darulmaarif.net – Indramayu, 11 June 2026 | 10.00 WIB
Writer: Ust. Atang Supriatna, S.Pd.*
There are not many heart diseases that were so feared by Rasulullah SAW as riya’. It is invisible to the naked eye, does not leave scars on the body, but is able to burn away the charitable rewards that have been painstakingly accumulated over the years.
That’s why Rosululloh SAW reminded his people with a very firm warning. A warning that to this day feels increasingly relevant in the midst of modern life which is filled with image culture and the search for recognition.
As mentioned in a hadith:
The jurist, may God have mercy on him, said: Muhammad ibn al-Fadl narrated to us, he said: Muhammad ibn Ja`far narrated to us, he said: Ibrahim ibn Yusuf narrated to us, he said: narrated to us Abu Abdullah Al-Homsi, on the authority of Mahmoud bin Labid that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said
Meaning: “Al-Faqih (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Muhammad bin al-Fadhl told us, he said: Muhammad bin Ja’far told us, he said: Ibrahim bin Yusuf told us, he said: Abu Abdullah al-Himshi told us, from Mahmud bin Labid, that the Prophet SAW said:
The thing I fear most for you is petty polytheism.
Meaning: “The thing that I am most worried about will happen to you is petty shirk.”
They asked: O Messenger of Allah, what is petty polytheism?
Meaning: The companions asked: “O Messenger of Allah, what is meant by minor shirk?”
He said: Hypocrisy. God Almighty said to them, “On the day He will reward His servants for their deeds.”
Meaning: He answered: “Riya’ (doing good because people want to see it). Allah Ta’ala will say to them on the day He will reward his servants for their deeds:
Visit the people you usually show off in this world, and see if you can find any good in them?
Meaning: ‘Go to the people to whom you usually show your deeds in the world, then see whether you get any reward or goodness from them.’” (Abu Laits As-Samarqondy, Tanbihul al-Ghofilin, Chapter on Sincerity and Riya’, [DKI: Beirut]nd.)
Imam Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghozali in his discussion of heart disease explained that the essence of riya’ is an effort to seek position and respect in the eyes of humans through acts of worship which should be directed only to Allah SWT. He defined riya’ as:
Hypocrisy is seeking status in human hearts through worship.
Meaning: “Riya’ is seeking a position in the human heart through worship.” (Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, Ihya’ ‘Ulumid Din, Beirut: Dar al-Ma’rifah, vol. 3, p. 259)
This definition shows that riya’ is not always related to the desire to obtain wealth or material gain. A person may appear to be diligent in worship, diligent in giving charity, or active in religious activities, but behind all of this there is a desire to receive praise, respect, or recognition from other people.
Unconscious Shirk
When they hear the word shirk, most people immediately imagine idol worship, offerings, or beliefs that openly associate partners with Allah ‘Azza wa Jalla. In fact, Rosululloh SAW actually reminded us of shirk in a much more subtle form, namely riya’.
Riya’ is doing a charity not solely because of Allah, but because you want to get attention, praise, respect or recognition from humans. On the surface, charity looks good, but within it there is another purpose besides seeking Allah’s approval.
This is what makes riya’ so dangerous. He is not always visible. Sometimes the perpetrator himself does not even realize that his intentions have shifted.
The Riya Phenomenon in the Middle of Social Media Culture
Nowadays, the riya’ exam has a different face compared to the past. If in the past someone might have wanted to be praised by neighbors or the local community, now the image space is opened much wider through social media.
Not a few people feel compelled to document every activity. Alms uploaded. Social assistance is recorded. Worship is made public. Even very private religious activities are sometimes made into content for public consumption.
Of course not all charity publications are riya’. There are times when kindness needs to be shown to inspire other people or encourage people to do the same. However, the problem lies in the intentions that reside in the heart.
When someone is happier because they receive praise from humans than because their deeds are accepted by Allah, that is when the danger of riya’ begins to lurk.
Great Charities Can Become Worthless
The hadith above provides a very evocative picture. On the Day of Resurrection, Allah commands people who do good because of riya’ to ask for rewards from the people for whom their goodness was intended.
The message of this hadith is very clear. If the main goal of charity is humans, then ask humans in return. Meanwhile, rewards from Allah are only given to deeds that are done sincerely.
that sincerity is not just a complement to worship, but is the spirit of all deeds. Without sincerity, deeds that appear great in the eyes of humans can become light or even worthless in the sight of Allah.
In closing, Imam Ibnu ‘Athoillah as-Sakandari reminded that the value of charity is not solely determined by its external appearance, but by the sincerity contained within it. In one of his famous pieces of wisdom, he said:
Charity is the image that exists, and its spirit is the secret of sincerity in it.
Meaning: “Deeds are only forms that stand upright, while their spirit is the secret existence of sincerity within them.” (Ibn ‘Athoillah as-Sakandari, Al-Hikam al-‘Atho’iyyah, [Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah]p. 9)
This expression contains a very deep meaning. Just as the human body will have no value without the soul, so also acts of worship have no intrinsic value in the sight of Allah if they lose sincerity. Prayer, almsgiving, fasting, da’wah, and various other religious activities can appear perfect in human eyes, but they are not necessarily valuable before God if they are done for the sake of praise, popularity, or self-interest.
In the end, worldly life is just a temporary stage. Human praise will not last long. Popularity will fade. However, deeds that are done sincerely will remain alive and become a provision when humans stand before Allah Ta’ala.
Therefore, in the midst of a world that is increasingly crowded with spotlights and images, let us keep our hearts clear. Because what Allah judges is not merely the amount of charity, but rather how sincerely the charity is offered only to Him.
Hope it is useful. Wallohu a’lam.
*Nahwu Shorof teacher at Darul Ma’arif Islamic Boarding School, Alumi PP. Nice, Kendal Kaliwungu
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