Desiring to be Elevated and Popular

Från: Umm_Amatillaah (Ursprungligt meddelande) Skickat: 2005-01-17 10:43
Bismillah
As salamu 'alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatoh
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CAUSES:

The primary cause of riyaa is weak imaan. When a person does not have strong faith in Allaah-- no matter how much they pretend to have it in the eyes of others-- he or she will prefer the admiration of people, or of a certain person, over the pleasure of Allaah. There are three symptoms that are indicative of riyaa and it is important that a believer avoid all of them.

1 - The Love of Praise

Aboo Hurairah (radi Allaahu anhu) quoted the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) as saying
"Three things destroy: desires that are followed, greediness that is obeyed, and a person's self-admiration and conceit: and this is the worst of the three!" [Saheeh in Mishkaat al Masaabih vol.2 #1061]

Allaah says:

"Think not that those who rejoice in what they have done (or brought about), and love to be praised for what they have not done,- think not you that they are rescued from the torment, and for them is a painful torment." [3:188]

This is why the Companions radi Allaahu 'anhum feared GREATLY to even be put in a situation where they would be praised. Abdur Rahmaan ibn Abi Laylee reported "I met over 120 of the Prophet's companions from among the Ansaar. Whenever any of them was asked for a religious verdict, he wished that someone else would answer it for him." [Sunan ad-Daarimi vol. 1 #53 and ibn Sa'd in at-Tabaqat al Kubra, authenticated by al-Hilaali in ar-Riya]

It should be remembered that one of the characteristics of a true believer is feeling uneasy about being praised because he realizes the great danger that this presents to his intentions.

In Kitaab al Ikhlaas we find some scholars wrote: "It is possible that a worshipper tries to avoid riyaa, but when other people mention his deeds, and praise him, he does not react to such praise with uneasiness and dislike. Rather he feels happy and thinks that such praise will make his worship easier for him. This feeling is a very subtle manifestation of hidden SHIRK.... And it is also possible that person tries to hide his deeds, but when other people meet him, he expects that they will be first to greet him, and treat him in a nice manner. He hopes that they will be enthusiastic about helping him in his needs, and be gentle with him about their transactions, and give him space in a gathering. If they do not do this, he feels cheated, since he expects good treatment and respect for the act of worship that he is doing..." [page 60]

2 - Fear of Criticism

no one likes to be criticized. the fact that we can't accept criticism has something to do with our pride, the shaytaan plays with this more than anything else because pride is something hidden in us and not as recognizable, as for instance, committing an outward physical act such as zina. To show the gravity of having pride, take from the following verses about Iblees.

"And surely, We created you (your father Adam) and then gave you shape (the noble shape of a human being), then We told the angels, "Prostrate to Adam", and they prostrated, except Iblees (Satan), he refused to be of those who prostrate. (Allaah) said: "What prevented you (O Iblees) that you did not prostrate, when I commanded you?" Iblees said: "I AM BETTER THAN HIM (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You created from clay." (Allaah) said: "(O Iblees) get down from this (Paradise), it is not for you to be arrogant here. Get out, for you are of those humiliated and disgraced." [7:11-13]

The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) observed:

He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of pride shall not enter Paradise. A person (amongst his hearers) said: Verily a person loves that his dress should be fine, and his shoes should be fine. He (the Prophet) remarked: Verily, Allaah is Graceful and He loves Grace. Pride is disdaining the truth (out of self-conceit) and contempt for the people. [Saheeh Muslim Book 1, Number 0164/Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas'ood]

Sufyan ibn Uyainah (rahimahullaah) said, "He whose sin is due to desires, then have hope for him. And he whose sin is due to PRIDE,
then fear for him -- because Adam disobeyed due to desire and was forgiven, and Iblees sinned due to pride and was cursed."

However, the true believer realizes that the criticism by created beings is NOTHING in comparison to criticism by the Creator. The believers are described in the Qur'aan as:

"O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion (Islam), Allaah will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him; humble towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers, fighting in the Way of Allaah, and NEVER AFRAID OF THE BLAME OF THE BLAMERS. That is the Grace of Allaah which He bestows on whom He wills. And Allaah is All ­Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All Knower." [5:54]

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 to envy him similarly. For instance if he is jealous of a certain person in society, he will try every possible means to attain the same position. Such desires lead people to spend their lives putting a show for another person or people so that they may be admired like the other. Religious acts will most likely be incorporated into the show leading inevitably into riyaa.

