Allah Almighty says: {although they were commanded only to worship Allah with sincere devotion to Him, being inclined to true faith} [Surat al-Bayyinah: 5] He also says: {do not nullify your charities with reminders and hurtful words, like the one who spends his wealth to show off before people, but does not believe in Allah or the Last Day} [Surat al-Baqarah: 264] Allah Almighty also says: {Whenever they stand up for prayer, they stand up reluctantly, only to be seen by people, and they do not remember Allah but a little} [Surat al-Nisā’: 142]
1) Ostentation here refers to the case where a person worships his Lord, the Exalted, but he does this in a better manner so that people would see him (and admire his worship).
2) Allah accepts only one’s religion that is based upon sincere worship.
3) Ostentation is a reason for having one’s deeds rendered worthless.
1616/1- Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) also reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: “Allah Almighty said: ‘I am the One Who is most free from want of partners. Whoever does a deed and associates others with Me in it, I leave him to his Shirk (polytheism).’” [Narrated by Muslim]
1) One of the forms of Shirk is when one’s acts of worship are tarnished with ostentation.
2) Ostentation is dispraised and strictly warned of because it is minor Shirk that leads to falling into major Shirk that Allah Almighty does not forgive.
1617/2- He also reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: The first to be judged on the Day of Judgment is a man who was martyred. He will be brought and Allah will remind him of His favor [upon him], which he will recognize. Allah will say: “What did you do in gratitude for that favor?” He will say: “I fought for Your sake until I was martyred.” Allah will say: “You have lied. You fought so it would be said that you were brave, and it was said.” It will be commanded that he be dragged on his face until he is thrown in the Fire. And a man who acquired knowledge, taught it, and recited the Qur’an. He will be brought and Allah will remind him of His favor [upon him], which he will recognize. Allah will say: “What did you do in gratitude for that favor?” He will say: “I acquired knowledge and taught it, and I recited the Qur’an for Your sake.” Allah will say: “You have lied. You learned so it would be said that you were a scholar, and you recited the Qur’an so it would be said that you were a reciter, and it was said.” It will be commanded that he be dragged on his face until he is thrown in the Fire. And a man for whom Allah expanded his resources and gave him from all types of wealth. He will be brought and Allah will remind him of His favor [upon him] which he will recognize. Allah will say: “What did you do in gratitude for that favor?” He will say: “I left no path wherein You love that wealth be spent except that I spent therein for Your sake.” Allah will say: “You have lied. You did that so it would be said that you were generous, and it was said.” It will be commanded that he be dragged on his face until he is thrown in the Fire. [Narrated by Muslim]
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1) Ostentation in deeds is prohibited, and its severe punishment is explained.
2) It is obligatory to observe sincerity to Allah in all deeds, because the validity and acceptance of deeds are mainly based on the doer’s sincere intention and his compliance with the guidance of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
3) One should always be keen on purifying and educating his self, and on striving against it in order for it to be sincerely devoted to Allah Almighty.
1618/3- Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that some people said to him: ”We enter upon our rulers and say to them things contrary to what we say when we leave them. Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) replied: “In the days of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), we considered this an act of hypocrisy.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
1) One should constantly offer advice, enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil lest he falls into committing any kind of hypocrisy.
2) Proper understanding of Shariah texts and the levels of purification of the soul is to be derived from the guidance of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) since they were the most knowledgeable of the Ummah and the most sincere and closest to the prophetic era. Definitely, closeness to the prophetic era guarantees greater likeliness of correctness.
1619/4- Jundub ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Sufyān (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever displays his deeds to people (out of ostentation), Allah will display his humiliation (on the Day of Judgment). And whoever intends by his (good) deeds that people admire him, Allah will expose his true intention.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Muslim also narrated it on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father).
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1) Whoever shows off by his deeds, Allah Almighty will expose him before all the creation on the Day of Judgment.
2) It is recommended to conceal good deeds, unless there is an interest in making them known.
1620/5- Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever learns such knowledge that is sought for the sake of Allah, and he learns it only for worldly gains, he will not smell the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Judgment.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd with an authentic Isnād]
And the Hadīths in this regard are many and well-known.
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1) Muslims are urged to learn Shariah knowledge for the sake of attaining the pleasure of Allah alone.
2) Reforming one’s intention is a significant matter, because intention is the criterion of having one’s deeds accepted.