36/49. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2384 — Hidden Good Deeds
The Secret Deed
Hadith About Hidden Good Deeds
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2384
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2384
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سِنَانٍ الشَّيْبَانِيُّ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ الرَّجُلُ يَعْمَلُ الْعَمَلَ فَيُسِرُّهُ فَإِذَا اطُّلِعَ عَلَيْهِ أَعْجَبَهُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَهُ أَجْرَانِ أَجْرُ السِّرِّ وَأَجْرُ الْعَلاَنِيَةِ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ . وَقَدْ رَوَاهُ الأَعْمَشُ وَغَيْرُهُ عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُرْسَلاً وَأَصْحَابُ الأَعْمَشِ لَمْ يَذْكُرُوا فِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَقَدْ فَسَّرَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ فَقَالَ إِذَا اطُّلِعَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَعْجَبَهُ فَإِنَّمَا مَعْنَاهُ أَنْ يُعْجِبَهُ ثَنَاءُ النَّاسِ عَلَيْهِ بِالْخَيْرِ لِقَوْلِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَنْتُمْ شُهَدَاءُ اللَّهِ فِي الأَرْضِ " . فَيُعْجِبُهُ ثَنَاءُ النَّاسِ عَلَيْهِ لِهَذَا لِمَا يَرْجُو بِثَنَاءِ النَّاسِ عَلَيْهِ فَأَمَّا إِذَا أَعْجَبَهُ لِيَعْلَمَ النَّاسُ مِنْهُ الْخَيْرَ لِيُكْرَمَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَيُعَظَّمَ عَلَيْهِ فَهَذَا رِيَاءٌ . وَقَالَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ إِذَا اطُّلِعَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَعْجَبَهُ رَجَاءَ أَنْ يُعْمَلَ بِعَمَلِهِ فَيَكُونَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أُجُورِهِمْ فَهَذَا لَهُ مَذْهَبٌ أَيْضًا .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
A man said: "O Messenger Of Allah! A Man Does A Deed And Conceals It, But When It Is Discovered That He Did It, He Is Happy About That." He Said: " The Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W) Said: 'He Receives Two Rewards: A Reward In Its Concealment, And A Reward In Its Publicity.'"
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2384In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 81English translation : Vol. 4, Book 10, Hadith 2384
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2384
This Hadith answers a careful question. A man does a deed in secret, then people find out about it, and he feels happy. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said he receives two rewards: the reward of concealment and the reward of publicity. The report also mentions an important explanation: if the happiness is because people praise good and he hopes for good through that, it is different from wanting honor and status. But if he is pleased because people now know him and respect him for it, then that is riya. This hadith about hidden good deeds teaches balance. Secrecy is good, but being known for good is not automatically showing off.
What we learn from this hadith
- A hidden good deed has its own reward.
- Being happy when good becomes known is not always riya.
- Wanting honor because of a deed can become showing off.
- A believer should check what kind of happiness is in the heart.
