Showing Off is a Form of Shirk

Showing Off is a Form of Shirk

Showing Off (Riyaa): It occurs when a servant performs a virtuous deed with the intention of being seen by others, seeking their admiration. The term is derived from "Ruyah" (being seen), as those who engage in showing off their desire to be noticed by people.

This behavior is explicitly condemned, and it is considered one of the traits of the hypocrites. Allah warns about hypocrites in the Quran, stating:

إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَى يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا) [النساء: 142])

[Surely the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but He outwits them. When they stand up for prayer, they do it half-heartedly only to be seen by people—hardly remembering Allah at all.] 4:142

It is incumbent upon the servant to have the intention (Niyyah) of pleasing Allah in their deeds; otherwise, their actions will not be accepted, even if they are abundant. Allah says:

فَمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا) [الكهف: 110])

[So whoever hopes for the meeting with their Lord, let them do good deeds and associate none in the worship of their Lord.] 18:110

In a hadith narrated by Abu Sa'id, the Prophet, peace be upon him, raised awareness about what he considered more dangerous for his followers than the Antichrist.

Narrated by Abu Sa'id in a Hidith directly linked to the Prophet (PBUH):

"Shall I not inform you about what I fear for you more than the Antichrist?" They said, "Certainly." He said, "Hidden Shirk, where a person stands to pray, perfecting their prayer when they know someone is watching."[1]

Verily, showing off is more feared for the righteous than the Antichrist due to its subtlety, the strength of its lure, and the difficulty of overcoming it. Since Satan, unable to lead the righteous away from action, sought to corrupt their deeds with insincerity.

In a Hadith Qudsi (divine saying), Allah declares, "I am the One Who is most free from want of partners. He who does a thing for the sake of someone else beside Me, I discard him and his Shirk."

When a Muslim engages in righteous deeds with sincerity to Allah, and then the intention of showing off (riya') arises, if the person resists and fights against this intention, he will be rewarded for his struggle and resistance against the influence of Satan. However, if he persists in showing off, the deed that was associated with the showing off is rendered futile, and they incur sin as a consequence.

The one who engages in showing off has a weak soul, for how can they seek the approval of others who neither have the power to reward nor he can punish? The show-off is like a traveler who fills his bag with sand, making it heavy and useless.

The show-off's insincerity becomes apparent to people, as the Arabic saying goes:

"The garment of showing off reveals what is beneath it,

So if you are covered by it, indeed, you are exposed."

Showing off is a minor form of polytheism (shirk) when it is minimal. However, if it becomes excessive, the one who shows off turns their deeds towards other than Allah, and this leads to major Shirk.

We ask Allah for well-being and safety.

The seventeenth lesson concludes with the praise of Allah.