Preserving Good Deeds From Envy

Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله mentions in his explanation of the saying of Allaah  تعالى:

ادْعُواْ رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً إِنَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ
"Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret..."
 [al-A'araaf 7:55]

There are ten benefits of hiding your Du'aa, and from amongst these benefits he said:

‘Indeed the greatest of blessings is turning to Allaah and worshiping Him. Every blessing has the equivalent of it being envied by an envious person, whether openly or secretly. There is no greater blessing than of turning to Allaah and worshiping Him [making Du'aa], indeed the souls of the envious are attached to that blessing.

There is nothing more secure for the person who is envied than hiding his blessing from the envious person. Indeed Yaqoob said to Yusuf عليه السلام:

 إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَا أَبتِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِي سَاجِدِينَ
"O my son! Relate not your vision to your brothers, lest they arrange a plot against you.."

(Yusuf 12:5)

till the end of the Ayaah.

How many of the people who have hearts, a connection and status with Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى  may perhaps have spoken about it, and informed people about it, and the envious one tried to plunder him over these blessings.

This is why the righteous and elderly are advised to keep their secrets with Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى, and not to allow anyone to be acquainted with them.

This issue of hiding the blessing is of great benefit, its people know is benefits. Therefore, if it is commanded to do so in your Du'aa/supplications, then this also includes the Du'aa for requesting this, and the Du'aa of praising Allaah.

Living and turning to Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى is from the great treasures which has a right to be hidden from the eyes of the envious.’

Reference:
Majmoo al-Fatawa 15/18-19