From the chapter of ‘Sincerity': Tanbih Al-Ghafileen

It was said:

“The likeness of the one who performs good deeds in order to show off and have a good reputation is like the one who goes out to the marketplace and fills his bags with stones, and as a result, the people say:”Look at how stuffed this man’s bags are!” So, he gains nothing except what the people say about him, and if he wishes to trade these stones for something, he will get nothing in return for them.

Similarly, the one who performs good deeds for show-off and reputation; there is no benefit for him in his actions other than what the people say about him, and no reward awaits him in the Hereafter, as Allah – the Exalted – says: {“And We shall turn to whatever deeds they did, and Weshall make them as scattered floating particles of dust.”} [al-Furqan;23]

“Who is the sincere one? It was answered: “The sincere one is the one who hideshis good deeds the same way he hides his bad deeds.”

“Preserving an act of obedience is more difficult than performing it, because it is like a glass lamp that is easily broken and cannot withstand rough treatment. Likewise, the good action, if itis exposed to show-off, it breaks. And if it is exposed to its performer being pleased with himself,then it breaks. If a person wants to perform an action and fears that he will show-off with it, then if he is able to throw out this riya’ from his heart, then he should exert all efforts in doing so. If he is unable to do so, then he should not abandon performing this act because of the possibility of showing off;rather, he should perform it, then seek Allah’s forgiveness for what he might have had of riya’. It might be that Allah will guide him to having sincerity in other actions of his.”

“First, expose your secrets in front of the righteous. If they are pleased with you, then know that you are righteous. If they are not, then you are not righteous.

Second, offer the dunya to your heart. If it rejects it, then know that you are righteous.If it accepts it, then you are not.

Third: offer the possibility of death to your soul. If it longs for death,then know that you are righteous. If not, then you are not.

If these three characteristics are combined in you, then ask Allah to prevent any show-off from entering upon your actions so that they would not become ruined.

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