FatwaFederal TerritoriesEthics, Remembrance & Supplication
AL-KAFI #824 : BUAT SESUATU BUKAN NIAT MENUNJUK. ADAKAH ITU RIYA'?
What is riya' (showing off), and is performing an act of worship openly without the intention to show off considered riya'?
Short answer
Riya' is displaying something that is not in one's heart so that people regard one as strong in religion, and a hadith calls it minor shirk.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Ethics, Remembrance & Supplication
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Riya' is displaying something that is not in one's heart so that people regard one as strong in religion, and a hadith calls it minor shirk. Obligatory acts of worship, such as congregational prayer, must still be performed even if riya' creeps in, while striving to remove it. For optional acts such as charity, it is better to do them in secret if riya' may arise. Displaying a good deed with the intention of encouraging others to follow a good practice is permitted.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Jika sekiranya menunjuk itu dengan niat sebagai menggalakkan seseorang untuk mengikuti sebagai satu sunnah yang baik maka dibolehkan.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “AL-KAFI #824 : BUAT SESUATU BUKAN NIAT MENUNJUK. ADAKAH ITU RIYA'?”, 3 October 2018. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/2630-al-kafi-824-buat-sesuatu-bukan-niat-menunjuk-adakah-itu-riya. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/meaning-of-riya-and-open-worship-ruling/