What is the difference between showing off (riya') and a person's desire for worldly gain through his deeds?
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The questioner : Shaykh, how do we say that it is like that? This category, according to the view... how do we say it is like that when he intended praise?
The Shaykh : Yes, but he did not intend for people to praise him for his worship of Allah. He intended the worship to be pure for Allah; he did not intend the creation to be involved in it at all. However, he intended to benefit from it in a material matter. So, in terms of showing off to people in the worship of Allah, he did not intend that. He is merely worshipping, and it does not matter to him whether people see it or not. So, showing off to people is not his concern at all.
The questioner : Okay, this resembles the first category when we divided showing off (riya')? The first category of showing off (riya') is that the motive for it is
The Shaykh : showing off to people.
The questioner : Showing off to people?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : And this is another worldly matter.
The Shaykh : No, it does not fall under this.
The questioner : Yes, it does not fall under showing off (riya'), but we do not say that it is different.
The Shaykh : Correct, there is no complete sincerity in it, because there is no doubt that it is a type of shirk (associating partners with Allah), but it is not like the shirk of showing off (riya'). The shirk of showing off (riya') is when a person associates partners with Allah such that he wants people to praise him for his drawing near to Allah. As for this, he did not intend the people or to be praised for drawing near. Rather, he intended something worldly with this worship, which is actually lowly compared to the other.
The questioner : Does it affect his sincerity?
The Shaykh : Yes, there is no doubt that it affects it, except...
The questioner : But it is less than showing off (riya'), is it not?
The Shaykh : Much less, yes, it is less than showing off (riya').
The questioner : A person working for the sake of... a person working in this world worships Allah the Mighty and Majestic... health and well-being... Noah (peace be upon him), when he called his people, said:[Nuh 71:10-11] the verses. So this means worldly matters, meaning he encouraged them in them?
The Shaykh : Yes, but he said that He was Forgiving before the worldly matters. So he promised them and gave them good news of the forgiveness of Allah before he told them this thing. And secondly, he was addressing disbelievers, and a disbeliever may be more drawn to material things. Yes, and there is no doubt we do not say that a person does not want this and that. But if he intends with his deed only this thing, as for him saying, "By Allah, I want both good things: the good of this world and the good of the Hereafter," there is nothing wrong with that, because Allah says:[At-Talaq 65:2-3] and so on.
The questioner : ... whoever loves that his provision be expanded for him and his lifespan be prolonged
The Shaykh : This is also an encouragement in this matter, but it should not be the primary motive.
The Shaykh : Yes, but he did not intend for people to praise him for his worship of Allah. He intended the worship to be pure for Allah; he did not intend the creation to be involved in it at all. However, he intended to benefit from it in a material matter. So, in terms of showing off to people in the worship of Allah, he did not intend that. He is merely worshipping, and it does not matter to him whether people see it or not. So, showing off to people is not his concern at all.
The questioner : Okay, this resembles the first category when we divided showing off (riya')? The first category of showing off (riya') is that the motive for it is
The Shaykh : showing off to people.
The questioner : Showing off to people?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : And this is another worldly matter.
The Shaykh : No, it does not fall under this.
The questioner : Yes, it does not fall under showing off (riya'), but we do not say that it is different.
The Shaykh : Correct, there is no complete sincerity in it, because there is no doubt that it is a type of shirk (associating partners with Allah), but it is not like the shirk of showing off (riya'). The shirk of showing off (riya') is when a person associates partners with Allah such that he wants people to praise him for his drawing near to Allah. As for this, he did not intend the people or to be praised for drawing near. Rather, he intended something worldly with this worship, which is actually lowly compared to the other.
The questioner : Does it affect his sincerity?
The Shaykh : Yes, there is no doubt that it affects it, except...
The questioner : But it is less than showing off (riya'), is it not?
The Shaykh : Much less, yes, it is less than showing off (riya').
The questioner : A person working for the sake of... a person working in this world worships Allah the Mighty and Majestic... health and well-being... Noah (peace be upon him), when he called his people, said:
(10) And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. (11) He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers
استغفروا ربكم إنه كان غفارا يرسل السماء عليكم مدراراThe Shaykh : Yes, but he said that He was Forgiving before the worldly matters. So he promised them and gave them good news of the forgiveness of Allah before he told them this thing. And secondly, he was addressing disbelievers, and a disbeliever may be more drawn to material things. Yes, and there is no doubt we do not say that a person does not want this and that. But if he intends with his deed only this thing, as for him saying, "By Allah, I want both good things: the good of this world and the good of the Hereafter," there is nothing wrong with that, because Allah says:
whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out (3) And will provide for him from where he does not expect
من يتق الله يجعل له مخرجا ويرزقه من حيث لا يحتسبThe questioner : ... whoever loves that his provision be expanded for him and his lifespan be prolonged
The Shaykh : This is also an encouragement in this matter, but it should not be the primary motive.