Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 881 [Read full issue]
Weakness in Character
One of the most essential teachings of Islam is encapsulated in a narration (hadith) or Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): "Actions are [judged] according to their intention" [Agreed Upon]. It defines the basis of our relationship with God, as stated in the opening chapter of the Quran, which we recite daily in our prayers: "It is you we worship" (1:5). Everything we do, ultimately, is for God. We may have other noble motivations, but they must fall under the umbrella of seeking God's pleasure.
The opposite of this, showing off (riya), is doing something for the purpose of gaining the admiration of other people. Prophet Muhammad called it the minor form of shirk. The desire to show off stems from an inappropriate love of praise and status, exceeding the appropriate degree. This does not mean that we should seek to have no status in the eyes of others: That too would be extreme, and it would make us subject to self-humiliation and indignity—the antithesis of the ennoblement Islam provides us.
During adolescence, we tend to feel more intense inclinations towards showing off (riya), and while it is easier to recognize them then, those inclinations can persist well into adulthood. Our society is filled with people seeking validation from others, and societal pressures push us all to do so at times. Deep down, we know that this reflects a weakness in character; its motivation does not come from within but is dependent upon acceptance by others.
The most heinous form of this vice is showing off (riya) in our devotion to God. A trick of Satan (Shaytan) is to point out our moments of showing off, so that we despair and stop doing the acts involved, even if the acts are essential to our spiritual development. Scholars of Islam teach that we should perform the devotion and rectify the misguided intention, redirecting it towards God.
Compiled From:
"Being Muslim" - Dr. Asad Tarsin