If a person performs some voluntary acts of worship, such as the Dhuha prayer or standing in night prayer, or other forms of worship, and tries to have the household see him, not out of showing off, but
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The questioner : If a person performs some voluntary acts of worship, such as the Dhuha prayer or standing in night prayer, or other forms of worship, and tries to have the household see him, not out of showing off, but in the hope that they will imitate him or follow his example so that he becomes a role model for them, is this permissible, O honorable Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. As for what follows:
The original principle in a person’s dealing with his Lord and his worship of Him is that it should be secret between him and his Lord, because he worships Allah only in hope of the reward of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and safety from His punishment. This does not require anyone from among the people to see it, because people do not realize any of that for him, except according to what the Shari'ah requires, such as making du'a' for a person, for example.
This is the original principle in acts of worship, but displaying an act of worship may be a prescribed matter that is desirable due to the benefits that result from it. Look at prayer, for example, which is the greatest of the physical acts of worship; it is prescribed to be performed in congregation in the mosques, openly and visibly, because of the great good that results from its public display and gathering for it in the mosques. For this reason, if this benefit is opposed by what is better, the prescribed course is not to pray in the mosques, or it is better not to pray in the mosques. For example, it is not prescribed for women to pray in congregation in the mosques, although it is permissible for them to attend the men’s congregation in the mosques. As for men, the obligation of congregational prayer in the mosques is clear. This is because this benefit, which I mean the benefit of displaying the congregation in the mosques, is opposed for men by the prescription of staying in the homes and not going out for women, so their homes are better for them. For this reason, we say: The prescribed course for a woman is not to attend the congregation with men, except specifically in the prayer of the festival. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the women to go out, to the extent that he ordered the young girls and those who stay in their chambers to witness the good and the call of the Muslims, and to keep away from the place of prayer if they are menstruating.
So the original principle in worship is that it should be secret between the person and his Lord, because He (Glorified and Exalted is He) is the One who rewards him for it and punishes the person for his disobedience. But if there is a benefit in displaying it, then this benefit should be considered.
Based on this rule, the answer to the question of the woman who asks whether it is better to hide her voluntary worship in her home from her family, or to display her voluntary worship, not out of showing off or seeking fame, but in order that the household may follow her example, becomes clear.
We say: Displaying voluntary worship in this case with this intention is better than hiding it, because people encourage one another. So if a woman sees that displaying her voluntary worship in prayer, or reciting the Qur'an, or giving charity, or the like, results in good by others following her example, then displaying it at that time is better. And so it is for a man. For this reason, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) praised those who spend in secret and in public, and He did not make the praise specific to those who spend in secret. This is because secrecy may be more appropriate, and publicity may be more appropriate, according to the benefits that result from that.
In summary, the answer is that if a woman displays her voluntary worship in prayer or the Qur'an, if she displays her voluntary worship in prayer, or recitation, or fasting, or charity, in order that the household may follow her example, then there is nothing wrong with it, rather it is better.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. As for what follows:
The original principle in a person’s dealing with his Lord and his worship of Him is that it should be secret between him and his Lord, because he worships Allah only in hope of the reward of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and safety from His punishment. This does not require anyone from among the people to see it, because people do not realize any of that for him, except according to what the Shari'ah requires, such as making du'a' for a person, for example.
This is the original principle in acts of worship, but displaying an act of worship may be a prescribed matter that is desirable due to the benefits that result from it. Look at prayer, for example, which is the greatest of the physical acts of worship; it is prescribed to be performed in congregation in the mosques, openly and visibly, because of the great good that results from its public display and gathering for it in the mosques. For this reason, if this benefit is opposed by what is better, the prescribed course is not to pray in the mosques, or it is better not to pray in the mosques. For example, it is not prescribed for women to pray in congregation in the mosques, although it is permissible for them to attend the men’s congregation in the mosques. As for men, the obligation of congregational prayer in the mosques is clear. This is because this benefit, which I mean the benefit of displaying the congregation in the mosques, is opposed for men by the prescription of staying in the homes and not going out for women, so their homes are better for them. For this reason, we say: The prescribed course for a woman is not to attend the congregation with men, except specifically in the prayer of the festival. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the women to go out, to the extent that he ordered the young girls and those who stay in their chambers to witness the good and the call of the Muslims, and to keep away from the place of prayer if they are menstruating.
So the original principle in worship is that it should be secret between the person and his Lord, because He (Glorified and Exalted is He) is the One who rewards him for it and punishes the person for his disobedience. But if there is a benefit in displaying it, then this benefit should be considered.
Based on this rule, the answer to the question of the woman who asks whether it is better to hide her voluntary worship in her home from her family, or to display her voluntary worship, not out of showing off or seeking fame, but in order that the household may follow her example, becomes clear.
We say: Displaying voluntary worship in this case with this intention is better than hiding it, because people encourage one another. So if a woman sees that displaying her voluntary worship in prayer, or reciting the Qur'an, or giving charity, or the like, results in good by others following her example, then displaying it at that time is better. And so it is for a man. For this reason, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) praised those who spend in secret and in public, and He did not make the praise specific to those who spend in secret. This is because secrecy may be more appropriate, and publicity may be more appropriate, according to the benefits that result from that.
In summary, the answer is that if a woman displays her voluntary worship in prayer or the Qur'an, if she displays her voluntary worship in prayer, or recitation, or fasting, or charity, in order that the household may follow her example, then there is nothing wrong with it, rather it is better.