How can I maintain my faith without hypocrisy (Riya')?

Faith is the backbone of one's spiritual life and the connection between a human being and their Creator. Maintaining faith without being tainted by ostentation, showing off (riya'), or hypocrisy (nifaq) is one of the most challenging yet crucial aspects of spiritual growth. The Holy Quran repeatedly emphasizes the purity of intention and the avoidance of any form of display or pretension in acts of worship and good deeds. The essence of faith resides in the heart, and outward actions are merely manifestations of this inner truth. To ensure our faith remains pure and free from riya', we must adhere to several fundamental Quranic principles. The first and most important principle is sincerity (ikhlas). Sincerity means purifying one's intention and actions solely for the pleasure of Almighty Allah, not for gaining approval, praise, or worldly benefit from people. The Quran, in Surah Al-Bayyinah, verse 5, explicitly states: "And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincerely obedient to Him, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion." This verse clearly indicates that the essence of religiosity is sincerity and monotheism. Any act lacking pure intention for God, no matter how good or grand it may appear outwardly, is worthless in the sight of Allah and can even incur His wrath, as it is considered a subtle form of polytheism (shirk al-khafi). Riya' and ostentation are indeed subtle forms of shirk because the individual considers the approval and attention of creation alongside the pleasure of the Creator, which contradicts the principle of Tawhid (Oneness of God). To combat riya' and maintain sincerity, one must constantly review their intentions and weigh their actions against the scale of sincerity—before, during, and after their performance. This self-reflection and accountability (muhasabah) help one identify and discard impure motives. The second principle is understanding the nature of hypocrisy (nifaq). Hypocrisy is a state where an individual's outward appearance differs from their inner reality; they outwardly claim faith and religiosity, while inwardly they are either disbelievers or have weak faith and lack belief in Allah. The Quran, in Surah An-Nisa, verse 142, describes hypocrites as follows: "Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselves to] the people and not remembering Allah except a little." This verse provides a clear picture of the hypocrites' prayer: a soulless prayer, performed out of laziness and for display. To avoid this state, one must focus all attention on the greatness of Allah and His presence, rather than on people's opinions. When a person realizes that Allah is All-Seeing and All-Hearing and aware of what is hidden in hearts, they no longer feel the need to pretend. Strengthening the belief in Allah's absolute knowledge and His constant presence is the best antidote to riya' and nifaq. The third strategy is to consider the consequences of riya' and ostentation. Allah says in Surah Al-Ma'un, verses 4 to 6: "So woe to those who pray, * [but] who are heedless of their prayer - * those who make show [of their deeds]." These verses are a very serious warning for those who perform prayer with the intention of showing off. Riya' invalidates good deeds and can even lead to divine punishment. Maintaining faith without showing off requires continuous practice and self-purification. For this purpose, the following practical steps can be taken: **Strengthening the heartfelt connection with Allah:** Remembrance of Allah (dhikr) in solitude, pondering over the Quran, and sincere supplication and prayer all contribute to strengthening this relationship. The closer a person is to Allah, the less they feel the need for others' approval. **Performing good deeds in secret:** Striving to do some good deeds, such as giving charity, helping the needy, or even performing supererogatory prayers, secretly and away from people's eyes, is an excellent practice for sincerity. This teaches a person that the true reward is with Allah, not in human praise. **Reflecting on death and the afterlife:** Remembering the truth that one day all our deeds will be revealed before Allah without any concealment can deter one from hypocrisy. On that day, only deeds performed sincerely for Allah's pleasure will be valuable. **Accepting one's weaknesses and faults:** A humble person is less prone to riya' because they know that absolute perfection belongs only to Allah and that they are merely His servant. **Avoiding environments and situations that facilitate showing off:** Sometimes social environments can unconsciously lead a person towards riya'. Recognizing and avoiding such situations can be helpful. Ultimately, true faith depends on the purity of intention. Faith without ostentation is faith rooted in the love and fear of Allah, never seeking the approval of creation. This faith is what brings success in this world and the Hereafter, and it leads to true peace of heart. Allah has taught us in the Quran that the value of every action lies in its intention, and the best intention is the purest and most sincere one, solely for His pleasure. This path is a difficult one, requiring deep self-awareness and continuous striving, but its outcome is the pleasure of the Lord and the attainment of eternal happiness that no reward can equal. Ostentation is like dust that settles on the clear mirror of faith, preventing the light of truth from reflecting properly. Removing this dust through sincerity and focusing on the inner essence of deeds paves the way for the full manifestation of faith in individual and social life.