Allah Ta’ala says: “They display to people (their acts of lbaadah).”
Rasulullah (S) said: “Most certainly, even a little riyaa is shirk.”
Riyaa is the intention to enhance one’s dignity in the eyes of the people by means of acts of obedience to Allah Ta’ala. This attitude completely defeats the purpose of Ibaadah. The purpose of Ibaadah is to gain the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. Since show or display of Ibaadah involves division of purpose, riyaa is termed ash-shirk al-asghar (the lesser shirk). By means of riyaa one splits the purpose of Ibaadah by endeavoring to attain both public acclaim as well as the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. In this regard the Qur’aan states:
“He who hopes for the meeting with His Rabb should practice righteousness and associate none with the Ibaadah of his Rabb.”
The Mufassireen have explained that the meaning of “and associate none with the Ibaadah of his Rabb” is “to refrain from riyaa”. Qadhi Thanaa-ullah (ra) explained this aayah in Tafseer al-Mazhari as follows:
“He (the worshiper) does not exhibit his good acts nor does he seek reward or praise for his virtuous deeds from anyone besides Allah Ta’ala.”
It is also mentioned in the Hadith that on the Day of Qiyaamah, when Allah Ta’ala will be compensating people for their deeds, the people of riyaa will be commanded to proceed for reward to those for whom they had intended the exhibition of their acts of Ibaadah. In a lengthy Hadith it is said that on the Day of Qiyaamah three persons will be ushered into the presence of Allah Ta’ala. These three will be an ‘Aalim, a rich and generous person, and a Mujaahid who had waged jihaad. These three will proffer their respective acts of Ibaadah to Allah Ta’ala who will say to them:
“You have rendered these deeds for riyaa and acclaim. You rendered these acts so that people may say: ‘You are a great Aalim, a generous person, and a great mujaahid.’ You have already obtained what you had sought. People have already praised you on earth. You have therefore no right here. Enter the Fire.”
Rasulullah (S) also said that a deed contaminated by even an atom of riyaa is unacceptable to Allah Ta’ala. Heed this and reflect on it.
In view of the a foregoing, never intend to display any act nor intend to conceal it. Concern yourself with the act itself, – intending thereby only the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. Ignore all diversionary waswasah(stray thoughts and whisperings of the nafs and shaitaan) which enter your mind. You may at times be assaulted by the thought that your act is to obtain the acclaim of the people. Ignore this waswasahwhich in fact is a ploy of shaitaan or the nafs engineered to side-track you from executing the righteous act.
Prior to rendering a good deed, reflect and ascertain your motive. What is your intention for doing the act? Is it to seek the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala or the pleasure of others? If you discern any of the contamination in your niyyah (intention), then purify your intention. Divest it of the contamination and firmly resolve to render the deed for the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala.
THE REMEDY:
The cure for riyaa is the expulsion of desire for ‘fame and name’ from the heart. Riyaa in fact is a branch of hubb ul-jah (love for name, fame, and glory). Execute your acts of Ibaadah in solitude. This Ibaadah in solitude refers to such Ibaadah which does not have to be performed in jamaa’ah. However, regarding congregational Ibaadah, the elimination of hubb ul-jah will be sufficient to combat riyaa in this avenue.
Another efficacious remedy regarding riyaa developing in an act of Ibaadah is to render that specific act of Ibaadah in abundance. Within a short while the riyaa will be dispelled and by force of habit the Ibaadah will become sincere.
[Maseeh al-Ummah Shaykh Maseehullah Khan (ra)]
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