Keeping affairs secret is recommended to avoid envy

17-2-2014 | IslamWeb

Question:

A person said that he read a hadith that prophet s.a.w.s said that always to hide or not to show three things. 1.Business profit or loss. 2.Person whom you love don't tell her/his name. 3.If you made thought of travel don't tell the journey's direction. Assalaamualai kum i want ask that is this really a hadith,if it is so who narrates this hadith is this strong hadith or not, i mean to ask that the narrator is directly narrated by listening to prophet s.a.w.s, or is this any saying of aulia allah. Please i want to know this immediately, i'll be very thankful.

---

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad, sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

We have not come across a Hadeeth or a reported tradition with that meaning.

Regarding urging people to be secretive about their affairs, the Prophet said: “Resort to secrecy for the fulfillment and success of your needs for, verily, every one who has a blessing is envied.” [reported by At-Tabaraani, Abu Nu'aym, and Al-Bayhaqi in Ash-Shu‘ab; narrated by Mu'aath] [Al-Albaani graded it Saheeh (sound)]

Allaah Knows best.