Riya

Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) expressed his worry concerning something which he himself termed as Shirk Asghar. What is this grave thing which is called Shirk Asghar? Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) defined it as Riya. Riya is a disease which makes a person carry out something to gain fame. That is, he does this to gain popularity and to be praised by people. For example, one must have a pure and clean intention when accomplishing a good deed, especially Ibaadah. One must always do it solely for the pleasure of Allah Ta'ala. This is what is called Ikhlaas or sincerity. Now, if one does it to get fame, popularity, recognition, honour and grandeur in the eyes of people, then it means that this Ibaadah is contaminated by a virus called Riya. An Ibaadah which is contaminated and infected by Riya is an unaccepted Ibaadah. Allah Ta'ala rejects this type of Ibaadah. Not only is the person who is guilty of this crime rejected but he will be dragged on his face and thrown into hell.

To do an act of Ibaadah for someone other than Allah Ta'ala is Shirk. And the desire to be famous or popular by means of Ibaadah is Riya. Since this intention is a way of associating another aim in the Ibaadah of Allah Ta'ala, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) referred to it as Shirk Asghar, that is, a type of Shirk which likened it to real Shirk.

Likening something to something may be praiseworthy or blameworthy. There is no sin more serious than Shirk. The fact that Riya has been compared to Shirk, suffices to indicate the degree of gravity of Riya. No doubt, the resemblance to Shirk may only render the thing hateful and disgusting. Thus, Riya is a disease and a vile character. The one and simple reason that suffices in its being disgusting and detestable is that it invalidates and annuls a good action which may have required a lot of sacrifice and strong-will to be achieved. It is a virus against which nothing can resist.

Riya emanates from something called Hubb-ul-Jaah which means to love grandeur or to have the desire for fame and popularity. Like all other diseases, this also is a disease that needs to be treated. Without adequate and satisfactory treatment, a person will always be spiritually ill thereby upsetting and perturbing him in his Ibaadah. It is a virus that attacks principally his Ikhlaas (sincerity) which is essential for an Ibaadah to be accepted. It is like a disease which neutralises all the good foods that one consumes. Similarly, no Ibaadah is accepted in the presence of this disease. Thus, it is a very serious disease which needs a good treatment at all costs otherwise there will be great misfortune.

[English version of "Riya" – Al Jamiat – Vol.7 No.8]