Quran Verses

Lesson & Reflection

One of the most serious spiritual diseases warned about in Islam is riya: doing good deeds not for Allah, but to be seen by people. Social media makes this danger even more subtle: a photo of charity work, a perfectly curated religious reminder, a caption about our intentions – all of it can be manipulated for attention under the guise of sincerity. When we are driven primarily by the approval of others, not only does it spoil our motives, but it also drains the barakah (divine blessings) from the work we invest in.

In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:264), Allah describes a person who gives charity only to be seen and admired. Though the act may appear noble to the public eye, it’s as worthless as seeds on a rock. The outward action is covered in thin sincerity, but rain (a test or scrutiny) washes it away, exposing emptiness underneath. While we cannot judge the intentions of others, we are accountable for our own. When we seek value and worth in Allah and not people, we continuously scrutinize our intentions, focusing on ourselves and remaining unconcerned about people’s views of us. When we divert all our attention to self-improvement and self-scrutiny, we have no time left to worry about others.

Surah An-Nisa (4:142) reinforces this idea by mentioning that those who do good only to be seen by others and remember Allah very little are not among the truly faithful. This isn’t about not sharing good deeds; it’s about why we share. If it’s to gain hearts instead of gaining Allah’s approval, we may lose both.

Riya is dangerous because it looks religious outwardly but poisons the heart inwardly. It changes worship into performance and sincerity into self-promotion. The only cure is to be honest with ourselves and to remember that Allah sees what no one else does.

Hadith

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“The thing I fear most for you is the lesser shirk (polytheism), showing off (of good deeds).”
 (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 23630)

In this hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) equates Riya (showing off) to a minor form of shirk, highlighting the danger that it poses and the seriousness with which we should guard ourselves from it. The common thread between major shirk (associating an equal with Allah) and this minor shirk (showing off) is that whilst a believer will never offer any rituals or acts of worship to false gods, they may inadvertently seek the pleasure of others by doing a righteous act with a misplaced intention, where such an intention should be only done for Allah’s sake.

Practical Activity

• Do a Deed in Complete Secrecy: Today, do one small act of worship, prayer, or charity, or dhikr, that no one will see, hear about, or praise. Do it only for Allah, and protect it like a treasure.

Dua

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أُشْرِكَ بِكَ وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا لَا أَعْلَمُ

Allāhumma innī a`ūdhu bika an ushrika bika wa ana a`lam, wa astaghfiruka limā lā a`lam.

 "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from associating anything with You knowingly, and I seek Your forgiveness for what I do unknowingly."

Hisn Al-Muslim, 203

Reflection Question

Have I ever used something sacred, like a good deed or religious post, as a way to impress others rather than connect with Allah? What steps can I take to avoid this in the future?

Do I feel upset, bitter, or discouraged when others don’t acknowledge my effort? Why?