Riyaa’
and Its Types
Its
meaning:
It
is derived from ar-Ru’yah (a vision, sight, observation). It’s foundation is
doing actions of goodness and piety so that people see them or hear of them, in
order to win their praise and admiration, to gain position and status amongst
them and to obtain the goals and objectives of this world.
Its
ruling:
It
is haraam due to the clear texts of the Book and the Sunnah. Allaah, the
Exalted said:
And
they were not commanded except to worship Allaah making the Deen sincerely for
Him and being upright and true (in faith), to establish regular prayer and to
practice regular charity. That is the right and straight Deen.1
Allaah
the Exalted also said:
And
whether you hide what is in your souls or make it manifest Allaah knows it.2
Allaah
the Exalted has already warned against riyaa’ when he said:
And
if you associate (partners with Allaah) vain and useless will be your work.3
Abu
Hurairah also reports: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) say: ”Allaah (glorified
and exalted be He) said: I am so self-sufficient that I am in no need of having
an associate. Thus he who does an action for someone else’s sake as well as
Mine will have that action renounced by Me to him whom he associated with Me.”4
The
Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) also said:”Whoever learnt knowledge by
which the Face of Allaah Azzawajall should be sought, and did not learn it
except to gain a portion of the world will not find the fragrance of Paradise
on the Day of Judgment.5
Its
Types:
1. Riyaa'
of the Body
This
occurs by appearing to be emaciated and pale so that others may see the
intensity of his striving and the abundant fear of the hereafter. Also included
in this is lowering the voice and sinking of the eyes, showing that one has a
weak and feeble body in order to show others that he is diligent in observing
fast.
2. Riyaa’
of the outward appearance
Such
as the effects of prostration on the face or wearing a specific type of
clothing which only a few people wear and whom people consider to be scholars. So
he wears this apparel so that it may be said. He is a scholar.
3. Riyaa
by ones speech
This
occurs mostly by admonitioning others, reminding them, memorizing details and
narrations for the sake of argumentation, making it open and known that one has
copious and abundant knowledge, moving ones lips for the remembrance of Allaah
in the presence of others, becoming angry when evil occurs between people, lowering
the voice and making it soft and tender when reciting the Qur’aan so as to show
others his fear, sadness and other such things.
4. Riyaa’
with ones actions
Like
the showing off the worshipper by lengthening the
standing and prolonging the rukoo’ and sujood. Outwardly displaying khushoo’
and showing off due to fasting, going on military expeditions, pilgrimage, charity
and other such things.
5. Riyaa’
on account of ones friends and visitors
Like
the one who burdens himself in order to visit a scholar or a pious worshipper
so that it may be said: So and so visited so and so. This also occurs by
inviting people to ones house so that it may be said: The people of the Deen
frequently visit him.
Should
the Muslim abandon an action due to fear of Riyaa’?
Leaving
an action out of fear of falling into riyaa’ is one of the biggest mistakes and
ways of falling into the trap of Shaytaan.
If
the intent and motive for an action is correct and righteous and if it is in
agreement with what has been legislated then the action should never be
abandoned due to the presence of the danger of riyaa’. Rather it is obligatory
upon the muslim to strive against this threat and danger. This is achieved by
making his heart cling to modesty in front of Allaah and fear of Him, and
changing the praise and admiration of creation for His praise and admiration.
Fudayl
ibn Iyaad (rh) said: Doing an action for the sake of people
is Shirk and leaving an action for the sake of people is Riyaa’. Ikhlaas is
when Allaah saves you from them both.
Extracted from
“The Book of Sincerity” by Hussain al-Awaa’ishah
------------------------------------------------
1.Soorah
Bayyinah 98:5
2.Soorah
Aali Imran 3:29
3.Soorah
Zumar 39:65
4.Reported
by Muslim
5.Reported
by Abu Dawood with a Saheeh isnaad
~
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