Sheikh Salim al-Hilaali حفظه الله
Ar-Riya is censured
in the Book and the Sunnah. From them is the Statement of Allaah سبحانه و
تعالى:
"So woe to
the worshippers, who are neglectful of their prayers. Those who want to be seen
(by men)."
[Al-Ma'un 107:4-6]
As for the ahadith,
some of them have already been mentioned in the chapter of shirk, since ar-Riya
is the minor shirk. Some will be mentioned here, insha'Allaah.
Know O Muslim, O
slave of Allaah, that the word riya is taken from the word ruyah (to be seen).
So the one to be seen is viewed by the people as one seeking self-esteem
amongst them. So at times one would seek self-esteem by one's actions in this
world.
Riya is of many
types and forms, its nature and tendency is that it invalidates the actions as
stated in the Book and the sunnah. Allaah سبحانه و تعالى says:
"Like those
who spend from their wealth to be seen by men, and they do not believe in
Allaah and the Last Day. Their example is like the example of a hard rock on
which is a little soil, then on it falls heavy rain which flows off it and they
will not be able to do anything with whatever they have earned and Allaah does
not guide the disbelieving people."
[Al-Baqarah 2:264]
The Prophet صلى الله
عليه و سلم said:
"What I
fear for you the most is the minor shirk, that is ar-riya. Allaah will say on
the Day of Judgement when He is rewarding the people for their actions: Go to
those for whom you did riya for in the world then see if you find the reward
with them."
[Related by Ahmad (5/428, 429) and
al-Baghawi in Sharh as-Sunnah (4135) from the hadith of Mahmud bin Lubayd, رضي الله
عنه, with
an authentic chain upon the conditions of Muslim]
The Prophet صلى الله
عليه و سلم said:
"Shall I
not inform you of what I fear for you more than the Masih ad-Dajjal? It is the
hidden shirk. It is when a man stands up for prayer, then beautifies his prayer
for another to look at."
[Related by Ibn
Majah (2604) from the hadith of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, رضي
الله عنه. The hadith is hasan]
So be warned my
brother in faith, from riya as it is an evil tribulation annihilating the
actions. Know O Muslim brother, that the Fire will be kindled first for the
people who showed-off because they took the enjoyment from the results of their
actions in the life of this world. So flee, O slave, from riya as you would
flee from a lion, as riya and one's hidden desires even weakened the stands of
the senior scholars from its dangers, let alone the general masses.
The scholars and
the active worshippers who made great efforts to tread the path to the
Hereafter, were even put to trial by it. When they took control of their
themselves and abstained from desires, they were not being allured to the
apparent and open sins committed by the limbs. However when they became
relaxed, they began to pretend to show knowledge, actions and to present
gatherings, to be observed by the people with reverence and esteem. They feel
great delight and they looked down upon the idea of leaving sins. So one of
them thinks that he is from among the sincere worshipers of Allaah but he
has been confirmed as one of the hypocrites. This is a great deception and no
one is safe from it except the angels. It was said in a poem:
Enemies of the soul
and the Shaytan; resist them both,
If they both give
sincere advice to you, then escape from them both.
O Allaah, Lord of
the Heavens and the earth, purify our hearts from hypocrisy and our actions
from riya. Make us firm upon Your straight path so that we achieve certainty.
Aameen.
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