๐ In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful
๐️ Signs that a person is guilty of riyaa (deliberately doing good deeds to show off):
You can't really judge, since Only Allah the Almighty knows what's actually inside the hearts and thoughts of His servants.
⚠️ Some signs that you may be guilty of riyaa (which you can repent from), and you know yourself more than other individuals do:
1] You seldom or never purify your niyyah / intention before doing a deed which can bring you closer to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala. When doing some righteous actions, such as praying or fasting, your real motive is not to please Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala but to complete them as religious customs, following in the footsteps of your parents, or to intentionally showcase to some people that you're more pious than them.
2] When ridiculed, ostracized or criticized for doing a particular good deed, such as pausing an activity to pray on time or sharing Islamic reminders, you put a stop to it. You're eager to do a good deed only if enough number of individuals clearly show support and grant approval.
3] You feel reluctant to do a good deed, such as praying in the Masjid and attending an Islamic lecture, unless you're fully certain that there's an audience watching.
4] You can't deny that most of the people who are acquainted with you perceive you as a practicing Muslim yet behind the scenes you enjoy committing several sins such as watching indecent films, listening to music as a hobby, and knowingly carrying out dhulm / oppression / injustice against many of Allah's creation.
5] You don't bother asking Allah the Most Powerful to protect you from major and minor shirk / polytheism. You generally act as if you're so sure that all of your good deeds done publicly will be accepted and you'd succeed on the Day of Judgment without any questioning.
๐ก️ What you can do, with Allah's Will, to be shielded from riyaa:
1] Always purify your niyyah / intention before doing obligatory (waajib and fardh), voluntary (Sunnah and mustahabb), and lawful (halal and permissible) deeds, intending to do them just to attain Allah's Love and Mercy, not to impress Allah's slaves or to feel amazed with oneself.
2] Don't be self-conscious and too concerned about how people see you when doing any good deed sincerely for Allah's sake. Patiently continue striving even if some suspect your intention or critics deride your choices, values and beliefs.
3] Consistently seek help from Allah the Most Merciful and pray that He Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala blesses you with Ikhlaas (sincerity), steadfastness and accepted good deeds.
4] Strive to increase doing secret good deeds for Allah's sake, righteous actions (including praying Tahajjud / Qiyaam Al-Layl, saying Du'a, and fasting Sunnah fasts often) without notifying any human being that you've done them.
5] Occasionally review the knowledge that Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala gave you regarding warnings against shirk / polytheism and recall why riyaa is dangerous and forbidden.
~•~
๐ Abu Umamah RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: A man asked the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam, “What is faith (Imaan)?” The Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "If you are happy with your good deeds and saddened by your bad deeds, then you are a believer." The man said, “O Messenger of Allah, what is sin?” The Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "If something waivers in your soul (makes you feel uncertain / doubtful), then you must leave it."
Source: Musnad Ahmed 21695
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani
๐ 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 Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Shall I not tell you about my greater fear for you than the False Messiah?" We said, “Of course!” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "It is hidden idolatry (inconspicuous shirk / minor polytheism / 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
๐ Ma'qil Ibn Yasar RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: I departed with Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu 'anhu to meet the Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam. The Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "O Abu Bakr, there is (polytheism / shirk) idolatry among you more hidden than the crawling of an ant." Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu 'anhu said, “Is there idolatry (shirk) other than to make another god alongside Allah?” The Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "By the One (Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) 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
https://preciousgemsfromthequranandsunnah.wordpress.com/2018/12/16/dua-for-protection-from-shirk-a-very-important-dua/
https://mjustsharingislam.blogspot.com/2020/05/poem-importance-of-doing-good-deeds-for.html
https://mjustsharingislam.blogspot.com/2021/02/note-importance-of-doing-good-deeds.html
https://mjustsharingislam.blogspot.com/2021/01/poem-reminder-to-myself-and-others-to.html
https://mjustsharingislam.blogspot.com/2021/02/poem-good-deeds-must-be-done-sincerely.html
https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/12504/%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%8A%D9%82%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%88%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%A8%D9%87