Aboo Moosa (radi Allaahu anhu) related that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) was asked "A person fights to defend his honor [to avoid criticism], another to prove his bravery [to be praised for it], and a third to show off [so that his position can be seen]: of these three which one fights in the way of Allaah?" the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) answered: "Whoever fights to make the word of Allaah prevalent [ to bring honor to Islaam and establish it in the land], he is the one who fights in the way of Allaah." [Bukhaaree/Muslim/Aboo Dawood]

Delaying the OBLIGATORY acts of worship, lacking the enthusiasm for worship, and public performance of good deeds are also warning signs of riyaa.

INFECTING OUR INTENTIONS BY ASPIRING TO BE "ELEVATED" IN THE END:

"And be not like those who come out of their homes boastfully and to be seen of men, and hinder (men) from the Path of Allaah. and Allaah is Muhitoon (encircling and thoroughly comprehending) all that they do." [8:47]

In a very lengthy hadeeth reported by Aboo Sa'eed al Khudri, the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) described how the believers will see Allaah on the day of judgment, and then said:

"Then Allaah will reveal His Shin, and He will allow all those who used to prostrate to Him sincerely [in this world] to prostrate, so that not a single one of them will be left [standing]. As for him who used to prostrate for the admiration of others, Allaah will make his back like a single piece [so that he cannot bend]. Every time he tries to prostrate, he will fall flat on his face..." [Saheeh Jaami, Bukhaaree/Muslim]

One should not even expect him or herself to be a famous person in the long run at all. When we do things for the sake of Allaah, it is only for the sake of Allaah IN THE ABSENCE of any expectation for fame and glory to follow us in the end. Abdullaah ibn Damrah related that Aboo Hurairah (radi Allaahu anhu) said that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said "The whole earth is cursed; all that is in it is accursed, except those [actions] which are meant for the sake of Allaah." [Saheeh in Saheeh at-Targheeb wa Tarheeb #7, Saheeh in Sunan at-Tirmidhi vol. 2 page 169 #189]

Imaam Shaafi'ee said "I have never learnt anything except that I wished THAT PEOPLE WOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT IT BEING ATTRIBUTED TO ME." [Talbees Iblees page 151]

On the commentaries on following the Sunnah of the Prophet, (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam), and the statement of Allaah

" And make us leaders for the righteous." [25:74]

Mujaahid said: "Make us a community that follows the Muttaqoon (righteous) people who preceded us, and whom those succeeding may follow." Ibn 'Aun said: "There are three things which I love for myself and for my brothers; this Sunnah which they should learn and ask about, the Qur'aan which they should understand and ask people about, and that they should leave the people except when intending to do good (for them)." [Bukhaaree vol 9, ch 2, p 282]

"Remove the causes of riyaa from yourself by considering the opinion of people as IMPORTANT to you as animals and 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 Allaah ALONE." [al Ikhlas wa ash-Shirk al Asghar page 15]

"And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaytaan (Satan) then seek refuge with Allaah. Verily, He is All-Hearer, All-Knower. Verily, those who are Al-Muttaqoon [the pious] when an evil thought comes to them from Shaytaan (Satan), they remember (Allaah), and (indeed) they then see (aright)." [7:201]

Allaah subhanahu wa ta'ala says:

"And of them there are some who believe therein, and of them there are some who believe not therein, and your Lord is All-Aware of the Mufsidoon (evil-doers, liars, etc.). And if they belie you, say: "For me are my deeds and for you are your deeds! You are innocent of what I do, and I am innocent of what you do!" [10:40-41]

Amru ibnu Hafs narrated that Abdullah ibn Mas'ood once admonished someone who asked for advice : "Be content with what you have, be satisfied with your dwelling place space to accommodate your enterprise, restrain your tongue, and shed the tears of regret for your past sins you committed knowingly, and those you do not recognize." [Aboo Na'eem]"



Article taken from Sabeelu Mu'mineen