Developing theMuslim Personality

Presented bySister Ameenah

and Sister Jordan

“The Hidden Shirk”

Developing theMuslim Personality“The Hidden Shirk”

I.What is Riyaa- the Hidden Shirk?

II.What are the Causes and

Symptoms of Hidden Shirk ?III.

How we can go about Curing and Avoiding the Hidden Shirk?

Tawheed is essential to the Tawheed is essential to the development of the Muslim development of the Muslim PersonalityPersonality

Tawheed is the belief Tawheed is the belief in and worship of in and worship of

Allah alone Allah alone without partner.without partner.

Opposite of Opposite of Tawheed isTawheed is ShirkShirk

TawheedTawheedIs the Is the

FoundationFoundationof of

IslamicIslamicBeliefBelief

Shirk:refers to the act of

assigning partners to Allah

and one of the main ways one

can commit shirk is through

worship. This form of shirk

occurs when any act of worship is directed to other

than Allah.

Allah (swt) tells us in the Quran:

““And I created not And I created not Jinn and Mankind Jinn and Mankind except that they except that they should worship should worship

me”me”(Quran 51:56)(Quran 51:56)

What is Riyya?The Hidden

Shirk?

Opposite of Tawheed= SHIRK

Definition: Hidden Shirk is the practice of performing any various forms of worship in order to be seen or praised by people.

“Should I inform you of that which I fear for you even more than the dangers of the

Dajjal? It is the Hidden Shirk.”(Sahih Sunan ibn Maajah, vol. 2, pg 410 no

3389)

“Actions are only by intention, and every man shall only have what he intended.”

(Sahih Bukhari)

Shirk destroys the very

purpose of ourCreation!

“Verily Allah the Exalted is pure. He does not accept but that which is pure.”

(Sahih Muslim)

The Prophet has told us:“Allah will bring forth the severest Hour,

and then all the Believers, men and women, will prostrate themselves before

Him, but there will remain those who used to prostrate in the world for showing off and for gaining good reputation. Such people will try to

prostrate (on the Day of Judgment) but their backs will be as stiff as if it is one

bone.”(Sahih Bukhari Book 60, no 441)

Punishment

Humiliation

The Prophet has told us,“Whoever gains knowledge that should be learnt for the sake of

Allah, (with) the intention of (benefit in) this world will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise on

the Day Of Judgment.”(Abu Dawud vol. 3, p 1039, no 3656 and

Ibn Majah, vol.1, p144 no 252)

“And Al-Muttaqoon ( the pious and

righteous) will be far removed from it

(Hell). He who spends his wealth for

increase in self-purification, And have in mind no favor from

anyone for which a reward is expected in return, Except only

the desire to seek the Countenance of his

Lord, the Most High; He surely will be

pleased (when he will enter Paradise)”

(Quran 92: 17-21)

“And they (the believers) give food, despite

their love for it, to the poor, the orphan, and the

captive, (saying), “We

feed you seeking only

the Blessings of Allah’s, We

neither wish for reward, nor thanks from

you.”(Quran 76:8-9)

Disease in the Heart“They try to deceive

Allah and those who believe, but they only deceive

themselves and do not even realize it! In their hearts is a disease (of doubt

and hypocrisy), and Allah has increased

their disease….”(Quran 2:9-10)

SHIRK weakens

the Eeman and takes us away

from Tawheed

….Causes of

....Symptoms of

….Cures for

….how to Avoid

In order to protect the heart from the disease of Hidden Shirk, it is important to know and understand the:

Causes and Symptoms ofCauses and Symptoms ofHidden ShirkHidden Shirk

The primary cause of The primary cause of Hidden Shirk is a Hidden Shirk is a

weakness in Eemaan. weakness in Eemaan. When a person does When a person does not have strong faith not have strong faith

in Allah, he will in Allah, he will prefer the admiration prefer the admiration

of people over the of people over the pleasure of Allah.pleasure of Allah.

There are three There are three symptoms of symptoms of riyaa and it is riyaa and it is important that a important that a believer avoid all believer avoid all of them:of them:

>>1. Love of 1. Love of PraisePraise

>>2. Fear of 2. Fear of CriticismCriticism

>>3. Greed 3. Greed for People's for People's PossessionsPossessions

The Prophet said, “Allah, Most Great and Glorious said: Pride is My cloak,

and greatness is My robe, so whoever

competes with Me, with respect to

either of them, I shall cast him into

Hell”(Sahih Muslim, vol. 4 #6349,

Sunan Aboo Dawood, vol. 3 #4079)

Love of Praise

• The Love of Praise is dangerous and leads to one becoming arrogant and boastful.

• The Prophet (saw) said: “Allah, Most Great and Glorious

said: Pride is My cloak, and greatness is My robe, so whoever

competes with Me, with respect to either of them, I shall cast him into

Hell” (Sahih Muslim, vol. 4 #6349, Sunan Aboo Dawood, vol. 3 #4079)

“Do not assume that those who rejoice in what they have done, and love to

be praised for what they have not done, think not that they are absolved from punishment, (but

rather) for them is a painful torment.”

(Quran 3:188)

Do not be like the Jews or Christians

Fear of Criticism Two Categories:

First category describes a person who neglects a

commandment of Allah in order

to avoid the criticism of his

peers.

Second Category describes a person who obeys certain commandments of Islam, not for the sake of Allah, but because he fears people will look

down on him and criticize him if he

does not do it.

Greed for People's Possessions

Pure intentions can not exist in the

heart of a believer that yearns after

the possessions of

others.

The Cure for and How to Avoid The Cure for and How to Avoid the Hidden Shirkthe Hidden Shirk 1. We should remember that Allah is always 1. We should remember that Allah is always

watching us.watching us.

2. We should seek the help of Allah to rid ourselves 2. We should seek the help of Allah to rid ourselves of the habit of showing off.of the habit of showing off.

3. Know the effects of showing off and how it will 3. Know the effects of showing off and how it will be judged in the hereafter.be judged in the hereafter.

4. Think about the punishment in this world for 4. Think about the punishment in this world for showing off.showing off.

5. Conceal worship and do not make a display of it.5. Conceal worship and do not make a display of it.

The Believer Can Avoid The Hidden Shirk-Showing Off In

These Ways: • 1. By increasing knowledge of Islam

• 2. Making Du'aa to Allah.

• 3. By reflecting upon Heaven and Hell.

• 4. By hiding one's good deeds and reflecting upon your shortcomings.

• 5. By accompanying the pious and having knowledge of Hidden Shirk.

May Allah Help and Give us Guidance as We

Strive to Develop theMuslim Personality

Ameen