Leaving off an act for the sake of people is showing off, and doing it for their sake is shirk
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The first question of Fatwa No. ( 3419 ):
Q1: al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyad (may Allah have mercy on him) said, "Leaving off an act for the sake of people is showing off, and doing it for their sake is shirk" ... My brothers and I are sometimes forced to leave off some of the recommended practices (sunnah) for the sake of people, out of fear; either of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) for ourselves, such as being beaten or humiliated, or of fitnah for the general brothers, such as the government tightening its grip on them. I swear you by Allah, have we thereby fallen into the consequences of showing off? And if that is the case, what is the way out of it?
A1: As for his statement that doing an act for the sake of people is shirk, that is correct; because the evidence from the Book and the Sunnah indicates the obligation of making worship sincere for Allah alone and the prohibition of showing off. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) named it minor shirk, and mentioned that it is what he fears most for his Ummah (the Muslim community). As for his statement that leaving off an act for the sake of people is showing off, that is not stated in absolute terms, but there is a detailed ruling in it, and the basis for that is the intention; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih al-Bukhari 1 with attention to ensuring conformity with the Shari'ah in all actions; due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 1718b , so if it happens
that a person is in a state where he leaves off an act that is not obligatory upon him, so that people do not think of him in a way that harms him, this is not showing off, but it is part of the wise policy of the Shari'ah. Likewise, if he leaves off some of the voluntary acts in the presence of some people, fearing that they will praise him in a way that harms him, or fearing fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) because of it. As for the obligatory acts, he is not allowed to leave them off except for a valid Shari'ah excuse. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q1: al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyad (may Allah have mercy on him) said, "Leaving off an act for the sake of people is showing off, and doing it for their sake is shirk" ... My brothers and I are sometimes forced to leave off some of the recommended practices (sunnah) for the sake of people, out of fear; either of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) for ourselves, such as being beaten or humiliated, or of fitnah for the general brothers, such as the government tightening its grip on them. I swear you by Allah, have we thereby fallen into the consequences of showing off? And if that is the case, what is the way out of it?
A1: As for his statement that doing an act for the sake of people is shirk, that is correct; because the evidence from the Book and the Sunnah indicates the obligation of making worship sincere for Allah alone and the prohibition of showing off. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) named it minor shirk, and mentioned that it is what he fears most for his Ummah (the Muslim community). As for his statement that leaving off an act for the sake of people is showing off, that is not stated in absolute terms, but there is a detailed ruling in it, and the basis for that is the intention; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.
إنما الأعمال بالنيات، وإنما لكل امرئ ما نوىHe who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملاً ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردthat a person is in a state where he leaves off an act that is not obligatory upon him, so that people do not think of him in a way that harms him, this is not showing off, but it is part of the wise policy of the Shari'ah. Likewise, if he leaves off some of the voluntary acts in the presence of some people, fearing that they will praise him in a way that harms him, or fearing fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) because of it. As for the obligatory acts, he is not allowed to leave them off except for a valid Shari'ah excuse. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.