The Reality of Showing Off (Riyā') in Islam and Its Consequences
Written by: Qari Usama bin Abdus-Salam (Hafizahullah)
In Islam, riyā' — performing good deeds to show off or gain fame — is considered a highly disliked and dangerous sin. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has repeatedly warned against this sin in various ḥadīths.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"أَخْوَفُ مَا أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمُ الشِّرْكُ الْأَصْغَرُ"
The Companions (RA) asked: “O Messenger of Allah! What is minor shirk?”
He ﷺ replied: "Riyā'" (showing off).
(Musnad Aḥmad: 23630; Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān: 6330)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"إِنَّ أَوَّلَ النَّاسِ يُقْضَى يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَيْهِ..."
The first people to be judged on the Day of Resurrection will be:
– A martyr, who fought not for Allah, but to gain praise.
– A scholar, who gained and taught knowledge for fame.
– A generous person, who gave charity to impress others.
Allah will say: “You did these deeds to be praised by the people — and you received that praise. Now you have nothing with Me.”
Then such people will be cast into Hellfire.
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1905)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى لَا يَقْبَلُ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ إِلَّا مَا كَانَ لَهُ خَالِصًا، وَابْتُغِيَ بِهِ وَجْهُهُ"
“Indeed, Allah only accepts deeds that are done purely for Him, seeking His Face alone.”
(Sunan al-Nasāʾī: 3140)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"مَنْ سَمَّعَ سَمَّعَ اللَّهُ بِهِ، وَمَنْ يُرَائِي يُرَائِي اللَّهُ بِهِ"
“Whoever publicizes his good deeds (to be heard), Allah will make his hypocrisy known. And whoever does deeds to be seen, Allah will disgrace him on the Day of Judgment.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6499; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2987)
The Prophet ﷺ reiterated the seriousness of this sin:
"إِنَّ أَخْوَفَ مَا أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ الشِّرْكُ الْأَصْغَرُ..."
He ﷺ said: “The thing I fear most for you is minor shirk (riyā’).”
On the Day of Judgment, Allah will say:
“Go to those you used to show off to in the world and see — do they have any reward for you?”
(Musnad Aḥmad: 23630)
Allah ﷻ says in the Noble Qur’an:
"إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَٰفِقِينَ يُخَٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ... يُرَآءُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ..."
“Indeed, the hypocrites try to deceive Allah, but He deceives them. When they stand for prayer, they do so lazily — only to be seen by people — and they remember Allah but little.”
(Sūrah al-Nisāʾ 4:142)
Riyā' is not just a dangerous sin, but one that completely nullifies good deeds. Those who perform righteous acts for worldly praise and recognition will face disgrace and severe punishment on the Day of Judgment.
Every Muslim must ensure that all deeds are done sincerely for the pleasure of Allah alone, not for seeking fame, praise, or the attention of people.
Written by: Qari Usama bin Abdus-Salam (Hafizahullah)
✿ Riyā' in Islam ✿
In Islam, riyā' — performing good deeds to show off or gain fame — is considered a highly disliked and dangerous sin. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has repeatedly warned against this sin in various ḥadīths.
➊ Riyā' is Declared as “Minor Shirk” (Shirk al-Asghar)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"أَخْوَفُ مَا أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمُ الشِّرْكُ الْأَصْغَرُ"
The Companions (RA) asked: “O Messenger of Allah! What is minor shirk?”
He ﷺ replied: "Riyā'" (showing off).
(Musnad Aḥmad: 23630; Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān: 6330)
➋ The Fate of the Show-Offs on the Day of Judgment
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"إِنَّ أَوَّلَ النَّاسِ يُقْضَى يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَيْهِ..."
The first people to be judged on the Day of Resurrection will be:
– A martyr, who fought not for Allah, but to gain praise.
– A scholar, who gained and taught knowledge for fame.
– A generous person, who gave charity to impress others.
Allah will say: “You did these deeds to be praised by the people — and you received that praise. Now you have nothing with Me.”
Then such people will be cast into Hellfire.
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1905)
➌ Allah Accepts Only Deeds Done with Pure Intentions
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى لَا يَقْبَلُ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ إِلَّا مَا كَانَ لَهُ خَالِصًا، وَابْتُغِيَ بِهِ وَجْهُهُ"
“Indeed, Allah only accepts deeds that are done purely for Him, seeking His Face alone.”
(Sunan al-Nasāʾī: 3140)
➍ A Stern Warning for the Show-Off
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"مَنْ سَمَّعَ سَمَّعَ اللَّهُ بِهِ، وَمَنْ يُرَائِي يُرَائِي اللَّهُ بِهِ"
“Whoever publicizes his good deeds (to be heard), Allah will make his hypocrisy known. And whoever does deeds to be seen, Allah will disgrace him on the Day of Judgment.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6499; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2987)
➎ Riyā' Nullifies Good Deeds
The Prophet ﷺ reiterated the seriousness of this sin:
"إِنَّ أَخْوَفَ مَا أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ الشِّرْكُ الْأَصْغَرُ..."
He ﷺ said: “The thing I fear most for you is minor shirk (riyā’).”
On the Day of Judgment, Allah will say:
“Go to those you used to show off to in the world and see — do they have any reward for you?”
(Musnad Aḥmad: 23630)
➏ Riyā' is a Mark of Hypocrisy
Allah ﷻ says in the Noble Qur’an:
"إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَٰفِقِينَ يُخَٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ... يُرَآءُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ..."
“Indeed, the hypocrites try to deceive Allah, but He deceives them. When they stand for prayer, they do so lazily — only to be seen by people — and they remember Allah but little.”
(Sūrah al-Nisāʾ 4:142)
❀ Conclusion ❀
Riyā' is not just a dangerous sin, but one that completely nullifies good deeds. Those who perform righteous acts for worldly praise and recognition will face disgrace and severe punishment on the Day of Judgment.
Every Muslim must ensure that all deeds are done sincerely for the pleasure of Allah alone, not for seeking fame, praise, or the attention of people.
