Sincerity and Righteous Deeds

Leaving Good Deeds Out of Fear of Showing Off

A concise clarification from Shaykh Zayd al-Madkhalī explaining that abandoning righteous deeds due to fear of showing off is a trick of Shayṭān. The advice emphasises sincerity, reliance upon Allah ﷻ, and consistent supplication to protect intentions and increase righteous actions.

September 6, 2016

Questioner:

What is the ruling on leaving righteous actions due to the fear of showing off?

Shaykh Zayd al-Madkhalī:

This is not permissible. This is from the trickery of the Shayṭān in the minds of the believers – meaning he deprives him from the reward of righteous actions. So put your trust in Allāh and make your intention sincerely for Allāh and act [righteously] inwardly and outwardly.

Every time you have the opportunity then act and ask Allāh for two things;

He makes your action a righteous one.
He makes it sincerely for His Noble Face.

Supplicate and nothing will harm you. Likewise, after that the narrated supplication should not be forgotten by the Muslims,

‘O’ Allah , I seek refuge in you least I associate partners with you whilst knowing and I ask your forgiveness for that which you know.’

This removes the whispers [from the Shayṭān].

So Allāh’s help is sought in increasing the performance of the righteous deeds and the removal of those whispers which is a way to deprive the slave from carrying out righteous deeds.