Riya’kari and Sincere Intention: Key to Accepted Worship

The acceptance of acts of worship depends on the sincerity of intention. An act done merely for show is not accepted by Allah, no matter how much people may praise it. Showing off (riya) is a spiritual disease that not only destroys the deed but can also lead a person to Hell. In this article, we will discuss in detail the sincerity of intention and the consequences of showing off in the light of the Quran and Sunnah.

1. The Clear Guidance of the Quran: Worship Should Be Only for Allah

The Quran says:

﴿وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ﴾

Translation: “And they were commanded only to worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion.”

This verse makes it completely clear that worship is accepted by Allah only when it is performed with sincere intention, solely for His pleasure.

2. The End of the One Who Shows Off (In the Light of Hadith)

Hadith:

قال رسول الله ﷺ: “من سمَّعَ سمَّعَ اللهُ بهِ، ومن يُرائي يُرائي اللهُ بهِ”

“Whoever acts to be heard (seen by people), Allah will expose him; and whoever shows off, Allah will reveal his reality to the people.”

This hadith shows that the deed of the one who shows off is not only rejected, but on the Day of Resurrection it will also be a cause of shame and disgrace for him.

3. Declaring Showing Off to Be Shirk (Clarification from Hadiths)

Hadith:

قال رسول الله ﷺ: “أخوفُ ما أخافُ عليكم الشركُ الأصغرُ” قالوا: وما الشركُ الأصغرُ يا رسولَ اللهِ؟ قال: الرِّياءُ”

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “What I fear most for you is minor shirk.” The Companions asked: “What is minor shirk?” He ﷺ said: “Showing off (riya).”

This hadith makes clear that showing off is minor shirk, the consequence of which can be extremely dangerous.

4. The Deeds of the One Who Shows Off Will Be Lost on the Day of Resurrection

Hadith:

قال رسول الله ﷺ: “إنَّ أوَّلَ الناسِ يُقضى يومَ القيامةِ عليه… رجلٌ تصدَّقَ فيُؤتَى به فيُعرِّفه نِعَمَه فيعرِفها، فيقولُ: فما عمِلتَ فيها؟ فيقولُ: ما ترَكتُ من سبيلٍ تُحبُّ أن يُنفَقَ فيها إلَّا أنفقتُ فيها لكَ، فيقولُ: كذبتَ، ولكنَّك أنفقتَ ليُقالَ: هو جوادٌ، فقد قيلَ، ثمَّ أُمرَ به فسُحِبَ على وجهِه حتَّى أُلقِيَ في النَّارِ…”

“On the Day of Resurrection, among the first people to be judged will be a man who gave charity, but for show. Allah will say: ‘You have lied; you gave so that people would say: How generous he is!’ And that has been said. Then he will be ordered, dragged on his face, and thrown into the Fire.”

This hadith is extremely admonishing: how the apparently good deeds of the one who shows off can lead him to destruction on the Day of Resurrection.

5. The Standard of Intention (Deeds Depend on Intention)

Hadith:

قال رسول الله ﷺ: “إنما الأعمال بالنيات، وإنما لكل امرئٍ ما نوى”

“Actions are judged by intentions, and every person will receive only what he intended.”

This hadith shows that intention is the soul of every deed. If the intention is not sincere, that deed is not accepted by Allah, whether it is a sacrifice or any other good deed.

6. Social Corruption: The Spread of Showing Off and Its Causes

Showing off is a spiritual disease that causes the following harms in society:

❀ It ends sincerity

❀ It destroys good deeds

❀ It becomes a cause of Allah’s displeasure

❀ It turns people away from true worship

This disease commonly spreads when:

❀ People regard religion as mere outward display

❀ Distance from religious knowledge increases

❀ Fame and praise in society are considered true success

❀ The true meaning of seeking Allah’s pleasure is lost

Conclusion: The Purpose of Sacrifice and Good Deeds Should Be Only the Pleasure of Allah

If a person offers a sacrifice or any good deed so that people will say “wah wah” or so that he becomes famous, his deed is not accepted by Allah. Such a person falls into minor shirk, which can lead him to Hell.

Allah accepts only those deeds that are done with sincere intention, solely for His pleasure.