Riya' (doing good deeds for showing-off)

Riya’

A little Riya’ (doing good deeds for show-off); for example, when one prays, fast, or gives charity, he is seeking other than Allah’s Face; hence, he is mixing good deeds with bad ones. The Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa salaam) said: “What I fear for you is the lesser Shirk” When asked about it he said: “Riya”

When one preforms any good deed or act of worship to impress or please people, then he has committed Riya’, which is forbidden. In another Hadith related by Shaddad bin Aws, the Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa salaam) said: “Whoever prays, showing off to others, he has indeed committed Shirk. Whoever fasts, showing off to others, he has indeed committed Shirk. Whoever gives charity, showing off to others, he has indeed committed Shirk.

Another form of lesser Shirk is to swear by anyone other than Allah, for instance, to swear by the Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa salaam) by the Ka’bah, or by ones parents.

Taken from page 225 of lesson 4 of this Month’s reading