The ruling on leaving off some deeds out of fear of showing off
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Q339: The questioner asks: What is showing off (riya')? What are the signs by which one who shows off is known? And what is the ruling on one who leaves off some good deeds out of fear of showing off?
A339: Showing off (riya') is a matter between the servant and his Lord, and no one knows it except Allah. We are only concerned with the outward appearance, and we do not judge the intentions and purposes of people; this is a matter between them and Allah. Showing off (riya') nullifies the deed it mixes with, and it is the thing the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) feared most for his Companions. He said (peace and blessings be upon him): And he said (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah 2:586 And the sign of showing off (riya') is that
a person, if he sees that someone is looking at him, beautifies his deed and puts on a show of dhikr and worship, but when he is alone with himself, he abandons obedience.
A339: Showing off (riya') is a matter between the servant and his Lord, and no one knows it except Allah. We are only concerned with the outward appearance, and we do not judge the intentions and purposes of people; this is a matter between them and Allah. Showing off (riya') nullifies the deed it mixes with, and it is the thing the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) feared most for his Companions. He said (peace and blessings be upon him):
The thing I fear most for you is minor shirk. They said: O Messenger of Allah, what is minor shirk? He said (peace and blessings be upon him): "Showing off (riya')."
أخوف ما أخاف عليكم الشرك الأصغر، قالوا يا رسول الله وما الشرك الأصغر، قال عليه الصلاة والسلام: "الرياءA man stands up to pray and beautifies his prayer with great effort because he sees people looking at him.
يقوم الرجل فيصلي، فيزين صلاته جاهداً، لما يرى من نظر الناس إليهa person, if he sees that someone is looking at him, beautifies his deed and puts on a show of dhikr and worship, but when he is alone with himself, he abandons obedience.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.