The Danger of Showing Off (Riyā’) and Guidance for Protection
Derived from: Sharḥ Kitāb al-Jāmiʿ min Bulūgh al-Marām by Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī | Translation: Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Salām Bhattvī
[Narrated by Aḥmad with a ḥasan isnād]
Māhmūd ibn Labīd (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
"What I fear most for you is minor shirk: showing off (riyā’)."
The complete narration reads:
"What I fear most for you is minor shirk."
They asked: "O Messenger of Allah, what is minor shirk?"
He replied: "Riyā’ (showing off). On the Day when people are rewarded for their deeds, Allah will say: ‘Go to those for whom you used to show off in the world and see if you find any reward with them.’”
Referencing: Aḥmad 5/428–429 with ḥasan chain. Al-Albānī rated the chain as jayyid. All narrators are trustworthy and narrators of the Two Ṣaḥīḥs except Māhmūd ibn Labīd, who is a narrator in Muslim only.
According to Subul al-Salām, riyā’ is:
Allah mentions riyā’ as a trait of hypocrites:
إِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَىٰ يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ...
[An-Nisāʾ: 142]
“When they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, only to show people, and they do not remember Allah except a little.”
Also:
فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ... وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا
[Al-Kahf: 110]
A righteous deed must conform to Sharīʿah and be done solely for Allah. Any element of riyā’ invalidates it.
فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ... الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاءُونَ
[Al-Māʿūn: 4–6]
“Woe to those who pray... and show off.”
❷ Riyā’ is Minor Shirk – Yet Extremely Dangerous
Although termed minor shirk (shirk aṣghar), it remains a grave sin.
إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ...
[An-Nisāʾ: 47]
"Allah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him..."
Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī (رضي الله عنه) narrated that some people will attempt sujūd on the Day of Judgement, but their backs will become stiff – they used to prostrate only for show.
[Bukhārī, Tafsīr: "Yawma yukshafu ʿan sāq, 4919]
① Pure Riyā’:
Performing an act of worship solely to show others, with no intention of pleasing Allah (e.g., praying only to avoid being called negligent). This is the worst type—in essence, worshipping creation.
② Mixed Intention:
Doing a deed with both intentions: to please Allah and to impress people. This also renders the action invalid.
The Prophet (ﷺ) reported from Allah:
"I am the most self-sufficient of partners. Whoever does a deed associating someone else with Me, I leave him and his shirk."
[Muslim, Kitāb al-Zuhd 46]
Another narration:
"I am free from such a person and his action belongs to the one for whom he did it."
[Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Mājah, Kitāb al-Zuhd 3387/21]
③ Unintentional Display for Encouragement:
If one performs a deed purely for Allah, but allows it to be seen to encourage others, it is permissible. In fact, those who follow his example earn him additional reward. However, concealing deeds is better to avoid falling into riyā’.
إِن تُبْدُوا الصَّدَقَاتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِيَ...
[Al-Baqarah: 271]
“Showing charity is good, but concealing it is better for you.”
④ Pleasing Righteous People for Allah’s Sake:
If one performs a deed hoping that a pious person (like a teacher or parent) may pray for him, or that Allah will be pleased by their pleasure – this is not riyā’. The intention is still Allah.
وَيَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنفِقُ قُرُبَاتٍ عِندَ اللَّـهِ وَصَلَوَاتِ الرَّسُولِ...
[At-Tawbah: 99]
They spend to attain closeness to Allah and the duʿā’ of the Messenger – this is accepted by Allah.
The Prophet (ﷺ) praised Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī’s recitation and didn’t call it riyā’, even though he said:
“If I had known you were listening, I would have beautified it more.”
[Bukhārī: 5048 | Muslim: Virtues of the Qur’an]
Sometimes a person finds himself more enthusiastic when surrounded by righteous people. He fears this may be riyā’. But in truth, seeing others do good can awaken one’s own spirituality.
As long as the intention is Allah’s pleasure, this is not riyā’, but a positive spiritual influence.
فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ
[Al-Baqarah: 148]
"Compete in good deeds."
❻ If Allah Places Love in People's Hearts
If one performs a sincere deed and Allah places his love in people’s hearts, it is Allah’s gift. Feeling joy over this is not sinful.
The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about one who performs a good deed only for Allah, but people praise him. He replied:
"That is an early glad tidings for a believer."
[Muslim 2642]
✔ It leads to the nullification of good deeds and is rooted in desiring creation’s attention over the Creator.
✔ The believer should strive for sincerity (ikhlāṣ) and prefer secrecy in deeds.
✔ Regularly make duʿā’ seeking protection from riyā’.
✔ Always review your intention before and during worship.
Derived from: Sharḥ Kitāb al-Jāmiʿ min Bulūgh al-Marām by Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī | Translation: Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Salām Bhattvī
Hadith and Its Explanation
عن محمود بن لبيد رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: إن أخوف ما أخاف عليكم الشرك الأصغر: الرياء.[Narrated by Aḥmad with a ḥasan isnād]
Māhmūd ibn Labīd (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
"What I fear most for you is minor shirk: showing off (riyā’)."
