Neglecting the prayer out of fear of showing off

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, what is the ruling on the prayer of a person who used to pray in the sight of people, but intentionally neglected his prayer so as not to fall into showing off (riya') and to stay away from it?

Answer:
This is not permissible. It is not permissible for him to neglect his prayer in order to stay away from showing off. This is not permissible. It is obligatory for him to pray the prayer correctly and not neglect it. Some of the Salaf said: Abandoning an act for the sake of people is showing off, and doing an act for the sake of people is showing off, and safety is that Allah keeps you safe from both. A person worships his Lord, is sincere to Allah, and perfects his work. The matter of fearing showing off and thereby neglecting or abandoning the work is not permissible. It has reached the point where some people do not pray in the mosque with the congregation, saying, "I am afraid of showing off." They abandon the congregational prayer. Satan came to them and said this to them. So they stopped praying in the mosque, fearing, fearing showing off. Some do not pray behind an imam, saying, "I am afraid of showing off." All of this is discouragement from Satan. Do the work, be sincere in your intention to Allah the Exalted and Majestic, seek refuge in Allah from Satan, and if you feel any trace of showing off, repent to Allah and turn to your worship. It will not harm you, if Allah wills. Yes.