In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Everyone knows manifest Shirk which is the ascribing of equals or partners to Allah either by associating something with Allah in worship and obedience or in His exclusive attributes.
We all know doing this is clearly haram (forbidden) and that a person who does this has committed a grave sin, and all their good deeds will not be accepted on the Day of Judgment.
Allah Almighty says,
وَلَقَدْ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ وَإِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكَ لَئِنْ أَشْرَكْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَلَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ ﴿٦٥[Qur'an, Az-Zumar 39:65]
And it was already revealed to you and to those before you that if you should associate [anything] with Allah, your work would surely become worthless, and you would surely be among the losers. (65)
The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) said: "Allah says, "I am most independent and free from needing partners. Whoever does a deed associating something in it with me, he and his shirk are forsaken." [Muslim]
Hidden Shirk is that one, in his or her vocation in life, in material and religious objectives and in profit and loss, though holds the belief that Allah is the Maker and Mover of things yet, in practice, takes others as such, and pins all efforts and hopes on them, or is a hypocrite in acts of worship, offering prayers correctly to show off before others, or spends in charity to earn a good name for himself, or actually, in practice, takes someone other than Allah to be the controlling authority in profit and loss.
From Abu Sa'eed al-Khudhriyy (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said:"Shall I not inform you of what I fear most for you than al-Maseeh ad-Dajjaal?" They said, "Yes O Messenger of Allah!" He said, "Hidden shirk (riyaa'). A man stands to pray, so he beautifies his prayer when he notices someone looking at him."[Ibn Maajah, al-Bayhaqi]
Abu Musa al-Ash`ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger ﷺ delivered a sermon to them one day and said, "O People! Fear this Shirk (meaning riyaa), for it is more inconspicuous than the crawling of an ant."
Only the sincere believer recognizes hidden shirk and feels pain and sadness if he should succumb to it from time to time; but others practice it continually, without even being aware of it. Those are the people who just follow Islam because their parents did and have forgotten Allah to such an extent that opinions of people become all-important.
Deeds done merely for worldly reasons or for the attainment of things in the world: if the person's intent is always for this goal, without having the objective of doing things for the Face of Allah and the abode of the Hereafter, then there will be no reward for him in the Hereafter for these works. Acts characterized in this manner will not be found in the hearts of the believers, as the believer, even if his faith is weak will certainly bring the goal of Allah and the abode of the Hereafter in mind.
As for the one who does such acts for the Face of Allah, as well as for the sake of the world; these objectives being equal or approximately so, then these will, if he is a believer, diminish his faith, tawheed (belief in the Oneness of Allah) and sincerity. His deed will be diminished because he has forsaken complete sincerity in them.
"If someone makes himself heard, Allah will make him heard (that which he concealed); and if someone shows off, Allah will expose him". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The primary cause of riyaa' is a weakness in Iman (faith). When a person does not have strong faith in Allah, he will prefer the admiration of people over the pleasure of Allah.
There are three symptoms that are indicative of riyaa', and it is essential that a believer avoid all of them -- love of praise, fear of criticism, greed for people's possession
1. Love of Praise
As mentioned in a hadith of the first three people being thrown into the hellfire; the scholar (who taught for fame), the martyr (who fought for fame), and the person who gave his money in charity (so people would say he is generous). All three of these people desired the pleasure of people over the pleasure of Allah. The person who desires the praise of people must feel some pride in himself, for he feels himself worthy of being praised. There is a danger, therefore, of him becoming arrogant and boastful.
Abu Hurayrah quoted Allah's Messenger ﷺ warning about a person's adoration of himself:
There are three destructive things: desires that are followed, greediness that is obeyed, and a person's self-admiration and conceit; and this is the worst of the three.
Allah also warned against falling into the category of those Christians and Jews whom the Qur`an mentions:
لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أَتَوا۟ وَّيُحِبُّونَ أَن يُحْمَدُوا۟ بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا۟ فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّهُم بِمَفَازَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿١٨٨
And never think that those who rejoice in what they have perpetrated and like to be praised for what they did not do - never think them [to be] in safety from the punishment, and for them is a painful punishment. (188) [Qur'an, AleImran 3:188]
2. Fear of Criticism
No one likes to be criticized. The dislike of criticism regarding religious practices may be divided into two categories:
a) The first category 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:
يُجَـٰهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَخَافُونَ لَوْمَةَ لَآئِمٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ ...[Qur'an Al-Maa`idah 5:54]
...they strive in the cause of Allah and do not fear the blame of a critic. That is the favor of Allah; He bestows it upon whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing. (54)
b) The second category 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 criticize 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 criticize him for praying at home, or to think that he is not praying at all.
