> Riyaa - Hidden Shirk

[Pk_#2]

Bismillah-Ir-Rahman-Ir-Raheem,

AsalamuALaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh,

Mahmood ibn Labeed reported that the Allah's Messenger said, "The thing that I fear most for you is the minor Shirk; Riya" (Ahmad in his Musnad)

Aboo Sa`eed reported that the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) came to us while we were discussing about Dajjal and said, "Should I not inform you of that which I fear for you even more than the dangers of Dajjal? It is the hidden Shirk; A person stands to pray, and he beautifies his prayer because he seeas the people looking at him." (Sunan Ibn Majah vol. 2, #3389)

Aboo Moosa al-Ash`aree reported that Allah's Messenger delivered a sermon to them one day and said, "O People! Fear this Shirk (meaning riya), for it is more inconspicous than the crawling of an ant." (Authenticated in Saheeh al Targheeb wat-Tarheeb, no. 33)

The causes of Riya

The primary cause of riya is a weakness in Eeman. When a person does not have strong faith in Allah, he will prefer the admiration of people over the pleasure of Allah.

1] The love of Praise---as mentioned in a hadeeth of the first three people being thrown into the hellfire; the scholar (who taught for fame), the martyr (who faught for fame), and the person who gave his money in charity (so people would say he is generous).

Aboo Hurayrah quoted Allah's Messenger (saw) as saying: "Allah, Most Great and Glorious said: Pride is My cloak, and greatness is My robe, so whoever competes with Me, with respect to either of them, I shall cast him into Hell" (Saheeh Muslim, vol. 4 #6349, Sunan Aboo Dawood, vol. 3 #4079)

May Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'ala) save us from this, Ameen (Say Ameen),

2] Fear Of Criticism

No one likes to be criticised. The dislike of criticism regarding religious practices may be divided into two catagories:

a] The first catagory is that of a person who neglects a commandment of Allah in order to avoid the criticism of his peers. However, the true believers are described in the Qur`an as follows: "...They do not fear the criticism of those who criticize. And this is the blessing of Allah; He gives it to whomsoever He wishes. Verily, Allah is Self-Sufficient, All Knowing. " (Al-Ma`idah : 54)

b] The second catagory is that of a person who obeys certain commandments of Islam, not for the sake of Allah, but because he fears people will look down on him and criticise him if he does not do it. For example, a man may make his formal prayers in the mosque because he does not want people to crticise him for praying at home, or to think that he is not praying at all.

3] Greed for people's possessions

Abu Musa related that a person came to the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) and asked: "A person fights to defend his honor (i.e. to avoid criticism), another to prove his bravery (i.e. to be praised for it), and a third to show off (i.e. so that his position can be seen); of these three, which one fights in the way of Allah? " He (Salallahu ALayhi Wassalam) answered:

"Whoever fights to make the word of Allah prevalent [i.e. to bring honor to Islam, and to establish it in the land], he is the one who fights in the way of Allah" (Saheeh al-Bukhari vol. 4 #65),

O Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'ala) , we seek refuge in you from committing shirk knowingly, and ask for your forgiveness from the shirk that we may commit unknowingly". Ameen, (Say Ameen).

Edited extracts from: www.Islam.com

[Umm Sufyaan]

great read! jazakillahu khair :)

[Pk_#2]

Originally Posted by Umm Sufyan

great read! jazakillahu khair :)

Wa'Alaykum Salam Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh,

Wa Iyyaki, *smiles bak*

[Yanal]

MashAllah!