Hadith #4277

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states, "الرِّيَاءُ إِشْرَاكٌ" which translates to

Showing off is [a form of] ascribing partners [to Allah].

This enlightening Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights the grave sin of riya' or showing off, which is considered a form of shirk or associating partners with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

To understand the significance of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) warns us against the sin of shirk in numerous verses. In Surah Al-An'am (6:88), Allah says,

And do not invoke besides Allah that which neither benefits you nor harms you, for if you did, then indeed you would be of the wrongdoers.

This verse emphasizes the importance of sincerity in our worship, as invoking or seeking the approval of anyone other than Allah is an act of associating partners with Him.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Kahf (18:110), Allah states,

Whoever should hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone.

This verse highlights the need for pure intentions and sincere actions in our worship. Associating others with Allah in our worship, even if it is done to gain recognition or praise from others, goes against the fundamental principle of tawheed (monotheism).

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) statement sheds light on the spiritual and moral consequences of showing off. When we engage in riya', our intention shifts from seeking the pleasure of Allah to seeking the approval and admiration of others. This not only corrupts our worship but also undermines the sincerity and purity of our actions. Our deeds become tainted with hypocrisy, as we prioritize the opinions of people over the pleasure of Allah.

The consequences of riya' are severe. It diminishes the reward of our good deeds and can even nullify them altogether. In Surah Al-Munafiqun (63:5), Allah says,

And when it is said to them, 'Come, the Messenger of Allah will ask forgiveness for you,' they turn their heads aside and you see them evading while they are arrogant.

This verse describes the hypocrites who would avoid seeking forgiveness from the Prophet (ﷺ) in public, fearing that it would expose their insincerity. Their pride and desire for recognition prevented them from benefiting from the intercession of the Prophet (ﷺ).

Reflecting on Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) statement, we must strive to purify our intentions and seek the pleasure of Allah alone in all our actions. We should constantly remind ourselves that Allah is the All-Knowing and All-Seeing, and He is aware of our true intentions. Instead of seeking validation from others, we should focus on developing a deep and sincere connection with Allah, for He is the ultimate judge of our deeds.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a reminder to Muslims of the grave sin of showing off and its association with shirk. By highlighting the spiritual and moral consequences of riya', Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) urges us to prioritize sincerity and seek the pleasure of Allah in all our actions. May Allah protect us from the sin of riya' and grant us the ability to worship Him with pure intentions.