The disguised Shirk

The Tahajjud of a whole night can go in vain due to a negligence of less than a minute. This happens when a person is keen to make people aware of his actions during the night. This desire emanates from an illness called "Riya". It is a bad poison. It is a kind of Shirk which the Hadith termed as Shirk Khafi. Normally, a person must do all Ibaadaat for the pleasure of Allah Ta'ala only. This is what is called Ikhlaas or sincerity. But a person who has Riya wants to acquire value and honour in the eyes of people through his Ibaadaat. This means that one has associated others with Allah Ta'ala in doing these Ibaadaat. That is why it is termed as Shirk. But it is a kind of Shirk which is disguised in the form of Ibaadat. That is why it is called Shirk Khafi or a disguised or masked Shirk or a Shirk concealed under the veil of Ibaadat.

A person may be present on all the frontiers to participate in Jihaad and ultimately loses his life in Jihaad. Everyone call him a hero. They salute his courage and bravery. They pay tribute to him for his sacrifices. In fact, this was his aim and intention. That is why he will lose everything he did in the Dunya. And that’s not it. He will be dragged by the face and will be thrown into hell. A person who has spent all his wealth and an 'Aalim who has done the work of Deen for ostentation, will meet the same fate.

[English version of "Shirk déguisé" – Al Jamiat – Vol.7 No.2]