Hadith>Articles>Riya & Sum’a

ترجمۂ کنزالایمان: اللہ کے نام سے شروع جو نہایت مہربان رحم والا

Translation: Allah in the name of the most Affectionate the Merciful

Du’a for Reading the Book or Islamic Lesson

Read the following Du’a (supplication) before studying a religious book or Islamic lesson , you will remember whatever you study.

Translation:Ya Allah! Open the portal of knowledge and wisdom for us, and have mercy on us! O the one who is the most honourable and glorious! (Al-Mustaraf, vol. 1, pp. 40)

Note: Recite Durud Sharif once before and after the Du’a.

ترجمۂ کنزالایمان:اور اگر جب وہ اپنی جانوں پر ظلم کریں تو اے محبوب تمہارے حضور حاضر ہوں اور پھر اللہ سے معافی چاہیں اور رسول ان کی شفاعت فرمائے تو ضرور اللہ کو بہت توبہ قبول کرنے والا مہربان پائیں۔

                                                                                                      

Translation of Kanzul Iman:And if when they do justice unto their souls, then O beloved! They should come to you and then beg forgiveness of Allah and the messenger should intercede for them then surely, they would find Allah Most Relenting, Merciful (4:64)

Excellence of Durud Shareef

The Noble Rasool صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم has stated, ‘Whoever recites Salat upon me one time, Allah عزوجل sends ten mercies upon him.’ (Sahih Muslim, pp. 166, vol. 1)

Riya & Sum’a in the Light of Hadith

Hadith 1: Ibn Majah reported from Abu Sa’eed Khudri رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, whereby he says that we were discussing masih Daj’jaal[1], when Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم appeared and said, ‘Should I not inform you in regards to that, which I fear for you, more than masih Daj’jaal’. We said ‘Ya Rasool’Allah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم what is it?’ He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘It is Shirk-e-Khafi[2], (whereby) a person stands up to perform his Namaaz and he then increases it, because he notices that another person is observing him performing Namaaz’.

Hadith 2: Imam Ahmed reported on the authority of Mahmood bin Labeed رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘That which I fear most for you is Shirk-e-Asghar[3] ’.  The people asked regarding what shirk-e-asghar was, and Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Riya’. In the Hadith of Baihaqi, the following is additional to the narration (mentioned above): The day on which the servants will be recompensed for their deeds, Allah will say to those who showed Riya, ‘Go to those whose attention you desired when performing your deeds’. Go there and see if you will attain any reward or benefit (from them).

Hadith 3: Imam Ahmed, Tirmizi and Ibn Majah reported from Abu Sa’eed bin Abi Fudaala رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘When Almighty Allah gathers all the first and the last (of the people) on that day regarding which there is no doubt, then an announcer will announce: One who performed any deed for Allah and took in it any partner, should seek its reward from the one whom he took as a partner, for Allah is completely free from shirk (having partners associated to Him)’.

Hadith 4: It is in Sahih Muslim from Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Allah ta’aala said I am free of partnership from all partners. One who has performed any deed and associated in it a partner to me, and then I shall leave him with ‘Shirk’.’ In other words, I will not grant him any reward. It has been mentioned in another narration that: ‘I am absolved of him. He is with him, for whom he performed the deed’.

Hadith 5: In Sahih Muslim it is reported from Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Allah ta’aala does not look at your appearances and your financial standing (wealth). He (Allah) looks at your heart and your deeds’.

Hadith 6: It is in Bukhari and Muslim from Jundub (in other words) Abu Zirr رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘One who does things so that others hear about it (i.e. to invite praises from the people). Then Allah will have him hear, (in other words) Allah will punish him for it and for the one who commits Riya, Allah will give him the punishment for Riya’.

Hadith 7: Tabrani and Haakim have reported on the authority of Ibn Umar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہما that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Even the lowest form of Riya is regarded as shirk (i.e. a type of associating partners to Allah). The closest of all servants to Allah, are the ones who are pious (virtuous), and who are hidden (i.e. out of sight). If they have vanished, none searches for them, and when they give testimony, then none recognises them. They are the ‘Imams (Leaders) of Guidance’ and ‘Lamps of knowledge’.

Hadith 8: Ibn Majah reported that one day when Hazrat Umar-e- Farooq رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ went to the Musjid-un-Nabwi[4], he found Hazrat Mu’az رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ weeping close to the Rauda-e-Anwar[5] of Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم. Hazrat Umar asked, ‘Why are you crying?’ Hazrat Mu’az رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ said, ‘I heard one thing from Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم and the (thought) of it is causing me to weep. I heard Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم say that, ‘Even a small amount of Riya is shirk, and whosoever makes enmity with a Wali[6], he has picked a war with Allah.’ Allah ta’aala keeps the virtuous, the pious and the hidden ones as His Chosen Friends. They are those, that when they disappear, none looks for them, and when they are present, then none invites them and none allows them any closeness (i.e. people keep away from them). Their hearts are ‘Lamps of Guidance’ (and) they emerge from dust filled darkness (in other words, they are detached from all difficulties and misfortunes)’.’

