divulge someone else’s secret, even to his own mother or father. If a person entrusts you with a private errand and your father then asks, “What did he send you to do?” do not tell him, even though he is your father. Likewise, if your mother inquires, “What task did he give you?” do not tell her, even though she is your mother. Such matters are people’s secrets, and it is impermissible to disclose them to anyone.

Seventh: The excellent upbringing that Umm Sulaym gave her son is shown in her words, “Do not tell anyone the secret of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” She told him this—even though he had not shared the secret with her or with anyone else—in order to support him, strengthen his resolve, and provide him with a valid excuse, for he had refused to reveal the Prophet’s secret to her. By saying, “Do not divulge it to anyone,” she was, as it were, telling him, “I agree with you on this, so remain firm.”

Eighth: The affection Anas showed toward Thabit. Thabit was constantly in Anas’s company, which is why he narrates so much from him, and for this reason Anas said to him, “If I were to tell anyone, I would have told you.” This demonstrates the love between Anas and his student Thabit. Likewise, affection between students and their teacher should be mutual. When such warmth is absent, the student will not wholeheartedly accept all that the teacher says, and the teacher will lack enthusiasm for teaching and give the student little attention. When affection is mutual, a great deal of good results.