There is no good in much of their secret conversations, for that is idle curiosity and a wayfarer must refrain from idle curiosity, as the Prophet said, 'A sign of the virtuousness of a person's submission (islām) is that he refrains from what does not concern him'; except for he who enjoins, that is, except for the secret conversation of one who enjoins, to voluntary almsgiving, that is, to a virtue such as generosity, which is a kind of [virtuous] abstinence, or a kindness, that is verbal, such as the imparting of knowledge or a wisdom, given the virtuousness of wisdom, or [a kindness] that is practical, such as the succour of one in distress or assisting a victim of injustice, which is an act of valour, or setting things right between people, out of a sense of justice. And whoever does that, namely, [whoever] brings together all of these mentioned perfections, desiring God's good pleasure, not seeking praise or to make a show to people or to seek a reputation such that the virtue in his case becomes a vice, We shall surely give him a great wage, of the gardens of the attributes.
