Protecting oneself from Show off (Riyaakaari) while serving Imam Zamana (a.t.f.s.)

Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s) has said:

“If I would have met him (al-Mahdi), I would serve him for my entire life.”

(Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 51, pg. 148)

Serving the Imam to the best of one’s ability is another responsibility of a true believer. Assisting Imam (a.t.f.s.) can be accomplished through helping his friends, followers and the Shi’a of the Imam, fulfilling their needs, alleviating the difficulties and solving issues which may come up their lives all of these are ways in which one can assist the Imam of the time.

In addition, establishing gatherings for the remembrance of the Imam (a.t.f.s.) or to write and spread the teachings in relation to him, etc if these are done with the intention that one wishes to assist the Imam, then they are counted and recognized (by Allah) as being things done to help the Imam.

Therefore, we see that there are many ways in which one can assist the Imam, however they must be performed with the intention that they are being done with the purpose of assisting him.

What happens if a person serves Imam (a.t.f.s) with the intention of Show off (Riyaakaari)?
1. One Who “Shows-Off” is a Mushrik and a Hypocrite

It is narrated from Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) and Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) :
“If a person performs a good deed to achieve Allah’s pleasure and the reward in the hereafter; but also intends to please other people, then he will be termed as a Mushrik.”

(Bihār al-Anwār)

It is concluded from the authentic traditions that one who tries to show-off in religious matters is a mushrik and a hypocrite. He is inevitably condemned to Divine punishment. It is one and the same whether his show-off concerns the obligatory acts or the recommended acts.

Similarly, he may simply exhibit outward piety or his aim may be to acquire honour and respect among the people. Even if he has a dual aim (of showing off and fulfilling his obligation) his act is classified as Shirk. A few Qur’anic verses are quoted for the benefit of the readers:

1) “Surely the hypocrites strive to deceive Allah, and He shall requite their deceit to them, and when they stand up sluggishly; they do it only to be seen of men and do not remember Allah save a little. Wavering between that (and this), (belonging) neither to these nor to those.”

(Surah an-Nisā’ 4:142)

2) “So woe to the praying ones, who are unmindful of their prayers, who do (good) to be seen.”
(Surah Ma’ūn 107:4-6)

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) said,

“Certainly what I fear for you most is the lesser Shirk.”

Someone enquired, “O Prophet of Allah(s.a.w.a), what is meant by lesser Shirk?” He replied,
“It is Riyah when Allah would reward His creatures for their deeds on the Day of Judgement He would address those who committed Riyah thus, ‘you approach those, to please whom you had performed all the deeds in the world. And obtain your rewards for your deeds from them’.”

(Bihār al-Anwār).

Is it possible to receive rewards from them? Absolutely not!

2. Riyakār person will also fail to achieve his aim in this world

Apart from the punishment in the Hereafter and cancellation of good deeds the Riyakār person will also fail to achieve his aim in this world. In the world it had been his intention to achieve honour among the people but instead he would have to face humiliation and shame.

On the contrary, one who performs good deeds for the Hereafter will achieve honour in this world too. The following verse of Surah al-Kahf says:

“… therefore whoever hopes to meet his Lord, he should do good deeds, and not join anyone in the service of his Lord.”

(Surah al-Kahf 18:110)

The tafsir of this ayat is as follows: “Someone performs a good deed not for seeking Allah’s pleasure, but to obtain praise and admiration from people, so that people may see and hear him and he may become famous. He is like the one who has an associate with Allah in his worship. One who conceals his worship acts from the people (and reserve them solely for Allah would finally be given an honourable position among the people, by Allah. While one who exhibits his worship; his weaknesses are exposed by Allah and consequently he is degraded.”

