The Difference Between the Riya' of the Hypocrites and the Riya' of the Believers

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, is the answer or the response belittled? And if men enter into matters of worship that are considered another type of shirk (associating partners with Allah).

Answer:
The riya' that is the riya' of the hypocrites is major shirk (associating partners with Allah). The hypocrites perform deeds outwardly while they do not believe in Allah inwardly. They only perform deeds to cover up from people, to deceive people, and to trick people, deceiving Allah who is the best. The riya' that is of the same kind as the riya' of the hypocrites is not accompanied by any faith at all; this is major shirk. As for the riya' that comes from a believer, this is minor shirk. He is a believer, a monotheist who does not associate partners with Allah the Exalted and Majestic. He believes in his heart in the message of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he believes in Allah and His Messenger and His Book. But man is human, and some love of being seen and showing off has entered him. This is considered minor shirk. It only invalidates that deed; it invalidates that deed which it accompanied. As for the rest of his righteous deeds, they are not invalidated by it.