5. Would you like to meet him outside the institution? (cont.)

Al-'Abbas said to himself, "What is wrong with him? May Allah curse him! Is he rushing out because he is afraid that I will insult him?" However, Abu Jahl had heard the voice of Dhamdham bin 'Amr al-Ghifari, who was sent by Abu Sufyan to seek the aid of the people of Makkah. Dhamdham was shouting from the valley, mounted on his camel. He had inflicted injury on the camel's nose such that it was bleeding. He had torn up his shirt and was shouting, "O Quraysh! The merchandise! The merchandise! Your merchandise is with Abu Sufyan, which is going to be intercepted by Muhammad and his companions! I don't see you coming to Keeping a secret their aid in time!" He then shouted at the top of his voice, "Help! Help!" The Quraysh then prepared for the battle and marched forth, and the defeat and the humiliation they endured in the end is something well known. Consider how a secret was spread in the blinking of an eye, despite of all the efforts to keep it a secret! Another story about disclosing the secrets is when 'Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – accepted Islam and wanted to spread the news far and wide. He approached a man who was well known for spreading news. He said, "O so-and-so, I am going to tell you a secret, so please keep my secret!" He said, "What is your secret?" 'Umar replied, "I have accepted Islam, so be careful that you do not inform anyone!" As soon as 'Umar left him, the man began to go from people to people saying, "Did you know that 'Umar has embraced Islam? Did you know that 'Umar has embraced Islam?" How bizarre! He was like a mobile news agency! One day, the Prophet sent Anas to do something for him, and on his way he passed by his mother. His mother asked him, "What did the Prophet despatch you for?" He said, "By Allah, I will never reveal the secret of the Messenger of Allah ." Therefore, the Prophet would teach his Companions to keep secrets so that they be responsible people. This is how seri60 Keeping a secret ous Anas was in keeping secrets, even when he was very young. Perhaps you may not find anyone like Anas today! 'A'ishah – may Allah be pleased with her – said, "Fatimah once came to us walking as the Prophet would walk. The Prophet said to her, 'Welcome, my dear daughter!' He then sat her down, either to his right or left and told her a secret which made her cry. He said to her, 'Why are you crying?' He then told her another secret and she laughed. I thought to myself, 'I have never seen joyous feelings mixed with sadness in a person like this!' 'I asked Fatimah about what the Prophet had told her'. She said: 'I will not reveal the secrets of the Messenger of Allah .' When the Prophet passed away, I asked her about it and she said: 'He told me in confidence that Jibril revises the Quran with him once a year, but this year he revised it twice. I see it as an indication of my death. You will be the first of my household to join me.' 'When I heard this I cried. He then said to me: 'Wouldn't you like to be the leader of the women of Paradise or the leader of the believing women?' When I heard this I laughed.'" You are valued by your ability to keep secrets, for then the people will trust you and open up their hearts to you. Your status will increase in their eyes and they will look at you as a trustworthy person. Hence, train yourself to keep your own secrets and that of others. Keeping a secret It is said The one who knows your secrets enslaves you. Keeping a secret 409 (61) Fulfilling people's needs When I began my Masters degree thesis, I read a great number of heresiographical works. One of the philosophical schools I read about was known as pragmatism. When I studied this thought deeply, I realised why we hear that in Europe and America the son abandons his father, and if he sees him in a restaurant, each of them pay for their own meal. Their philosophy says, "If you are not serving my interests, why should I serve you? Why should I spend my money on you? Why should I spend my time on you and struggle without any material gain?" Islam turned this idea upside down.