3. Greed for people's possessions
If a person covets what other people possess, whether it is rank, money or power, then he will wish them to envy him similarly. For example, if he is jealous of a position of a certain person in society, he will try by every possible means to attain the same position. Such desires lead people to spend their lives putting on a show for other people so that they will admire their rank, money, or power.
These three categories are implied in the following statement of the Prophet ﷺ. Abu Musa related that a person came to the Prophet ﷺ 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 ﷺ 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." [al-Bukhari]
Some examples of deliberate hidden shirk:
1. Lengthening the prayer, or perhaps, only the period of prostration in front of others.
2. Purposely displaying the effects of fasting, jihad or other deeds on the body.
3. Wearing certain clothing known to be that of ascetics or scholars, or taking care to be seen with them.
4. Speaking unnecessarily about good deeds done previously, seeking admiration.
5. Lowering the voice to imply fear of Allah or others affected mannerisms.
6. Showing off knowledge or skills in conversation or using the remembrance of Allah repeatedly to give an impression.
Some things we might imagine to be Shirk but are not:
1. Wearing good clothes - this is not blameworthy unless it is done in conceit, for the purpose of showing off or involves extravagance and waste.
"When Allah blesses His servant with a blessing, He likes to see it upon him". [At-Tabarani]
2. Setting a good example for others (as a means of teaching)
3. Increasing the amount of worship when one is among a group of worshipers is not considered to be showing off, because the normal wish of a believer is to worship Allah, being with a group helps him to overcome certain obstacles (such as his own forgetfulness or laziness).
How to bring back ourselves to the true worship of Allah?
Some scholars advised:
"Remove the causes of riyaa` from yourself by considering the opinion of people as important to you as animals and small children. Do not differentiate in your worship between the presence of people or their absence, or between their knowledge of your actions and their ignorance. Rather be conscious of the infinite knowledge of Allah alone."
Some Ways to Avoid Riyaa'
1. Making abundance remembrance of Allah (dhikr).
2. Remember the greatness of Allah and how insignificant and the fleeting nature of this world is. Remember that the ultimate source of all benefit and harm to yourself and all beings is Allah. Remember that Allah looks into your heart, not your form.
3. Increasing knowledge of Islam and having knowledge of Riyaa`
4. Du`aa
The Prophet ﷺ taught the specific du`aa for Riyaa':
Allahumma innaa na`oothu bika an-nushrika bika shay`an na`lamuhu, wa nastagfiruka limaa laa na`lamuh
[O Allah, we seek refuge in you from committing shirk knowingly, and ask your forgiveness for (the shirk that we may commit unknowingly"]
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet ﷺ used to supplicate (in these words):
اللهم إني أعوذ بك من شر ما عملت ومن شر ما لم أعمل
Allahumma inni audhu bika min sharri ma 'amiltu, wa min sharri ma lam a'mal
"O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the evil of that which I have done and the evil of that which I have not done." [Muslim].
5. Reflecting upon Heaven and Hell
6. Hiding one's good deeds. Make a conscious effort to do more righteous deeds secretly without mentioning them until it becomes a habit.
7. Reflecting upon your shortcomings. Once you realized your mistakes, immediately turn to Allah in earnest repentance, asking forgiveness and correcting yourself thereafter.
8. Being with the pious and the righteous. Being with the righteous may also mean studying the life and works of righteous people of the past.
9. Choosing your friends carefully. Take friends and companions who you consider to be sincere, righteous and God-fearing. Encourage them to point out your faults and help you to overcome them. Accept advice without anger and try to follow that which is conducive to improvement.
10. Finally, do not let shaytan prevent your good works by suggesting that you are showing off. If you find something of that within, continue your work but correct your intention, seeking acceptance from Allah alone. For in Allah's acceptance is salvation and success.
رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ ﴿٨﴾ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ جَامِعُ ٱلنَّاسِ لِيَوْمٍ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ ﴿٩[Qur'an, AleImran 3:8-9]
"Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower. (8) Our Lord, surely You will gather the people for a Day about which there is no doubt. Indeed, Allah does not fail in His promise." (9)
May Allah protect us from all forms of shirk and grant us sincerity in worship. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
No comments:
Post a Comment