Bulugh al-Maram

Vocabulary:
«الرياء» is a verbal noun from the form “mufa‘alah.” «راءي» «يراءي» «مراءاة» «ورياء» Just as «قاتل» «يقاتل» «مقاتلة» «وقتالا» This is “mahmuz al-‘ayn” because it is derived from “ru’yah.” It is also correct to recite it by lightening, replacing the hamzah with a ya, i.e., “riya.”
In the language, its meaning is to present oneself before others as something one is not in reality. At its root, it is to perform a good deed with someone other than Allah in mind, or to abstain from a sin, or to inform people of one’s action to achieve some worldly aim, or to do an act so that people become aware of it for that purpose. [سبل السلام ]

Benefits:
Allah, the Exalted, has condemned showing off (riya) in several places in the Noble Qur’an and has declared it a trait of the hypocrites.
Thus, He said:
«إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّـهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَىٰ يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّـهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا» [4-النساء:142]
“The hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing off to the people, and they do not remember Allah except a little.”
And He said:
«فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا» [18-الكهف:110]
“So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous deeds and not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord.”
Here, “righteous deeds” means those actions that are in accordance with the Book and the Sunnah, and “not associating anyone in the worship of his Lord” means that one should not worship Allah to show off to any of the creation, nor should one ruin his deeds with showing off. And Allah, the Exalted, said:
«فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ٭ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ ٭ الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاءُونَ» [107-الماعون:4]
“So woe to those who pray, but are heedless of their prayer—those who make a show [of their deeds].”
There are also many stern warnings regarding showing off in the hadith. The one who shows off is, in reality, worshipping other than Allah. It is narrated from Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri radi Allahu anhu that he said: I heard the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam say: “Our Lord will uncover His shin, and every believing man and believing woman will prostrate to Him, but those who used to prostrate in the world for showing off and «سمعه » (to be seen and heard) will remain. When they attempt to prostrate, their backs will become a single plate (i.e., they will not be able to prostrate).” [بخاري كتاب التفسير باب يوم يكشف عن ساق ح4919 ]
➋ In the hadith, showing off (riya) is called “minor shirk (shirk asghar),” which shows its repulsiveness. Allah, the Exalted, said:
«إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ» [4-النساء:47]
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.”
We should do every deed solely and only for the pleasure of Allah, and we should be content with the fact that our Lord, for whom we strive, is watching us. We should neither hope for benefit nor fear harm from anyone else, and we should strive as much as possible to conceal our deeds so that we may avoid showing off.
➌ Some forms of showing off (riya):
The first is that a person does a good deed solely to show people, without any intention of reward from Allah. For example, he prays only to show people, as the hypocrites used to do, or gives charity only so that he is not called stingy. This is the worst form of showing off, and in reality, it is worship of the creation and shirk with Allah.
The second is that the main purpose is to show people and gain something from them, but at the same time, he also intends reward from Allah, or his intention to show people and to show Allah is equal. This act of worship is also not accepted by Allah because of associating others with Him. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said that Allah, the Exalted, says:
«انا اغني الشركاء عن الشرك من عمل عملا اشرك فيه معي غيري تركته وشركه» [مسلم عن ابي هريره/الزهد46]
“I am the most independent of all partners from needing a partner. Whoever does a deed in which he associates someone else with Me, I abandon him and his association.”
In Ibn Majah, this narration comes with these words:
«قال الله عزوجل : انا اغني الشركاء عن الشرك فمن عمل لي عملا اشرك فيه غيري فانا منه بري وهو للذي اشرك» [ صحيح ابن ماجه / الزهد 3387/21]
“I am the most independent of all partners from needing a partner. So whoever does a deed for Me and associates someone else with Me in it, I am free from him, and it is for the one whom he associated.”
➍ Sometimes a person does a deed solely for reward from Allah, but he does it openly so that others may follow his example. This is permissible, and in fact, he will share in the reward of those who act upon it after seeing him, although it is better to do it secretly, as there is then no possibility of showing off. Allah, the Exalted, said:
«إِن تُبْدُوا الصَّدَقَاتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِيَ ۖ وَإِن تُخْفُوهَا وَتُؤْتُوهَا الْفُقَرَاءَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ» [2-البقرة:271 ]
“If you disclose your charities, it is well; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, it is better for you.”
➎ Sometimes a person does a deed purely for Allah, but does it in front of a respected person, such as a teacher, parent, or a righteous person, so that they may be pleased and pray to Allah for him, or because Allah will be pleased if they are pleased. He does not intend any reward or worldly benefit from them themselves. This is not showing off; rather, the purpose of pleasing them is also to please Allah. As Allah, the Exalted, said:
«وَمِنَ الْأَعْرَابِ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّـهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَيَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنفِقُ قُرُبَاتٍ عِندَ اللَّـهِ وَصَلَوَاتِ الرَّسُولِ ۚ أَلَا إِنَّهَا قُرْبَةٌ لَّهُمْ ۚ سَيُدْخِلُهُمُ اللَّـهُ فِي رَحْمَتِهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ» [ 9-التوبة:99 ]
“And among the Bedouins are those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and consider what they spend as a means of nearness to Allah and the prayers of the Messenger. Surely, it is a means of nearness for them. Allah will admit them to His mercy. Surely, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”
Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari radi Allahu anhu expressed his intention to recite the Qur’an in a beautified manner for the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, but the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did not consider this to be showing off. The details are that Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari radi Allahu anhu had a very beautiful voice. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said to him: “O Abu Musa, you have been given one of the flutes of the family of Dawud,” meaning you have been given a beautiful and melodious voice like Dawud alayhis salam, with which even the mountains and birds would glorify Allah. [بخاري فضائل القرآن 5048 ]
In Sahih Muslim, it is narrated that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said to Abu Musa radi Allahu anhu: “If only you could have seen me last night as I listened attentively to your recitation. Indeed, you have been given one of the flutes of the family of Dawud.”
Abu Ya‘la narrated from Sa‘id ibn Abi Burdah, from his father, from Abu Musa radi Allahu anhu, a more detailed version of this hadith: The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and ‘A’ishah radi Allahu anha passed by Abu Musa radi Allahu anhu while he was reciting the Qur’an in his house. Both of them stood and listened attentively to his recitation, then left. In the morning, they met Abu Musa radi Allahu anhu and said: “O Abu Musa, last night I passed by you, and ‘A’ishah was with me. You were reciting the Qur’an in your house, and we stood and listened to your recitation.” Abu Musa radi Allahu anhu said:
«اما اني يا رسول الله ! لو علمت لحبرت لك تحبيرا»
“O Messenger of Allah! Had I known, I would have recited it even more beautifully for you.” [مسند ابويعليٰ 401/6 حديث 7242 ]
Ibn Sa‘d narrated from Anas radi Allahu anhu, with a chain that meets the conditions of Muslim, that one night Abu Musa radi Allahu anhu was standing in prayer, and the wives of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam heard his voice. His voice was very sweet, so they stood and listened attentively. In the morning, when they were informed of this, they said: “Had I known, I would have recited it even more beautifully for them.”
Al-Ruyani narrated the same report from «مالك بن مغول عن عبد الله بن بريدة عن ابيه» with the chain of Sa‘id ibn Abi Burdah (i.e., like the narration of Abu Ya‘la), in which Abu Musa radi Allahu anhu said:
«لو علمت ان رسول الله يستمع لقراءتي لحبرتها تحبيرا»
“If I had known that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was listening to my recitation, I would have recited it even more beautifully.”
The original narration is found with Ahmad. [فتح الباري شرح حديث 5048]
➏ Sometimes a person, when joining those who are doing good, finds himself worshipping with more enthusiasm, and he thinks this is showing off. It is possible that sometimes his intention may become corrupt, but it is not always so. In reality, every believer has an inclination towards good, but due to various worldly occupations, desires, and heedlessness, he is unable to do good. When he sees others doing good, his zeal is rekindled, the veil of heedlessness is lifted, and doing good becomes easy for him.
When he is doing good solely to seek reward from Allah, this cannot be called showing off. Among the other benefits of staying with the congregation and praying in congregation is that it maintains the spirit of competing in good deeds, and a person does not become lazy. «فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ» [2-البقرة:148] “So race one another in good deeds.”
➐ If a person does a deed purely for Allah, but Allah places his love in the hearts of people and they praise him, then this is Allah’s grace and mercy. If he feels happy about it, there is no harm. Abu Dharr radi Allahu anhu reports that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was asked: “A man does a good deed for Allah, and people praise him for it?” He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: «تلك عاجل بشري المومن» “That is the glad tidings brought quickly to the believer.” [مسلم حديث نمبر 2642]

Takhrij:
«أخرجه أحمد: 5 /428، 429.»©Explanation:
➊ Showing off (riya) can occur in a person’s speech and conversation as well as in actions and deeds. The aim of the one who shows off is to please other than Allah. There are two types of this: one is that a person performs an act in front of people to be seen by them. This is called riya (showing off). The second is that if no one saw him, he himself tells people that he performed this act. This is called sum‘ah (seeking to be heard of). Both of these are forbidden (haram).

➋ Allah, the Exalted, and the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) have strongly condemned these and have declared them a sign of hypocrisy. No righteous deed is accepted with these, therefore one should make every possible effort to avoid them.