Hadith 9: Imam Bukhari reported from Abu Tameema that he says that he was in the company of Safwan and his friends (and) Jundub were giving them some advice. They said, ‘enlighten us if you have heard anything from Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم’, Jundub رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ said, ‘I heard Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم saying, ‘One who does any deed so that others hear of it (and praise him), then on the Day of Qiyaamat, Allah will cause him to hear (i.e. Allah will punish him) and cause him suffering.’ They said, ‘Give us some advice!’ He said, ‘The first thing to rot, shall be the stomach of man, so whosoever of you is able to, he should only eat from that which is pure (halaal). They should do just that, and whoever is able to, should not allow even a handful of blood to be a hindrance between him and Jannat (in other words he should not kill anyone unjustly)’.

Hadith 10: Imam Ahmed reported from Shad’daad bin Aws. He says; I heard Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم saying, ‘The one who performs (his) Namaaz with Riya has committed ‘shirk’, and the one who keeps fast with Riya has committed ‘Shirk’, and the one who gave out Sadqa with Riya has committed ‘Shirk’.’

Hadith 11: Imam Ahmed reported from Shad’daad bin Aws رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that he was weeping and someone asked the reason for him weeping. He said, ‘I am recalling something which I heard from Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم and it is causing me to weep. I heard Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم say, ‘I fear (the threat) of ‘Shirk’ and concealed lust for my Ummah’. I said, ‘Ya Rasool’Allah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم! Will your Ummah commit ‘Shirk’ after you?’ He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Yes, but they shall not worship the sun, the moon, or the stones and idols, but they shall display Riya in their A’maal[7], and Shahwat-e-Khufiya[8] refers to this, that he shall keep fast in the morning and then break it due to some desire’.’

Hadith 12: Imam Ahmed, Muslim and Nasa’i have reported from Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘On the Day of Qiyaamat, accountability will first be taken from a person who was martyred. He will be brought forth. Allah ta’aala will question him in regards to the good things he bestowed upon him, (and) he will recognised the good things (blessings) (in other words, he will acknowledge them)’. He will be asked, ‘What deeds have you performed compared to these blessings?’ He will say, ‘I made Jihad (i.e. fought) in your path, until I was martyred’. Allah will say, ‘You are a liar! The only reason for which you fought was so that people may refer to you as a courageous person, and this has been already said’. It will be commanded for him to be dragged on his face and thrown into hell-fire. Then, a person who acquired knowledge and taught it and one who learnt the Qur’an will be brought forth. He will be questioned with regards to the blessings bestowed upon him (and) he will recognize (acknowledge) these blessings. He will be asked, ‘What deeds have you performed compared to these blessings?’ I acquired and taught (imparted) knowledge for your sake and learnt the Qur’an’. It will be said (to him), ‘You are a liar! You acquired knowledge only so that you may be called an Aalim and you learnt the Qur’an so that you may be called a Qaari, so this has already been said to you’. He will be dragged on his face and thrown into hell-fire. A third person will then be brought forth, to whom Allah had granted abundance and He granted him all kinds of wealth abundantly. He will question him with regards to the blessings which He bestowed upon him, (and) he will recognise (acknowledge) them. He will be asked, ‘what deeds have you performed compared to these blessings? There is no path beloved to you, in which I did not spend for Your sake’. It will be said, ‘you are a liar! You only spent, so that you may be recognised as a generous person, so it has been said. The command will be given for him as well, and he too will be dragged by the face and thrown into hell-fire’.

Hadith 13: Bukhari has reported in Taarikh and Tirmizi reported from Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Ask Allah’s refuge from ‘Jabb Al Huzn’. This is an abyss in jahanum, and even jahanum seeks refuge from it four hundred times daily. Those Qur’a who displayed Riya in their actions will be thrown into it and those Qur’a who go out to visit the wealthy (leaders), are the ones most deserving of Allah’s Wrath’.

Hadith 14: It is in Tabrani Awsat from Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘One who is adorned by the actions of the hereafter but he neither intends for the hereafter, nor does he seek the hereafter, (then) then he is cursed in the skies and on the earth’.

Hadith 15: Haakim reported from Ibn Ab’bas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہما that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘‘Shirk’ in my Ummah is more concealed than the motion of an ant which crawls on small pieces of (greasy) rock’.

