "Messenger of Allah s.a.w sent me on an errand.'' She asked, "What was it?'' I said, "It is a secret.'' My mother said; "Do not disclose to anyone the secret of Messenger of Allah (PBUH).'' Anas r.a said to Thabit r.a “By Allah, were I to tell it to anyone I would have told you”. [Muslim].
Narrated Abdullah Ibn Umar, r.a, Umar Ibn Al-Khattab r.a said, "when Hafsa bint Umar became a widow after the death of her husband - I went to Uthman Ibn Affan and presented Hafsa (for marriage) to him. He said, "I will think it over". I waited for a few days, then he met me and said, "It seems that it is not possible", Umar further said, "I met Abu Bakr Assiddiq and said to him, "If you wish I will marry my daughter Hafsa to you". Abu Bakr kept quiet and did not say anything to me in reply. I became more angry with him than with Uthman. I waited for a few days and then Allah's Messenger, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, asked for her hand, and I gave her in marriage to him. Afterwards I met Abu Bakr who said, "Perhaps you became angry with me when you presented Hafsa to me and I did not give you a reply?" I said, "yes ". Abu Bakr said, "Nothing stopped me to respond to your offer except that I knew that Allah's Messenger, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, has mentioned her, and I never wanted to let out the secret of Allah's Messenger, And if Allah's Messenger, had refused her, I would have accepted her."
This is all too common nowadays. How many of us can say that we have never divulged another’s secret? And many times it leads to gossip and backbiting. Regardless of whether it is good news or bad news, anything someone tells you in confidence is a secret, a trust placed upon you.
“Verily, Allaah commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom they are due” [al-Nisa’ 4:58]
And betraying a trust is a sign of hypocrisy.
It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are four qualities, whoever has all of them is a pure hypocrite, and whoever has some of them has a characteristic of hypocrisy until he gives it up: when he is entrusted with something he betrays that trust; when he speaks he lies; when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he disputes he resorts to lies and falsehood.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 34; Muslim, 58.
And among the most evil of people is the one who exposes his wife’s secrets.
It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Among the most evil of people before Allaah on the Day of Resurrection will be a man who is intimate with a woman and she with him, then he spreads her secret.” Narrated by Muslim, 1437.
So what else is classified as a secret?
Narrated from Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “If a man tells you something then looks around, it is a trust.” (Tirmidhi)
"Gatherings are a trust, so he who attends should not reveal a talk except in matters that are impermissible to be kept secret being detrimental to Muslims".
And in a version in Abu-Dawud: "Gatherings are a trust except three: One in which blood is unlawfully shed, or an impermissible sex is permitted or a gathering where an unlawful property is unjustly taken".
If someone tells you something privately, unless they tell you otherwise, IT IS A SECRET
And if someone exposes your secret, do not expose theirs, The Prophet said
"Be trustworthy with whoever trusts you and betray not whoever betrays you "
And for those who try to find out the secrets of others will have their secrets sought out by Allah, as the Prophet s.a.w said:
"O assembly of those who have believed with their tongues, but into whos hearts faith has not yet reached! Do not backbite the Muslims, nor seek out their secrets! For, whoever seeks out the faults of his brother, Allah will seek out his secrets. And, whoever has his secrets sought out by Allah, Allah will disgrace him, even [if he hides] in the depths of his house. (Abu Dawud)
And indeed a painful torment for those who want to know eavesdrop on others secrets.
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever eavesdrops on the conversation of other people when they do not want him (to listen), or they move away from him, molten lead will be poured into his ears on the Day of Resurrection.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 7042.
And for those who safeguard the secrets of others, their secrets will be kept by Allah.
Those who help a Muslim in hardship in this world, will be protected by Allah from suffering hardship in the Hereafter. Those who help the unfortunate, Allah will help them both in this world and in the Hereafter. Those who keep the secrets of a Muslim in this world, will have their secrets kept by Allah in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah will help His servants as long as they help their fellow Muslim brothers. (Muslim)
And the Prophet s.a.w also "He who does not expose a Muslim, Allah will not expose him in this world and in the hereafter" (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Ali ibn Abi Talib, said “He who does not have the Sunnah of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger and the Sunnah of His chosen ones, has nothing”. It was asked, “What is the Sunnah of Allah?” He replied, safeguarding secrets. It was asked, “What is the Sunnah of the Messenger?” He replied, “Being gentle with people.” It was asked, “what is the Sunnah of His chosen ones?” He replied, “Bearing people’s harms.”
And to end a couple of examples of how secrets were kept by the Sahabah.
Thabit r.a reported: Anas r.a said: The Messenger of Allah s.a.w came to me while I was playing with the boys. He greeted us and sent me on an errand. This delayed my return to my mother. When I came to her, she asked, "What detained you?'' I said; "Messenger of Allah s.a.w sent me on an errand.'' She asked, "What was it?'' I said, "It is a secret.'' My mother said; "Do not disclose to anyone the secret of Messenger of Allah (PBUH).'' Anas r.a said to Thabit r.a “By Allah, were I to tell it to anyone I would have told you”. [Muslim].
Narrated Abdullah Ibn Umar, r.a, Umar Ibn Al-Khattab r.a said, "when Hafsa bint Umar became a widow after the death of her husband - I went to Uthman Ibn Affan and presented Hafsa (for marriage) to him. He said, "I will think it over". I waited for a few days, then he met me and said, "It seems that it is not possible", Umar further said, "I met Abu Bakr Assiddiq and said to him, "If you wish I will marry my daughter Hafsa to you". Abu Bakr kept quiet and did not say anything to me in reply. I became more angry with him than with Uthman. I waited for a few days and then Allah's Messenger, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, asked for her hand, and I gave her in marriage to him. Afterwards I met Abu Bakr who said, "Perhaps you became angry with me when you presented Hafsa to me and I did not give you a reply?" I said, "yes ". Abu Bakr said, "Nothing stopped me to respond to your offer except that I knew that Allah's Messenger, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, has mentioned her, and I never wanted to let out the secret of Allah's Messenger, And if Allah's Messenger, had refused her, I would have accepted her."
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