“The Hidden Shirk”

Developing the
Muslim Personality

Presented by
Sister Ameenah
and
Sister Jordan
 Developing the
Muslim Personality
“The Hidden Shirk”
I.
What is Riyaa- the Hidden Shirk?
II.
What are the Causes and Symptoms of
Hidden Shirk ?
III.
How we can go about Curing and
Avoiding the Hidden Shirk?
Tawheed is essential to the development
of the Muslim Personality
Tawheed is the belief
in and worship of Tawheed
Allah alone without Is the Foundation
partner.
of
Islamic
Opposite of Belief
Tawheed is
Shirk
 Shirk: Allah (swt) tells us
refers to the act of in the Quran:
assigning partners
to Allah and one of
the main ways one
can commit shirk is
through worship.
This form of shirk
occurs when any act
of worship is “And I created not
directed to other Jinn and Mankind
than Allah. except that they
should worship me”
(Quran 51:56)
 What is Riyya?
The Hidden Shirk?
Definition: Hidden Shirk is the
practice of performing any various
forms of worship in order to be
seen or praised by people.

Opposite of Tawheed= SHIRK

 “Should I inform you of that which I fear for
you even more than the dangers of the Dajjal? It
is the Hidden Shirk.”
(Sahih Sunan ibn Maajah, vol. 2, pg 410 no 3389)

“Actions are only

by intention, and
every man shall
only have what he
intended.”
(Sahih Bukhari)
“Verily Allah the Exalted is
pure. He does not accept
but that which is pure.”
(Sahih Muslim)

Shirk
destroys the very purpose
of our
Creation!
 The Prophet has told us:
Allah will bring forth the severest Hour, and
“

then all the Believers, men and women, will

prostrate themselves before Him, but there
will remain those who used to prostrate in
the world for showing off and for gaining
good reputation. Such people will try to
prostrate (on the Day of Judgment) but their
backs will be as stiff as if it is one bone.”
(Sahih Bukhari Book 60, no 441)

Punishment
 The Prophet has told us,
“Whoever gains knowledge that
should be learnt for the sake of
Allah, (with) the intention of
(benefit in) this world will not even
smell the fragrance of Paradise on
the Day Of Judgment.”
(Abu Dawud vol. 3, p 1039, no 3656 and Ibn
Majah, vol.1, p144 no 252)

Humiliation
“And Al-Muttaqoon ( the
pious and righteous)
will be far removed
from it (Hell). He who
spends his wealth for
increase in self-
purification, And have
in mind no favor from
anyone for which a
reward is expected in
return, Except only the
desire to seek the
Countenance of his
Lord, the Most High;
He surely will be
pleased (when he will
enter Paradise)”
(Quran 92: 17-21)
“And they (the
believers) give
food, despite
their love for it,
to the poor, the
orphan, and the
captive,
(saying), “We
feed you seeking
only the
Blessings of
Allah’s, We
neither wish for
reward, nor
thanks from
you.”
(Quran 76:8-9)
 Disease in the Heart
“They try to deceive
Allah and those who
believe, but they
SHIRK
only deceive weakens
themselves and do
not even realize it!
the Eeman
In their hearts is a and takes
disease (of doubt us away
and hypocrisy), and
Allah has increased from
their disease….” Tawheed
(Quran 2:9-10)
In order to protect the heart from the
disease of Hidden Shirk, it is
important to know and understand
the:
….Causes of

....Symptoms of

….Cures for

….how to Avoid
Causes and Symptoms of
Hidden Shirk
There are three
symptoms of riyaa
and it is important
that a believer
avoid all of them:
The primary cause of >1. Love of
Hidden Shirk is a Praise
weakness in Eemaan. >2. Fear of
When a person does Criticism
not have strong faith in >3. Greed for
Allah, he will prefer the
admiration of people People's
over the pleasure of Possessions
Allah.
Love of Praise
The Prophet said,
“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”
(Sahih Muslim, vol. 4 #6349,
Sunan Aboo Dawood, vol. 3
#4079)
• The Love of Praise is dangerous and leads to
one becoming arrogant and boastful.
• The Prophet (saw) said:
“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”
(Sahih Muslim, vol. 4 #6349, Sunan Aboo Dawood, vol.
3 #4079)
 Do not be like the Jews or
Christians
“Do not assume that
those who rejoice in
what they have
done, and love to be
praised for what
they have not done,
think not that they
are absolved from
punishment, (but
rather) for them is
a painful torment.”
(Quran 3:188)
 Fear of Criticism
Two Categories:
First category Second Category
describes a person describes a person
who neglects a who obeys certain
commandment of commandments of
Islam, not for the
Allah in order to sake of Allah, but
avoid the criticism because he fears
of his peers. people will look
down on him and
criticize him if he
does not do it.
Pure intentions
can not exist in
the heart of a
believer that
yearns after the
possessions of
others.

Greed for People's Possessions

The Cure for and How to Avoid the
Hidden Shirk
 1. We should remember that Allah is always watching us.

 2. We should seek the help of Allah to rid ourselves of the

habit of showing off.

 3. Know the effects of showing off and how it will be

judged in the hereafter.

 4. Think about the punishment in this world for showing

off.
 5. Conceal worship and do not make a display of it.
 The Believer Can Avoid The Hidden
Shirk-Showing Off In These Ways:
• 1. By increasing knowledge of Islam

• 2. Making Du'aa to Allah.

• 3. By reflecting upon Heaven and Hell.

• 4. By hiding one's good deeds and reflecting upon your

shortcomings.

• 5. By accompanying the pious and having knowledge of

Hidden Shirk.
May Allah Help and Give us
Guidance as We
Strive to Develop the
Muslim Personality
Ameen