Riya’kari and Pure Intention: The True Standard for Acceptable Worship✍ Written by: Qari Usama bin Abdus Salam
❖ Purity of Intention and Riya’kari: A Comprehensive Explanation in Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah
The acceptance of acts of worship hinges upon the sincerity of intention. Any deed done merely for show is not accepted by Allah ﷻ, no matter how much praise it garners from people. Riya’kari (showing off in acts of worship) is a spiritual disease that not only nullifies actions but can also lead a person towards Hellfire.
In this article, we will discuss in detail, through the guidance of the Qur’an and Sunnah, the importance of sincerity in intention and the dreadful consequences of riya’kari.
① Clear Command in the Qur’an: Worship Should Be Solely for Allah
Qur’anic Verse:
﴿وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ﴾
Translation: "And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion alone."
[Surah Al-Bayyinah: 5]
This verse makes it abundantly clear that acts of worship are only accepted when performed with sincerity, purely for the pleasure of Allah ﷻ.
② The Fate of the One Who Shows Off – According to Hadith
Prophetic Saying:
قال رسول الله ﷺ: "من سمَّعَ سمَّعَ اللهُ بهِ، ومن يُرائي يُرائي اللهُ بهِ"
"Whoever performs deeds to be heard of by others, Allah will expose him, and whoever does something to be seen by others, Allah will disgrace him."
[Sahih al-Bukhari: 6134, Sahih Muslim: 2987]
This hadith teaches that the deeds of a show-off are not only rejected but also become a means of disgrace and humiliation on the Day of Judgment.
③ Declaring Riya’kari as a Form of Shirk (Minor Polytheism)
Prophetic Saying:
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: "The thing I fear most for you is minor shirk." The Companions asked: "What is minor shirk, O Messenger of Allah?" He replied: "Riya’kari (showing off)."
[Musnad Ahmad: 23630, Sahih al-Targhib: 32]
This hadith clarifies that riya’kari is a form of minor shirk, which can have extremely dangerous consequences.
④ Riya’kari Nullifies Deeds on the Day of Judgment
Prophetic Saying:
قال رسول الله ﷺ: "إنَّ أوَّلَ الناسِ يُقضى يومَ القيامةِ عليه… رجلٌ تصدَّقَ... فيقولُ: كذبتَ، ولكنَّك أنفقتَ ليُقالَ: هو جوادٌ، فقد قيلَ، ثمَّ أُمرَ به فسُحِبَ على وجهِه حتَّى أُلقِيَ في النَّارِ…”
"On the Day of Judgment, one of the first people to be judged will be a man who gave charity. Allah will say: 'You lied, you gave it so people would say: He is generous,' and it was said. Then he will be dragged on his face and thrown into the Fire."
[Sahih Muslim: 1905]
This deeply terrifying hadith demonstrates how even apparently righteous deeds can lead to ruin if they are performed for show rather than for Allah.
⑤ The Standard of Intention – Deeds Depend on Intentions
Prophetic Saying:
قال رسول الله ﷺ: "إنما الأعمال بالنيات، وإنما لكل امرئٍ ما نوى"
"Deeds are only (judged) by intentions, and every person will have only what he intended."
[Sahih al-Bukhari: 1, Sahih Muslim: 1907]
This hadith affirms that intention is the essence of every act. If it is not sincere, the act holds no value in the sight of Allah ﷻ, regardless of its outward form.
⑥ Social Decay: The Spread and Causes of Riya’kari
Riya’kari is a spiritual illness that brings about numerous harms within a society:
❀ Eliminates sincerity from worship
❀ Destroys the reward of good deeds
❀ Incurs Allah’s displeasure
❀ Distracts people from true worship
This disease typically spreads when:
❀ People treat religion as a means of outward display
❀ There is widespread ignorance of Islamic knowledge
❀ Fame and praise are perceived as real success
❀ The true concept of seeking Allah’s pleasure is lost
Conclusion: The Sole Purpose of Sacrifice and Good Deeds Must Be Allah’s Pleasure
If a person performs a sacrifice or any good deed with the intention of gaining praise or fame, then his deed will not be accepted by Allah. Such a person falls into minor shirk, which can ultimately lead to Hellfire.
🕊 Allah ﷻ accepts only those deeds that are performed with pure intentions, solely for His pleasure.