(al-Kāfi)

3. The Riyakār Person Deceives Himself Alone

Someone enquired from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) as to how could salvation be attained on the Day of Judgement? He replied,

“It could only be possible if one does not deceive Allah. Certainly if anyone tries to deceive Allah he is himself deceived by Allah (i.e. he is repaid for his deceit) and Allah takes away belief from him. If he possesses reason he should know that in trying to deceive Allah, he is only deceiving

himself.”
“How can Allah be deceived and defrauded?” a person asked. The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) continued,

“The person fulfills all his religious obligations but his aim is to please someone other than Allah. Fear Allah and restrain from ‘Riyah’. On the Day of Judgement the deceiver (Riyakār) will be addressed by four titles,

‘O Kafir, O Sinful, O Crafty one, O Loser, your deeds are nullified and the reward of your deeds is lost. Today you have no worth whatsoever. Go and seek the reward of your deeds from those, to please whom you performed your acts.’

(Muhajjatul Baidha, Bihār al-Anwār)

4. His (Riyakār Person) Worship will lead him to the Fire Of Hell

Abu Basir has narrated from Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) that he said,

“On the Day of Judgement a person would be brought forward. He had performed Salāt in his life. He would be told that you have prayed but your intention had been to show-off, so that people may appreciate your worship. This person would be cast into the fire. Then a reciter of the Qur’an would be brought. He would be told, ‘at the time of reciting the Qur’an, your intention had been to exhibit your sweet voice so that people may appreciate your tone.’ This one shall also be tossed into the fire. The third person to be presented shall be one who had died a martyr in Jihad. He would be told that, ‘Your intention while fighting was to make a show-off your strength and valour.” He shall also be led towards the fire. The fourth person had been a charitable man. He would be told, ‘your intention in giving charity was that people may call you generous.’ Then he would also be led towards Hell.

(Layali Akhbār).

5. The Fire of Hell Weeps Due to the Deceitful Ones (Riyakār)

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) has informed,

“Certainly the fire of Hell and the people of Hell would cry for help due to the deceitful ones.”
Someone asked, “O Prophet of Allah (S). How would the fire cry?” He replied,
“The fire would scream and cry for help due to the intensity of the heat of that fire in which the Riyakār people would be burning.”

What to do in order to protect one from show off?

1. Ask Forgiveness

If someone has committed Shirk with regard to the acts of worship, he must repent sincerely and have a firm determination not to repeat his mistake. He should intend to perform all his deeds in the future for the sole purpose of achieving Allah’s pleasure.

2. Make Your Intention Pure

Purity of intention with respect to a deed has the same significance that the soul has for the body. Absence of the purity of intention during worship takes man further away from Allah (s.w.t.).

The Holy Qur’an contains numerous verses in this regard. A few of them are quoted below:
1) “And they were not enjoined anything except that they should serve Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience.” (Surah al-Bayyina 98:5)

2) “Say: I am commanded that I should serve Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience.” (Surah az-Zumar 39:11)

3) “Say: My Lord has enjoined justice, and set upright your faces at every time of prayer and call on Him, being sincere to Him in obedience.” (Surah al-Ar’āf 7:29)

4) “Say: I am only a mortal like you; it is revealed to me that your god is One God, therefore whoever hopes to meet his Lord, he should do good deeds, and not join anyone in the service of His Lord.” (Surah al-Kahf 18:110)

Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) says,

“If one intends to do a small act with the sole intention of pleasing Allah, Allah causes this small deed of his to be manifested on a greater scale upon the people. (On the contrary) if someone performs the greatest of deeds which causes him physical tiredness and exhaustion due to wakeful nights, while his intention had been to acquire the praise of people, his deed would be reduced to a trifle by Allah and manifested on the people.” (till the people begin to dislike him.) (al-Kāfi)

Finally, we pray to Allah (swt) to protect us from show off and its disease as mentioned by Hazrat Imam Ali (a.s) - The words of the one who shows off are beautiful, but in his heart there is an internal disease. (Ghorar al-Hikam)

Taken From

1. Greater Sins

2. The Last Luminary and Ways to Delve Into the Light.