Fear of Showing Off in Advising
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A woman asks and says: I am afraid of showing off (riya') and I guard against it to the extent that I am unable to advise some people or forbid them from certain matters, such as backbiting, talebearing, and the like. I fear that this may be showing off on my part, and I fear that people will perceive it as such and consider it showing off, so I do not advise them of anything. Also, I say to myself that they are educated people and do not need advice. What is your guidance?
Answer: This is one of Satan’s schemes; he uses it to discourage people from calling to Allah and from enjoining good and forbidding evil. Part of this is making them think that this is showing off, or that they should fear people will consider it showing off. So, O sister in Allah, you should not pay attention to this. Rather, it is obligatory for you to advise your sisters in Allah and your brothers if you see them falling short in an obligation or committing a forbidden act, such as backbiting, talebearing, or not covering themselves in the presence of men. Do not fear showing off, but be sincere to Allah and truthful with Him, and be glad with good news. Leave Satan’s deception and his whispers. Allah knows what is in your heart of intention and sincerity to Allah the Exalted, and of advising His servants.
There is no doubt that showing off is shirk (associating partners with Allah) and it is not permissible to do it. However, it is not permissible for a believer, male or female, to leave what Allah has made obligatory upon him, such as calling to Allah and enjoining good and forbidding evil, out of fear of showing off. He must guard against that, and he must perform the obligation among men and women. The man and the woman are equal in this regard. Allah has clarified this in His Noble Book, where He says, Glorified and Exalted is He: [Surah al-Tawbah: 71].
Answer: This is one of Satan’s schemes; he uses it to discourage people from calling to Allah and from enjoining good and forbidding evil. Part of this is making them think that this is showing off, or that they should fear people will consider it showing off. So, O sister in Allah, you should not pay attention to this. Rather, it is obligatory for you to advise your sisters in Allah and your brothers if you see them falling short in an obligation or committing a forbidden act, such as backbiting, talebearing, or not covering themselves in the presence of men. Do not fear showing off, but be sincere to Allah and truthful with Him, and be glad with good news. Leave Satan’s deception and his whispers. Allah knows what is in your heart of intention and sincerity to Allah the Exalted, and of advising His servants.
There is no doubt that showing off is shirk (associating partners with Allah) and it is not permissible to do it. However, it is not permissible for a believer, male or female, to leave what Allah has made obligatory upon him, such as calling to Allah and enjoining good and forbidding evil, out of fear of showing off. He must guard against that, and he must perform the obligation among men and women. The man and the woman are equal in this regard. Allah has clarified this in His Noble Book, where He says, Glorified and Exalted is He:
The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُولَئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.