for when a supplicant keeps his supplication quiet, no one knows of it, so no distraction or other disturbance arises on that account. But when he supplicates aloud, other human souls inevitably rush towards him, resisting and opposing him. Even if nothing else occurs, their attention to him unsettles his concentration, weakening the effect of his supplication. Those who have experienced this recognize it. By supplicating quietly, he protects himself from this harm.

Ninth, the greatest blessing is turning to Allah and devoting oneself to His worship. Every blessing, small or great, attracts envy in proportion to its worth. No blessing is greater than this one, and the souls of the envious fix upon it. Nothing is safer for the person envied than concealing his blessing from the envious. Jacob said to Joseph, peace be upon them both:

“Do not relate your dream to your brothers, lest they plot against you”—to the end of the verse.

How many a person has enjoyed presence of heart, inward collectedness, and a spiritual state with Allah Most High, only to speak of it and disclose it, whereupon others have robbed him of it! This is why those who know Allah and the spiritual teachers counsel keeping one’s inner life with Allah Most High secret, letting no one know of it. These people take the greatest care to conceal their states with Allah, mighty and majestic is He, and the love for Him, intimacy with Him, and collectedness of heart that He has bestowed upon them. Such concealment is especially important for the rightly guided wayfarer.

But once one of them becomes firmly established and strong, and has secured within his heart the roots of that good tree whose root is firm and whose branches reach into the sky, so that he no longer fears that storms will harm it, he is unconcerned about revealing his state with Allah Most High so that others may follow his example and take him as their guide. This is a matter of immense benefit, understood only by those who have experienced it.