Could My Good Deeds Have Been Hypocritical?

Dear sister or brother, this is a profound and highly significant question that reflects your insight and desire to purify your intentions. In the rich Islamic tradition and the radiant teachings of the Holy Quran, the concept of 'Riya' or showing off in acts of worship and good deeds is a theme that has been repeatedly emphasized and warned against. Riya refers to performing an action ostensibly for God, but in reality, its primary goal is to gain people's admiration, acquire fame, or achieve worldly benefits. This issue is one of the greatest perils to deeds, as it can nullify their spiritual fruits and deprive a person of divine reward. The Holy Quran unequivocally stresses the importance of pure intention and sincerity (Ikhlas) in all actions. In numerous verses, Almighty Allah indicates that only actions performed solely for His pleasure, free from any hint of polytheism (shirk) or showing off, are acceptable to Him. For instance, in Surah Al-Bayyinah, verse 5, we read: “And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincerely obedient to Him, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakat. And that is the correct religion.” This verse clearly states that the essence of religion is sincere servitude to God, and any act containing impurity deviates from the right path. Furthermore, in Surah Al-Ma’un, Almighty Allah condemns those who pray but are heedless of their prayers and perform them for show: “So woe to those who pray, [but] who are heedless of their prayer – those who make show [of their deeds], and withhold [small] ordinary items.” (Al-Ma’un, 4-7). These verses indicate that Riya can exist not only in major acts of worship like prayer but even in small, ordinary acts of kindness, and it is subject to divine condemnation. You might ask yourself how one can maintain a pure intention and escape the trap of hypocrisy. This requires deep self-awareness, constant vigilance over intentions, and a continuous struggle against the lower self (nafs). A person might unconsciously be drawn towards Riya, as the human ego naturally desires to be seen and praised. However, the way to overcome this desire is through practicing piety (taqwa) and constantly remembering God's presence. You must always remember that the only gaze that truly matters is that of God, and His pleasure takes precedence over any other satisfaction. No matter how great and praiseworthy your action may be, if your intention behind it is for other than God, its true value diminishes. To distinguish Riya from Ikhlas, several signs can be considered: A sincere act is one where the presence or absence of people does not affect its quality. That is, whether someone sees you or not, you perform the action with the same quality and motivation. Moreover, someone whose action is sincere does not expect praise or gratitude from people after performing it, and even if criticized, their intention remains unwavering. However, a hypocrite is someone who rejoices when praised and whose motivation to perform the action decreases, or they even abandon it entirely, if ignored. So, if this concern has entered your heart that your deeds might have been hypocritical, this itself is a sign of your heart's awakening and your vigilance. This is not obsessive doubt but a constructive self-critique that can guide you towards greater sincerity. To combat this temptation, it is recommended to: 1. Focus on God's Pleasure: Always remember that the primary goal of any action is to gain God's pleasure. Ask yourself: “Am I doing this for God or for people?” 2. Seek Forgiveness and Repentance: If you feel that an action was accompanied by a hint of Riya, seek forgiveness from God and, with a pure intention, resolve to perform your future actions solely for Him. The door of repentance is always open. 3. Conceal Good Deeds: As much as possible, perform some of your good deeds privately and away from people's eyes. This greatly helps strengthen sincerity and restrains the ego from the desire for showing off. 4. Supplication and Reliance on God: Ask Almighty Allah to keep you steadfast on the path of sincerity and to purify your intentions. In narrations, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) referred to Riya as 'Shirk Khafi' (hidden polytheism) and used to ask God to protect him from it. 5. Study the Lives of Imams and Saints: The pure lives of the infallible Imams (AS) and God's sincere servants are full of lessons on sincerity. By studying their biographies, you can find role models for a sincere life. In summary, the thought that your deeds might have been hypocritical is not proof that you were actually hypocritical, but rather a sign of your spiritual health and your desire for perfection. Through vigilance, repentance, concealing some deeds, and relying on God, you can gradually purify your intentions and benefit from endless divine rewards. God is All-Seeing and All-Hearing, and He knows what is in the hearts. He is the best Judge and is more aware of our true intentions than we ourselves.