ANSWERED: Qur'an Recitation in Prayer and Showing Off

[Omar HH]

Lets say you want to read a big chapter from the Qur'an as Imam in Jama'ah prayer. Then you say to yourself "I kind of want to show off to the others that I know this verse". But you also know longer recitations give more reward (at least thats what I think it is). So do you continue with going with the long one or avoid it because you fear showing off.

Jazakallah wa Khayrun

[anfaas]

assalam`alaikum

Those are all wasawas from the shaitaan. You should always check your niyaah but when the shaitan tricks you to do lesser things for the fear of Riya then the `ulema have advised not to listen to him.

Similar is the case for everything else that falls into that category, one should try to do Nafl acts in private so as to avoid riya.

I heard this from Shaykh Hamza Yusuf.

Wassalam,

--Moin

[Shaykhs-Pir Sahib]

as salamu alaykum

...interesting. I did hear from Shaykh Nuh (please correct me if i am wrong anyone - i will check) that if one has made the intention to pray or even the lead the prayer with no thoughts of riya.... and then recite to 'show-off' in the middle of the prayer, i think he said it does not count as riya. i will check up on this... and post back insha Allah.

[A D I D A S]

As is the intention of your action, so will be your resurrection.

Whatever is done should be done solely for Allah's pleasure. According to the views of our salaf (saintly men of spiritual experience and opinion) NOT SALAFIS whatever effort is being made with this (the above) intention will Inshallah not go unrewareded. Yes, there is absolutley no doubt that it is an indispensable precondition of any righteous work that sincerity should be its prime motive and that it should be for Allah's pleasure.

A part of a hadeeth to the nearest meaning: An Alim (scholar) will be called to be reckoned with. Allah will remind him of the great favours bestowed upon him and he will acknowledge them. Then he shall be asked as to the manner in which he gave the rights due for these favours. He will reply: ''I set out to acquire knwledge, taught people and recited the Quran and taught it.''
The reply shall come: ''An untruth have you spoken. All that was indeed done but, so that people may say: 'this was a grand scholar, a GOOD RECITER. And this object of yours had been attained for ppl did say that.'''
Thereafter a command shall be given that he be cast into the fire.

Reports with this same theme are numerous in Hadeeth Kitabs (books). It is thus of the utmost importance that whatever works of good are done, should be done for Allah's sake and Allah's sake alone. There are some such works where the chances and possibility of doing things for the sake of fame and name are more stronger. Similiarly, in some fields the temptations to work for worldly selfish gain are more tempting than in others. It stands to reason that where THE TEMPTATIONS ARE STRONGER, THE PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY US MUSLIMS SHOULD BE GREATER.
Hope this answers your question.