Sshh! Don’t tell him!

Abdullah ibn Mubarak was a Companion of the Prophet (saw) and used to narrate Ahadeeth from him. He used to visit certain places and teach students. There was a young man, who would always attend his lectures and assist him in every way possible.

One day, when Abdullah ibn Mubarak went to the city of the young man, he did not turn up to meet him. Surprised, he asked around. People told him that the young man had been in debt, and because he could not return it, he had been imprisoned.

Abdullah ibn Mubarak asked for the address of those, who had given the loan. He went to meet those people and asked them the amount owed to them. It was a very large sum of money. Abdullah ibn Mubarak paid on behalf of the young man; however, he requested the loan-givers not to tell the young man, who had bailed him out. They agreed to his request.

As the loan was now paid and the young man was no longer in debt, he was released from prison. He knew Abdullah ibn Mubarak was in the city; hence, he went to see him immediately. However, he had left the city by that time. The next time Abdullah ibn Mubarak returned, the young man went to him and told him the entire story. Of course, he did not know, who had been so kind to him.

It was only after Abdullah ibn Mubarak’s death that the young man learned the true identity of his benefactor. Subhan’Allah! 

Lesson:

We should never do good deeds for the sake of showing off. If we are doing something nice for other people, we should hide it as much as possible. Insha’Allah, Allah (swt) will give us multiple rewards.