DAILY POST #76
Imaam Ibn Hajar Al-‘Asqalaani – rahimahullaah – said:
It is reported from Mahmud Ibn Labid radiyallaahu anhu- who said – The Messenger of Allah -salallaahu alayhi wasallam said:
“ Verily, what I fear most for you is the lesser shirk (polytheism), showing-off (i.e showing-off of good deeds to others).”
Transmitted and recorded by Imaam Ahmad in his “Sunan”#27742. And Imam Al Albani declared the hadith to be Sahih in “Sahihul Targeeb”#32.
COMMENTARY
The hadith shows the importance of the following:
♦ It illustrates that one should beware and careful about Riya(showing-off). Riya refers to doing things that are pleasing to Allah with the intention of seeking admiration from others. The
intention in such cases, therefore, is usually to show off one’s good deeds to win praise and admiration of others.
For instance, , the one who writes an article so that people can say he is a scholar is showing off. The one who gives a lecture to impress the people is showing off.
The one who grows beards to show that he is following the sunnah is showing off.
The one who walks with head down so that people can think he is pious is showing off.
The one who writes on platform to brag to members that he is knowledgeable is showing-off.
All of above sets of people have no reward in the side of Allah and they will be among the losers on the day of judgment.
♦ It indicates that Riya(showing-off) is a minor shirk. Allah will not accept the action done out of Riyaa’. ”Any one that shows off his good deeds has really wasted his time and energy”.
No sensible person would like to waste energy doing that which doesn’t bring any reward, and certainly wouldn’t like to invite Allah’s anger. I urge my brothers to be highly careful about this matter, for it is not a joke. One of the scholars says ” there is nothing on earth that is as difficult like sincerity and avoiding showing-off.”
♦ Lastly, showing-off is a great sin that nullifies and devours one’s good actions. For this, one should seek Allah’s assistance to safe him from showing-off. However, In between our effort to avoid riya (show off), Satan try to whispers to us. For instance, in between the prayer, Satan will try to convince us to shorten the prayer, misguiding
us with the reason of Riya. Also when we are about to post a good article, the Satan will whisper
‘Do not do it people might think you are showing off’. We should not leave an Ibadah in order to
avoid Riya (showing-off), for the leaving of Ibaadah at that time is another showing-off in it self. But rather, one should tighten his belt, seek Allah’s assistance and do more of it. One need just to be sincere and keep in mind that I will do it ONLY to please Allah not for anything else.
Allaahu A’alam!
Baarakallaahu feekum!
