Beware of Showing Off and Observing Sincerity to Allah in Every Deed
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Question:
He asks about the ruling on one who is afflicted with showing off (riya') in some of his few deeds. For the sake of information, he suffers the most severe pain because of this and is in constant anxiety. What is your advice, Your Eminence?
Answer:
We advise him to be cautious, and we advise every Muslim to be cautious of showing off (riya'), whether it is subtle or gross, much or little. We advise him to be cautious. Showing off is when one performs a deed for the sake of people, so that they hear it or see it, in order to praise him or the like. He prays so that they see him, or he speaks in preaching so that they praise him, or he recites so that they praise him, or the like of that. That is, he acts for the sake of the people's showing off, their praise, their commendation, and the like of that. It is obligatory to be cautious of this. This showing off invalidates the deed; it has no reward, and its doer is sinful. This is from shirk (associating partners with Allah). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the Companions:Bulugh al-Maram 16:48 He feared for the Companions, who are the best of people after the prophets, and he named it minor shirk.
Therefore, it is obligatory to be cautious of it. The one who recites while showing off to people has committed minor shirk. Or he fasts and tells people that he is fasting, showing off to them. Or he gives charity, showing off to them. Or he performs Hajj, showing off to them, or the like of that. It is obligatory to be sincere to Allah, and to work for Allah seeking His reward, not showing off to anyone among the people.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good and do you good.
He asks about the ruling on one who is afflicted with showing off (riya') in some of his few deeds. For the sake of information, he suffers the most severe pain because of this and is in constant anxiety. What is your advice, Your Eminence?
Answer:
We advise him to be cautious, and we advise every Muslim to be cautious of showing off (riya'), whether it is subtle or gross, much or little. We advise him to be cautious. Showing off is when one performs a deed for the sake of people, so that they hear it or see it, in order to praise him or the like. He prays so that they see him, or he speaks in preaching so that they praise him, or he recites so that they praise him, or the like of that. That is, he acts for the sake of the people's showing off, their praise, their commendation, and the like of that. It is obligatory to be cautious of this. This showing off invalidates the deed; it has no reward, and its doer is sinful. This is from shirk (associating partners with Allah). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the Companions:
The thing I fear most for you is the lesser shirk (polytheism), showing-off (of good deeds).
أخوف ما أخاف عليكم الشرك الأصغر، فسئل عنه فقال: الرياءTherefore, it is obligatory to be cautious of it. The one who recites while showing off to people has committed minor shirk. Or he fasts and tells people that he is fasting, showing off to them. Or he gives charity, showing off to them. Or he performs Hajj, showing off to them, or the like of that. It is obligatory to be sincere to Allah, and to work for Allah seeking His reward, not showing off to anyone among the people.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good and do you good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.