8/2/2019 Ar-Riyaa Showing off

1/2

Ar-riyaa is censured in the Book and the Sunnah. From them is the Statement of Allah, theMost High:

" So w o e t o t h e w o r s h i p p e r s , w h o a r e n e g le c t fu l o f t h e i r p r a y e r s .

Th o s e w h o w a n t t o b e s e e n ( b y m e n ) . " [Soorah al-Maa`oon: 4-6]As for the ahaadeeth, some of them have already been mentioned in the chapter of shirk,since ar-riyaa is the minor shirk. Some will be mentioned here, inshaa'allaah. Know OMuslim, O slave of Allaah, that the word riyaa is taken from the word ruyah (to be seen). Sothe one to be seen is viewed by the people as one seeking esteem amongst them. So at timesone would seek self-esteem by one's actions in this world. Riyaa is of many types and forms, its nature and tendency is that it invalidates the actionsas stated in the Book and the Sunnah. Allaah, the Most High, says:

" Lik e t h o s e w h o s p e n e d f r o m t h e i r w e a l th t o b e s e e n b y m e n , a n d

the y do n o t be l i eve in All aah an d th e Las t D ay . Th e i r exam ple is li ke

t h e e x a m p l e o f a h a r d r o c k o n w h i c h i s a l it t le s o i l, t h e n o n i t fa l ls

h e a vy r a i n w h ic h f lo w s o f f it a n d t h e y w i ll n o t b e a b l e t o d o a n y t h i n gw it h w h a t e ve r t h e y h a v e e a r n e d a n d Alla a h d o e s n o t g u id e t h e

d i sbe l i eving p eop le ." [Soorah al-Baqarah: 264]The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said:"W hat I fear for y ou the m ost is the m inor shirk, that is ar-riyaa. Allaah w ill say on the

Day of Judgem en t w hen He is rew arding the people for their actions: Go to those for

w hom y ou did riyaa for in the w orld then see if you find the rewar d w ith them ."[Relatedby Ahmad (5/428, 429) and al-Baghawee in Sharh us-Sunnah (4135) from the hadeeth ofMahmood bin Lubaid, radiyallaahu `anhu, with an authentic chain upon theconditions ofMuslim.]The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said:"Shall I not inform you of w hat I fear for y ou m ore than the m aseeh ud-dajjaal? It is the

hidden shirk. It is when a m an stan ds up for pray er, then beautifies his pray er for another

to look at."[Related by Ibn Maajah (2604) from the hadeeth of Aboo Sa`eed al-Khudree,radiyallaahu `anhu. The hadeeth is hasan.]So be warned my brother in faith, from riyaa as it is an evil tribulation annihilating theactions. Know O Muslim brother, that the Fire will be kindled first for the people whoshowed-off because they took the enjoyment from the results of their actions in the life ofthis world. So flee, O slave, from riyaa as you would flee from a lion, as riyaa and one'shidden desires even weakened the stands of the senior scholars from its dangers, let alone

the general masses.The scholars and the active worshippers who made great efforts to tread the path to the

Ar-Riyaa (Showing Off)Shaykh Saleem al-Hilaalee

From "Invalidation of Actions"

8/2/2019 Ar-Riyaa Showing off

2/2

Hereafter, were even put to trial by it. When they took control of their themselves andabstained from desires, they were not being allured to the apparent and open sinscommitted by the limbs. However when they became relaxed, they began to pretend toshow knowledge, actions and to present gatherings, to be observed by the people withreverence and esteem. They feel great delight and they looked down upon the idea ofleaving sins. So one of them thinks that he is from amongst the sincere worshippers of

Allaah but he has been confirmed as one of the hypocrites. This is a great deception and noone is safe from it except the angels. It was said in a poem: Enemies of the soul and theshaitaan; resist them both, If they both give sincere advice to you, then escape from them

both.O Allaah, Lord of the Heavens and the earth, purify our hearts from hypocrisy and ouractions from riyaa. Make us firm upon Your straight path so that we achieve certainty.

Ameen.