What is the authenticity and meaning of the phrase "The good deeds of the righteous are the evil deeds of those drawn near (to God)"?

The phrase "The good deeds of the righteous are the evil deeds of the close ones" is not a prophetic Hadith nor is it narrated from the predecessors of the Ummah. Rather, it is reported from some Sufi sheikhs, and its unrestricted use may suggest a corrupt meaning. The fundamental principle is that a good deed can never become an evil deed.

The phrase has two possible correct meanings: 1. That the righteous confine themselves to performing obligations, and this confinement is considered an evil deed in the path of the close ones, because it removes its doer from their مقام (spiritual station) and deprives him of their ranks. The close ones repent from confining themselves to obligations, not from the good deeds themselves. 2. That a servant may be commanded to perform a good deed that suits his knowledge and ability, while one who is more knowledgeable and capable is commanded to do what is higher, and if he were to do what the former did, that would be an evil deed for him. So, what is considered a good deed for a lower class may be considered an evil deed for a higher class if they abandon what is obligatory for them.

As for the corrupt meaning, it is the assumption that the good deeds commanded by Allah generally, such as the five daily prayers and the love of Allah, are evil deeds for the close ones. This is a corrupt saying in which some heretics exaggerated, claiming to have reached a station where they are not commanded to perform obligations nor are forbidden from prohibited acts.

In conclusion: A good deed is a good deed, and an evil deed is an evil deed, but an action considered a good deed for one person might be considered an evil deed for another due to their spiritual station. So, what is considered a good deed for those who are not among the close ones, might be considered an evil deed for the close ones if they abandon what is higher and more perfect for them. Thus, Abraham, the Beloved of Allah, peace be upon him, considered some of his actions, which were in the way of good, as evil deeds and apologized for them when asked to intercede, whereas if similar actions occurred from common people, they would be counted as good deeds. This is because "the good deeds of the righteous are the evil deeds of the close ones."