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سنن ابن ماجه
Ibn Majah
كتاب الزهدChapters on Zuhd
بَابُ : الرِّيَاءِ وَالسُّمْعَةِChapter: Show-off and reputation
Hadith 4204
اُردوEn
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ , حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَالِدٍ الْأَحْمَرُ , عَنْ كَثِيرِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ , عَنْ رُبَيْحِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ , عَنْ أَبِيهِ , عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ , قَالَ : خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَنَحْنُ نَتَذَاكَرُ الْمَسِيحَ الدَّجَّالَ , فَقَالَ : " أَلَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِمَا هُوَ أَخْوَفُ عَلَيْكُمْ عِنْدِي مِنْ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ " , قَالَ : قُلْنَا : بَلَى , فَقَالَ : " الشِّرْكُ الْخَفِيُّ , أَنْ يَقُومَ الرَّجُلُ يُصَلِّي فَيُزَيِّنُ صَلَاتَهُ لِمَا يَرَى مِنْ نَظَرِ رَجُلٍ " .
´It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed said:` “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to us when we were discussing Dajjal (False Christ) and said: ‘Shall I not tell you of that which I fear more for you than Dajjal?’ We said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Hidden polytheism, when a man stands to pray and makes it look good because he sees a man looking at him.’”
Brief Explanation
1؎: That is, he should recite slowly and with pauses, and when there is no one present, he may recite quickly. May Allah protect us, ostentation (riya) is such an evil affliction that it has been declared as shirk (associating partners with Allah), which will not be forgiven. Similarly, any act performed with ostentation will never be accepted: «فمن كان يرجو لقاء ربه فليعمل عملا صالحا ولا يشرك بعبادة ربه أحدا» (Surah Al-Kahf: 110). In this verse, shirk refers specifically to ostentation (riya), and a righteous deed (amal salih) is only that which is done purely for the pleasure of Allah. Therefore, it is necessary that a person, in order to attain Allah’s pleasure, lives his life in accordance with the authentic Sunnah, avoiding all forms of shirk in his actions, so that Allah the Exalted may accept his deeds.
Explanation & Benefits
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Benefits and Issues:
➊
Showing off (riya) is more dangerous than the Dajjal because the Dajjal is an open enemy and his disbelief is clear, whereas the act of the one who shows off outwardly appears to be a righteous deed.
➋
It is called hidden shirk (polytheism) because the Dajjal is an open enemy; for example, someone who worships an idol, tree, grave, moon, sun, etc., everyone can see that he is worshipping other than Allah. His shirk is apparent. But the one who shows off outwardly stands with his hands folded before Allah or is engaged in bowing (ruku) and prostration (sujud); seeing him, it cannot be known that he is not praying for the pleasure of Allah, but rather is worshipping his own self.
➌
If the intention of the one performing a good deed is that he be praised, then this is showing off (riya). But if this is not his intention, and people come to know of his good deed incidentally and praise him, then there is no fault on the part of the one performing the deed.
➍
Just as it is not permissible that if someone sees a person praying, he should lengthen his prayer, likewise it is also not correct that if he started reciting a long surah and suddenly someone arrives, he should shorten the prayer; rather, he should act according to his original intention.
➎
The same ruling applies to other acts besides prayer, such as charity (sadaqah), jihad, etc.
➊
Showing off (riya) is more dangerous than the Dajjal because the Dajjal is an open enemy and his disbelief is clear, whereas the act of the one who shows off outwardly appears to be a righteous deed.
➋
It is called hidden shirk (polytheism) because the Dajjal is an open enemy; for example, someone who worships an idol, tree, grave, moon, sun, etc., everyone can see that he is worshipping other than Allah. His shirk is apparent. But the one who shows off outwardly stands with his hands folded before Allah or is engaged in bowing (ruku) and prostration (sujud); seeing him, it cannot be known that he is not praying for the pleasure of Allah, but rather is worshipping his own self.
➌
If the intention of the one performing a good deed is that he be praised, then this is showing off (riya). But if this is not his intention, and people come to know of his good deed incidentally and praise him, then there is no fault on the part of the one performing the deed.
➍
Just as it is not permissible that if someone sees a person praying, he should lengthen his prayer, likewise it is also not correct that if he started reciting a long surah and suddenly someone arrives, he should shorten the prayer; rather, he should act according to his original intention.
➎
The same ruling applies to other acts besides prayer, such as charity (sadaqah), jihad, etc.
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 4204
