WE all are vulnerable to sins. Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) instructed us – in addition to repentance – to keep sins secret. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “My entire nation is safe, except Al-Mujahirin (those who boast of their sins). Among the Mujaharah is that a man commits an (evil) act, and wakes up in the morning while Allah has kept his (sin) a secret, he says: ‘O fulan! Last night I did this and that.' He goes to sleep while Allah has kept his (sin) a secret but he wakes up in the morning and uncovers what Allah has kept a secret!” (Al-Bukhari) Similarly, if one becomes aware of someone else's sin, he should keep it a secret. Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “He, who covers a Muslim (meaning his mistakes and shortcomings), Allah will cover him in this world and the hereafter.” (Sahih Muslim) The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said, “Do not expose the mistakes of Muslims. For he who follows (searches for) the errors of his brother, Allah will follow his errors, and whom Allah follows his errors, He will expose him even if he was in the middle of his home.” (Sahih Al-Jamee') Exposing sins leads to humiliation and embarrassment, which ceases the possibility that the sinner might someday regret his mistake, seek forgiveness from Allah and purify his soul from sins, because one of the things that prevent one from committing sins is the fear of humiliation. However, if the sinner knows that people are already aware of his sins, then he does not feel the shame which he would feel before. This might actually encourage him to commit sins openly! Secondly, when sins are repeatedly mentioned in gatherings, the fear of committing sins vanishes from people's hearts. When the sin becomes easy on one's tongue, he will not hesitate to even act on it. This is how sins spread in a society. – As
