ar-Riyaa / Showing off (Minor Shirk)

[Hassan]

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Mahmood ibn Lubayd reported, “Allah’s Messenger said: The thing I fear for you the most is ash-shirk al-asghar (minor shirk). The companions asked O Messenger of Allah, what is minor shirk? He replied, ‘Ar-Riyaa’ (showing off), for verily Allah will say on the Day of Resurrection when people are receiving their rewards, “Go to those for whom you were showing off in the material world and see if you can find any reward from them.’”’​

Reported by Ahmad, at-Tabaraanee and al-Bayhaqee in az-Zuhd, See Tayseer al-‘Azeez al-Hameed, p.118​

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Riyaa’ and Its Types
Its meaning:
It is derived from ar-Ru’yah (a vision, sight, observation). Its' foundation is doing actions of goodness and piety so that people see them or hear of them, in order to win their praise and admiration, to gain position and status amongst them and to obtain the goals and objectives of this world.​

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Its ruling:
It is haraam due to the clear texts of the Book and the Sunnah.​

Allah, the Exalted said: And they were not commanded except to worship Allah making the Deen sincerely for Him and being upright and true (in faith), to establish regular prayer and to practise regular charity. That is the right and straight Deen. (Surah Bayyinah 98:5)​

Allah the Exalted also said:
And whether you hide what is in your souls or make it manifest Allah knows it. (Surah Ali Imran 3:29)​

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Allah the Exalted has already warned against riyaa' when he said:
And if you associate (partners with Allah) vain and useless will be your work. (Surah Zumar 39:65)​

Abu Hurairah also reports:​

I heard the Messenger of Allah say: "Allah (glorified and exalted be He) said: I am so self-sufficient that I am in no need of having an associate. Thus he who does an action for someone else's sake as well as Mine will have that action renounced by Me to him whom he associated with Me." (Muslim)
The Messenger also said: "Whoever learnt knowledge by which the Face of Allah Azzawajall should be sought, and did not learn it except to gain a portion of the world will not find the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Judgement." (Reported by Abu Daawood with a Saheeh isnaad)

Its Types:
1. Riyaa' of the Body
This occurs by appearing to be emaciated and pale so that others may see the intensity of his striving and the abundant fear of the hereafter. Also included in this is lowering the voice and sinking of the eyes, showing that one has a weak and feeble body in order to show others that he is diligent in observing fasting.​

2. Riyaa' of the outward appearance.
Such as the effects of prostration on the face or wearing a specific type of clothing which only a few people wear and whom people consider to be scholars. So he wears this apparel so that it may be said: He is a scholar.​

3. Riyaa' by ones speech.
This occurs mostly by admonishing others, reminding them, memorising details and narrations for the sake of argumentation, making it open and known that one has copious and abundant knowledge, moving ones lips for the remembrance of Allah in the presence of others, becoming angry when evil occurs between people, lowering the voice and making it soft and tender when reciting the Qur'an so as to show others his fear, sadness and other such things.​

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4. Riyaa' with ones actions.
Like the showing off the of the worshipper by lengthening the standing and prolonging the rukoo' and sujood. Outwardly displaying khushoo' and showing off due to fasting, going on military expeditions, pilgrimage, charity and other such things.​

5. Riyaa' on account of ones friends and visitors.
Like the one who burdens himself in order to visit a scholar or a pious worshipper so that it may be said: So and so visited so and so. This also occurs by inviting people to ones house so that it may be said: The people of the Deen frequently visit him.​

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Should the Muslim abandon an action due to fear of riyaa’?
Leaving an action out of fear of falling into riyaa’ is one of the biggest mistakes and ways of falling into the trap of Shaytan.​

If the intent and motive for an action is correct and righteous and if it is in agreement with what has been legislated then the action should never be abandoned due to the presence of the danger of riyaa’. Rather it is obligatory upon the muslim to strive against this threat and danger. This is achieved by making his heart cling to modesty in front of Allah and fear of Him, and changing the praise and admiration of creation for His praise and admiration.​

Fudayl ibn Ayyaad (rh) said: Doing an action for the sake of people is shirk and leaving an action for the sake of people is riyaa’. Ikhlaas is when Allah saves you from them both.​

Extracted from “The Book of Sincerity” by Hussain al-Awaa’ishah​

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Abu Moosaa said, “One day Allaah’s Messenger delivered a sermon, saying, ‘O people, fear shirk for it is more hidden than the creeping of an ant.’ Those whom Allah wished asked, ‘And how do we avoid it when it is more hidden than the creeping of an ant, O Messenger of Allah?’ He replied, ‘Say: ​

Allaahumma innaa na‘oodhu bika an nushrika bika shay’an na‘lamuh, wa nastaghfiruka limaa laa na‘lamuh.​

(O Allah, we seek refuge in You from knowingly committing shirk with You, and we ask Your forgiveness for what we do it unknowingly).”​

Collected by Ahmad and at-Tabaraanee​

 

[Mabsoot]

wa alaykum salam wa rahmatullah,

Jazak Allahu khayr for sharing, may Allah save us from the greatest of sins, amin. - Allah and His Rasul did not warn us against such sins, except that they are a test for the servants of Allah.