The complete narration reads:
"What I fear most for you is minor shirk."
They asked: "O Messenger of Allah, what is minor shirk?"
He replied: "Riyā’ (showing off). On the Day when people are rewarded for their deeds, Allah will say: ‘Go to those for whom you used to show off in the world and see if you find any reward with them.’”
Referencing: Aḥmad 5/428–429 with ḥasan chain. Al-Albānī rated the chain as jayyid. All narrators are trustworthy and narrators of the Two Ṣaḥīḥs except Māhmūd ibn Labīd, who is a narrator in Muslim only.
Vocabulary and Definitions
◈ الرِّيَاء (Riyā’): Derived from راءى يُرائي (form III) meaning “to show,” based on ruʾyah (sight). It means to make oneself appear as something they are not, especially in acts of worship done for others to see rather than for Allah.According to Subul al-Salām, riyā’ is:
- Performing a good deed while keeping people in mind rather than Allah.
- Avoiding sins or publicizing acts of worship for worldly gain.
- Intending to be praised or recognized by others.
Key Reflections and Lessons
❶ Condemnation of Riyā’ in the Qur’ān:Allah mentions riyā’ as a trait of hypocrites:
إِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَىٰ يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ...
[An-Nisāʾ: 142]
“When they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, only to show people, and they do not remember Allah except a little.”
Also:
فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ... وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا
[Al-Kahf: 110]
A righteous deed must conform to Sharīʿah and be done solely for Allah. Any element of riyā’ invalidates it.
فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ... الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاءُونَ
[Al-Māʿūn: 4–6]
“Woe to those who pray... and show off.”
❷ Riyā’ is Minor Shirk – Yet Extremely Dangerous
Although termed minor shirk (shirk aṣghar), it remains a grave sin.
إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ...
[An-Nisāʾ: 47]
"Allah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him..."
Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī (رضي الله عنه) narrated that some people will attempt sujūd on the Day of Judgement, but their backs will become stiff – they used to prostrate only for show.
[Bukhārī, Tafsīr: "Yawma yukshafu ʿan sāq, 4919]
Types of Riyā’ and Rulings
❸ Forms of Riyā’:① Pure Riyā’:
Performing an act of worship solely to show others, with no intention of pleasing Allah (e.g., praying only to avoid being called negligent). This is the worst type—in essence, worshipping creation.
② Mixed Intention:
Doing a deed with both intentions: to please Allah and to impress people. This also renders the action invalid.
The Prophet (ﷺ) reported from Allah:
"I am the most self-sufficient of partners. Whoever does a deed associating someone else with Me, I leave him and his shirk."
[Muslim, Kitāb al-Zuhd 46]
Another narration:
"I am free from such a person and his action belongs to the one for whom he did it."
[Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Mājah, Kitāb al-Zuhd 3387/21]
③ Unintentional Display for Encouragement:
If one performs a deed purely for Allah, but allows it to be seen to encourage others, it is permissible. In fact, those who follow his example earn him additional reward. However, concealing deeds is better to avoid falling into riyā’.
إِن تُبْدُوا الصَّدَقَاتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِيَ...
[Al-Baqarah: 271]
“Showing charity is good, but concealing it is better for you.”
④ Pleasing Righteous People for Allah’s Sake:
If one performs a deed hoping that a pious person (like a teacher or parent) may pray for him, or that Allah will be pleased by their pleasure – this is not riyā’. The intention is still Allah.
وَيَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنفِقُ قُرُبَاتٍ عِندَ اللَّـهِ وَصَلَوَاتِ الرَّسُولِ...
[At-Tawbah: 99]
They spend to attain closeness to Allah and the duʿā’ of the Messenger – this is accepted by Allah.
The Prophet (ﷺ) praised Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī’s recitation and didn’t call it riyā’, even though he said:
“If I had known you were listening, I would have beautified it more.”
[Bukhārī: 5048 | Muslim: Virtues of the Qur’an]
Important Clarifications
❺ Acting More Devoted Among Righteous PeopleSometimes a person finds himself more enthusiastic when surrounded by righteous people. He fears this may be riyā’. But in truth, seeing others do good can awaken one’s own spirituality.
As long as the intention is Allah’s pleasure, this is not riyā’, but a positive spiritual influence.
فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ
[Al-Baqarah: 148]
"Compete in good deeds."
❻ If Allah Places Love in People's Hearts
If one performs a sincere deed and Allah places his love in people’s hearts, it is Allah’s gift. Feeling joy over this is not sinful.
The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about one who performs a good deed only for Allah, but people praise him. He replied:
"That is an early glad tidings for a believer."
[Muslim 2642]
Conclusion and Guidance
✔ Riyā’ is spiritually destructive and a form of minor shirk.✔ It leads to the nullification of good deeds and is rooted in desiring creation’s attention over the Creator.
✔ The believer should strive for sincerity (ikhlāṣ) and prefer secrecy in deeds.
✔ Regularly make duʿā’ seeking protection from riyā’.
✔ Always review your intention before and during worship.