Hadith 16: Imam Ahmed and Tabrani reported from Abu Musa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah  صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّمsaid, ‘O People! Abstain from ‘Shirk’, for it is more concealed than the motion of an ant’. The People asked, ‘Ya Rasool’Allah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم! How can we abstain (i.e. protect ourselves) from ‘shirk’?’ He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Recite this Dua:

اَللّٰھُمَّ اِنَّا نَعُوْذُ بِکَ اَنْ نُشْرِکَ بِکَ شَیْأاً نَعْلَمُہٗ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُکَ لِمَا لَا نَعْلَمُہٗ .

‘O Allah! We ask refuge in You from knowingly associating any partner to You, and we ask deliverance (forgiveness) for that which we know not.’

Hadith 17: Tabrani reported from Adi bin Haatim رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘The command will be given for certain people to be taken to Jannat. When they arrive close to Jannat and they acquire its fragrance, and when they see the Mansions and all the other provisions which Allah ta’aala has provided for the Jannatis, a command will be given, (which will say), bring them back! They have no share in Jannat. These people shall return with sorrow (and regret), which such sorrow that none has ever felt before, and they will say, ‘O Lord! If you had only entered us into hell in the first instance and not shown us the rewards and all that which you have provided (therein) for your beloveds, then it would have been easier for us to bear’. He will say, ‘this was my objective, O wretched ones! When you were alone, you used to challenge Me with enormous sins and when you would meet with the people, then you met them with humility. Your actions before the people were contrary to my honour which was in your heart. You feared the people, yet you did not fear Me. You respected the people, yet you did not respect Me. You abstained from sinning for the people, yet you did not abstain from sinning for My sake, so today, I shall cause you to undergo punishment (and torment) and I will deprive you of (any) reward’.’

Hadith 18: Tirmizi reported from Anas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘For the one who wishes to seek the hereafter, Allah will enrich his heart, and He will gather (for him) his needs and the world will come to him out of favour. For the one who seeks the world (i.e. one who has materialist desires), Allah will bring forth poverty and dependence before his eyes and his needs will be dispersed (i.e. he will find difficulty arranging his life) and he will only acquire that, which has been written for him’.

Hadith 19: It is in Sahih Muslim from Abu Zirr رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم was asked in this regard ‘(Is it regarded as Riya or not), if a person does good things and people praise him (for it)?’ He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘This is swiftness (i.e. glad tidings) for a true believer on earth’.

Hadith 20: Tirmizi reported from Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ (whereby) he says, ‘I said Ya Rasool’Allahصلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم ! I was in the privacy of my home performing Namaaz, when a visitor noticed me in this condition, and I felt good that he had seen me in this condition. (Is this not Riya)!’ He  said, ‘Abu Hurairah! For you there is two fold rewards. One is for performing Ibaadat secretly (i.e. for trying to conceal your Ibaadat), and the other for performing Ibaadat explicitly’. This is in the case where one does not perform Ibaadat with the intention of it being evident to the people and so that they may regard him as an Aabid (Devout worshipper). The Ibaadat is solely for Allah and if after performing the Ibaadat, it becomes open to the people, and it feels good to you naturally that people saw you in a good condition, then this natural happiness is not regarded as Riya.

Hadith 21: Baihaqi reported from Anas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘To point the finger (i.e. gesture) towards someone in Deen and Worldly affairs is sufficient to harm a person, except for him whom Allah has protected’. In other words, it is very difficult for a person who people regard as a good person, to protect himself from Riya and vanity, except for the person on whom is Allah’s special Favour.

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[1] Masih Daj’jaal here refers to the false messiah.

[2] Shirk-e-Khafi refers to minor shirk, i.e. a hidden form of polytheism.

[3] Shirk-e-Asghar refers to a lesser (i.e. concealed) form of polytheism.

[4] Musjid-un-Nabwi is the Sanctified Haram, i.e. the Mosque of Rasoolullahصلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم 

[5] Rauda-e-Anwar refers to the Sacred and Sanctified Grave of Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم

[6] A Wali is a friend of Allah ta’aala. They have been blessed with the ability to be of assistance to the servants of Allah, whilst they are in this world and even after passing from this world.

[7] A’maal refers to deeds and actions.

[8] Shahwat-e-Khufiya, refers to concealed lust.

Ya Allah عزوجل of Mustafa  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم! We make sincere Dua that  blesses us all with strength in Imaan and true love for the Holy Prophet  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلمand for all those who follow that which has been taught and commanded by Him. Amin! (Source: Extracted from Bahaar-e-Shariat Volume 16)

Courtesy: Imam Mustafa Raza Research Center

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