Note: Sharing To Show Off VS Informing To Inspire

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful 

💌 There is a difference between sharing a story or information to purposely show off and informing something with an aim to inspire or warn others. Three examples of cases to clarify how they are different: 

1] A social media user posts multiple photos of an exotic dish they've made. It is riyaa / showing off if the actual purpose of uploading those pictures is to flaunt their culinary skills and intentionally make their stalkers jealous. On the other hand, they'd be helpful if they generously include the full recipe, share some cooking tips, and encourage others to try it out. 

2] A frequent traveler has an online collection of photos of the various places they've been to. They may be guilty of riyaa / showing off if they intend to display how rich they are that they can travel anytime, and publicize how they're more fortunate than certain individuals because they've traveled to more cities than others did. It's not riyaa / showing off if the motive behind the pictures and videos of their trips is meant for viewers to enjoy and feel as they've already visited those areas they went to. Think of a vlogger who gives you a tour around an interesting park or village so you don't have to go there anymore since you've already seen what it's generally like, or to help you decide whether or not that place is worth visiting someday. 

3] A motivational coach or writer shares some of their life experiences on their Facebook timeline, website, books, blog, or an article. It would be riyaa / showing off if their content is deliberately designed to impress particular readers or trigger jealousy to inflate their ego and pacify their insecurities. It would be inspirational, beneficial, and uplifting if the info they shared can persuade others to do the same good deed they've mentioned to motivate for Allah's sake or to avoid their mistakes which they're trying to warn people against. 

A large spatula is useful when you use it for frying or mixing. It could be viewed as weird if somebody uses it daily to scratch their back and it turns into a threat if it's used as a weapon. Same item... same appearance... its outcome changes according to its user's intention.

~•~ 

📖 Ma'qil Ibn Yasar RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: I departed with Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu 'anhu to meet the Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam, and the Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "O Abu Bakr, there is idolatry (shirk / polytheism) among you more hidden than the crawling of an ant." Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu 'anhu said, “Is there idolatry other than to make another god alongside Allah?” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "By the One (Allah the Almighty) in Whose Hand is my soul, there is idolatry more hidden than the crawling of an ant. Shall I not tell you something to say to rid you of it both minor and major? Say: 'O Allah, I seek refuge in You that I associate partners with You while I know, and I seek Your Forgiveness for what I do not know.'"

Source: Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 715

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani 

📖 Mahmud Ibn Labid RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, my greater fear for you is the lesser idolatry (minor shirk/polytheism)." They said, “What is the lesser idolatry, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "It is ostentation (riyaa). Allah the Almighty will say to them on the Day of Resurrection, when people are being recompensed for their deeds: 'Go to those for whom you made a show in the world and look, do you find any reward with them?'"

Source: Musnad Ahmed 23119

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani

📖 Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: The Messenger of Allah SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam came to us while we were discussing the False Messiah (the dajjaal). The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Shall I not tell you about my greater fear for you than the false messiah (dajjaal)?" We said, “Of course!” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "It is hidden idolatry (minor shirk / riyaa), that a man stands for prayer and beautifies his prayer when he sees another man looking at him."

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 4204

Grade: Hasan (Fair) according to Al-Albani

https://mjustsharingislam.blogspot.com/2021/02/poem-good-deeds-must-be-done-sincerely.html 

https://mjustsharingislam.blogspot.com/2021/01/poem-reminder-to-myself-and-others-to.html 

https://mjustsharingislam.blogspot.com/2021/02/note-importance-of-doing-good-deeds.html 

Tips: Some Advice On Learning And Understanding The Arabic Language

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful

💌 When I was around thirteen years old, I remember shopping with my family at Obeikan Bookstore to buy some books and cassettes for learning French language. Despite the French books and dictionaries I bought to assist me with French class at Manarat Al-Riyadh school, I still can't communicate well in that language because in my opinion there's no reason to learn it. I didn't have plans to work in France nor marry some guy from Paris. As for Arabic, Alhamdulillah, while some people learn the language of the Noble Qur'an in an actual academy or university, with Allah's Will I was able to learn some Arabic when my late parents (Allah yarhamhuma. Ameen.) enrolled me at Al-Yamamah School where I was the only Filipino student among Saudis and other Arabs. They also signed me up for evening classes which were regularly conducted at Dar-Adh-Dhikr and WAMY (World Assembly Of Muslim Youth). Watching the news and shows in Arabic, including those Fatawa programs that are broadcasted live, and street interviews in Arabic are some of the things I often did that helped me improve in my comprehension Alhamdulillah. Looking up the meanings of some Arabic words and occasionally browsing the dictionary to learn some new terms are also important for those who are serious about learning the Arabic language.

📋 Some tips for those who are interested in learning Arabic language so they can Inn-sha-Allah read Arabic text even without the vowels:

1] Fix your niyyah/intention and have a purpose. Anything aspired or done for Allah's sake can Inn-sha-Allah be achievable and worthwhile. From the reasons to learn Arabic are to better understand Allah's Words (The Noble Qur'an in the original way It was revealed) and to be able to comprehend useful Arabic articles and Jumuah/Friday sermons/lectures delivered in the Arabic language.

2] Attend Arabic classes online or ones that are available around your area, or learn Arabic through self-study and careful research.

3] Have an Arabic dictionary and thesaurus, install Arabic dictionary applications or frequently study the meanings of Arabic words via Google Translate.

4] Watch educational videos on YouTube that can assist you in learning Arabic, programs with Arabic subtitles or motivational videos with Arabic captions such as clips from this channel:

https://m.youtube.com/c/IsmaelovishMtvn1/videos 

Or 

https://youtu.be/rhKczOhM_dM 

5] Actually practice reading and communicating in Arabic with native Arabic speakers or someone who is likewise eager to learn Arabic. Memorizing some Du'as from the Noble Qur'an, understanding their meanings, and regularly saying them when talking to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala are other effective ways to be more fluent in Arabic language.

6] While studying Arabic, avoid comparing your level of competency to another speaker's fluency or speed of learning. Your goal to learn Arabic should be to bring you closer to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala through understanding Arabic materials that can help you become a better Muslim, not to compete with linguists for some worldly recognition.

7] Never stop learning the Arabic language as there's always beneficial information and knowledge you have yet to discover. Continuously review the lessons you learn and for Allah's sake try to share them with others whenever you find the chance to do so. 

🗒️ I admit I'm not 100% proficient at speaking Arabic since I'm still learning Alhamdulillah and I acknowledge the fact that there are many others who are more skilled and eloquent than I am in communicating in the Arabic language.

~•~

📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Whoever travels a path in search of (beneficial and authentic) knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise."

Source: Sahih Muslim 2699

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim

https://abdurrahman.org/2014/03/20/how-can-one-possibly-learn-and-understand-islaam-without-arabic-language/

https://abdurrahman.org/2014/03/23/means-to-learning-arabic-dawud-adib-transcribed/

https://maktabahuthaymeen.wordpress.com/2015/05/07/encouragement-to-learn-the-arabic-language/

https://maktabahuthaymeen.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/some-benefits-of-learning-arabic/

https://maktabahuthaymeen.wordpress.com/