حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ: خَدَمْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَوْمًا، حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَيْتُ أَنِّي قَدْ فَرَغْتُ مِنْ خِدْمَتِهِ قُلْتُ: يَقِيلُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَخَرَجْتُ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ، فَإِذَا غِلْمَةٌ يَلْعَبُونَ، فَقُمْتُ أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ إِلَى لَعِبِهِمْ، فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَانْتَهَى إِلَيْهِمْ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ، ثُمَّ دَعَانِي فَبَعَثَنِي إِلَى حَاجَةٍ، فَكَانَ فِي فَيْءٍ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُهُ. وَأَبْطَأْتُ عَلَى أُمِّي، فَقَالَتْ: مَا حَبَسَكَ؟ قُلْتُ: بَعَثَنِي النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَى حَاجَةٍ، قَالَتْ: مَا هِيَ؟ قُلْتُ: إِنَّهُ سِرٌّ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَالَتِ: احْفَظْ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سِرَّهُ، فَمَا حَدَّثْتُ بِتِلْكَ الْحَاجَةِ أَحَدًا مِنَ الْخَلْقِ، فَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُحَدِّثًا حَدَّثْتُكَ بِهَا.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that one day I served the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). When I saw that I was finished with serving him, I thought that now the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would take a nap (rest at noon), so I left his presence. Outside, children were playing, so I stood and began to watch their game. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came and stopped by them, greeted them with salam, then called me and sent me for some task. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) remained standing there in the shade until I returned. I was delayed in going to my mother, so she asked: Why were you late? I said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent me for some task. She asked: For what task did he send you? I said: That is the secret of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). She said: Guard the secret of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Then I did not tell anyone from the creation about this matter of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). (Sayyiduna Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, was saying to his student:) If I were to tell anyone, I would have told you.