The ruling on abandoning work out of fear of showing off in worship

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, what is the ruling on abandoning work out of fear of showing off in worship (riya')?

Answer:
This is from Shaytan, because some of the youth and some of the people who are obsessed with intrusive thoughts abandon seeking knowledge, and they may abandon praying in congregation in the mosque, saying, "I am afraid of showing off in worship (riya')." This is from Shaytan. It is obligatory that one acts and is sincere to Allah, for this work is a condition, and shirk (associating partners with Allah) is evil. So it is obligatory that you abandon both: you abandon shirk and you perform the obligatory work. Abandoning this work is not permissible. You work, you seek knowledge, you strive in the path of Allah, you give charity, you pray at night, you perform the late-night voluntary prayer (tahajjud), you enjoin good and forbid evil, and you are sincere to Allah the Exalted. While you abandon the work, you say, "I am afraid of showing off in worship (riya')"—this is from Shaytan. Yes.