“When you commit a bad deed, repent at once. Repent for your secret sins secretly and repent for your open sins openly.” How does one repent openly and secretly?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Imam Ghazali narrates this hadith briefly. (Ihya, 4/47; see Iraqi, Takhrijcu Ahadithil-Ihya- with Ihya)

Imam Bayhaqi narrates this hadith in a longer way. The full translation of the hadith is as follows:

“When the Prophet sent Muadh b. Jabal to Yemen, he gave Muadh the following advice:

‘Worship Allah and do not associate partners with Him. Worship Allah as if you see Him. Mention Allah near every stone and tree. If you commit a bad deed secretly, do a good deed secretly immediately after it. If you commit a bad deed openly, do a good deed openly immediately after it. Fear Allah and beware of the curse of an oppressed person.’” (Bayhaqi, Shuabul-Iman, 2/78)

Imam Ghazali explains this hadith briefly as follows:

"A sadaqah given secretly will be atonement for the sins committed at night secretly. A sadaqah given openly will be atonement for the sins committed during the day openly." (Ihya, ibid)

It is understood that the rule “the punishment/reward is to be from the kind of deed” is valid in this issue too. The atonement for a sin committed secretly is a good deed done secretly. The atonement for a sin committed openly is a good deed done openly.

Questions on Islam