TAG: Riyaa
Do You Pray More When Other People Are Watching You?
Ar-Riyaa: The Hidden Shirk
Abu Saeed reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) came to us while we were discussing Dajjal and said,
“Should I not inform you of that which I fear for you even more than the dangers of Dajjal? It is the hidden Shirk (Riya); A person stands to pray, and he beautifies his prayer because he sees the people looking at him.” (Sunan Ibn Majah vol. 2, #3389)
Riyaa is to perform acts that are pleasing to Allah with the intention of pleasing other than Allah.
The primary cause of Riya is a weakness in Iman (Faith).
When a person does not have strong faith in Allah, he will prefer the admiration of people over the pleasure of Allah.
There are three symptoms that are indicative of Riya, and it is essential that a believer avoid all of them.
1. The Love of Praise
As mentioned in a hadeeth of the first three people being thrown into the hellfire; the scholar (who taught for fame), the martyr (who fought for fame), and the person who gave his money in charity (so people would say he is generous).
All three of these people desired the pleasure of people over the pleasure of Allah. The person who desires the praise of people must feel some pride in himself, for he feels himself worthy of being praised. There is a danger, therefore, of him becoming arrogant and boastful.
2. Fear Of Criticism
No one likes to be criticized.
The dislike of criticism regarding religious practices may be divided into two categories:
The first category is that of a person who neglects a commandment of Allah in order to avoid the criticism of his peers.
The second category is that of a person who obeys certain commandments of Islam, not for the sake of Allah, but because he fears people will look down on him and criticize him if he does not do it.
For example, a man may make his formal prayers in the mosque because he does not want people to criticize him for praying at home, or to think that he is not praying at all.
3. Greed for Peoples Possessions
If a person covets what other people possess, whether it is rank, money, or power, then he will wish them to envy him similarly.
For example, if he is jealous of a position of a certain person in society, he will try by every possible means to attain the same position. Such desires lead people to spend their lives putting on a show for other people so that they will admire their rank, money, or power.
Ways to avoid Riyaa
1. Increasing knowledge of Islam
2. Dua (Supplication)
The Prophet (PBUH) taught the specific dua for riyaa:
“O Allah, we seek refuge in you from committing shirk knowingly, and ask your forgiveness for (the shirk that we may commit unknowingly) “.
3. Reflecting upon Heaven and Hell
4. Hiding ones good deeds
5. Reflection upon oneself shortcomings
6. Accompanying the pious
7. Knowledge of Riyaa
Ikhlas – A Commandment of Allah
Say (O Muhammad, peace be upon him): “Verily, my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn, and all that exist). He has no partner. And of this, I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.“ (Qur’an, 6:162-163)
In defining Ikhlas (sincerity), Al-Jurjani said it is not to seek any audience for your deeds other than Allah.
Allah said: “Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving.” (Qur’an, 67:2)
Commenting on this verse, Al-Fudayl Ibn ‘Iyaadh said, “It is those deeds that are most correct and most sincere.”
The students asked, “What are deeds that are correct and sincere?”
He replied, “If a deed is done sincerely, yet is not done correctly, it will not be accepted. And if a deed is done correctly, but not sincerely for Allah, it will not be accepted. It must be done sincerely and correctly. Sincerely – for Allah alone. Correctly – in accordance with the Sunnah.”
What contradicts Ikhlas
Riyaa’ – to perform an act of worship with the intention of showing it off to people, seeking their praise.
Sum’ah – verbal statements that a person makes for the sake of people. An example of someone making ballooned talks just so others will think highly of him.
‘Ujb – when a person becomes impressed with the ‘great’ deeds he has done.
All these are viruses that can kill our deeds and turn them against us on the Day of Resurrection.
Ya’qoob Al-Makfoof Rahimahullah used to say, “The sincere one is he who hides his good deeds in the same way that he would hide his bad.”
Insincerity is something very dangerous and can lead a person to ruin.
Ibnul Qayyim Rahimahullah said, “Deeds without sincerity are like a traveler who carries dirt in his water jug. The carrying of it burdens him and it brings no benefit.”
May Allah make us all from those whose deeds are done in accordance with the Sunnah, deeds that are done sincerely for His sake alone.