Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
To avoid ostentation (riya), good deeds should be performed in secret; however, where it is unavoidable to express them—such as performing obligatory prayers (salah) in congregation, or authoring and publishing religious books—then it is permissible. Similarly, a person who is a leader in religion should also make his actions apparent so that others may follow him. In any case, it is necessary to keep the hadith "Actions are only by intentions" (Innama al-a‘malu bin-niyyat) in mind.

Riya (ostentation) has been called hidden shirk (shirk khafi), and this hadith is sufficient and comprehensive in condemning it.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
The meaning of the hadith is that whoever performs a good deed without sincerity and worships for the sake of showing off to people, Allah Ta’ala will punish him on the Day of Resurrection by exposing his inner reality before all people, and then He will not grant him any reward or recompense in His presence. On the Day of Resurrection, the inauguration of Hell will begin with such people who are ostentatious and showy. They will have performed good deeds merely for display and their own fame. May Allah Ta’ala protect us from this affliction.

(2)
Where there is no alternative but to express (one’s deeds), such as: performing obligatory prayers (fard salah) or the publication and dissemination of religious books, in such matters, expression is done with sincerity. Apart from this, if a person is a leader, he should make his actions apparent so that others may follow him. In any case, in such matters, it is extremely important to keep in mind “Verily, deeds are by intentions” (innama al-a‘malu bi’l-niyyat). And Allah knows best.

Hadith Commentary:

Benefits and Issues:
Sam‘ah is that after performing a good deed for Allah, it is then publicized among people, and riya’ is to perform it only to show off to people. According to some, sam‘ah is to make others hear about the faults and shortcomings of people and to spread them among others, so Allah exposes his faults and shortcomings.

Benefits and Issues:

➊
A person who engages in showing off (riya) performs deeds so that his virtues become famous among people and they praise and honor him. However, Allah Ta’ala exposes his evil intention before the people, due to which he becomes disgraced and loses his honor.

➋
Another meaning of this hadith could be that on the Day of Judgment, Allah Ta’ala will make it apparent before all creation that this person did not perform good deeds with sincerity, as a result of which he will be humiliated in front of everyone.

Benefit:
This hadith condemns showing off (riya’). Seeking publicity for oneself is a major sin. It should be remembered that showing off (riya’) is related to the heart. A person himself knows for what reason he is performing an action—whether for the pleasure of Allah or for the approval of people. Nowadays, it is common to hear comments that so-and-so is a show-off, even though the one making the comment has not looked into anyone’s heart. This is a misunderstanding that needs to be corrected. It is possible that the person you consider to be a show-off is, in reality, very sincere at heart.

Hafiz Abdul Sattar al-Hammam writes: “Where there is no alternative but to express (one’s deeds), such as performing the obligatory prayers (salah) or the publication and dissemination of religious books, in such matters, expression is done with sincerity. Apart from this, if a person is a leader, he should make his actions apparent so that others may follow him. In any case, in such matters, it is extremely important to keep «انـمـا الاعمال بالنيات» in view. And Allah knows best. [هداية القاري : 458/9]