Elfahymoui Notes : Riya

Symptom: Riya (Not sincere, showing off)
Root Cause Disease: Love of this world and the nafs-self, we lover ourselves more then Allah.

he said,

Intention is the most important and only thing you can control.Ikhlas is when you are intending and purposely doing everything for the sake of Allah

The mumin-believer should walk through life very carefully

If they saw Allah only and not the creation, they would rush to opportunities to help others. You are always functioning for the sake of Allah.

When you do something good do you enjoy it when someone praises you? Cure it because if you enjoy the praise you have some riya.

Question from a student: Is it better to not compliment someone to protect them from riyaa?

Answer from I.Elfahymoui: No, it is you duty to thank them, because the one who does not thank people does not thank Allah. Someone has to tell you you did good so you can know that you are doing good. Praise is apart of the religion but dont over praise.

As long as you make shukr-gratefulness to Allah for allowing you to do good Allah will multiple your opportunities.

Dont ever give up this battle with your nafs (such as removing riya)

It is a form of riya to abstain from something in the fear of riya an example of this is
"I dont want them to think I am showing off so I will stop the good action I am doing" this is a trick of the shyatn.

The believer should maintain the good deed, pause, sterghten their intention for the sake of Allah, and continue.

 I didnt come for the sake of people, byt for the sake of Allah.
 When you are on the MSA, helping orphans etc, dont look for reward. If you do get praised or recognized then Allah is choosing you. 

Feel blessed that Allah choose you to help others. 

For Allah there are servants whom He has choosen to fulfill the needs of the people.

Allah is going to help people through you.

Whoever is choosen by Allah to do something for His Sake, Allah will help him. If you want barakahin what you do there is only way to gain this barakah, set your intention for the sake of Allah.

An example:

There was a sister form this masjid (Rehab AlBuri) who tirelessly worked for good. She recently died. Her friend needed $16,000 for a eye surgery. She said I will raise the money through a bake sale. I saw this bake sale, it was set up in front of ICPC after jumaah. She was only selling cookies, and in two hours she was able to raise $20,000 because she had ikhlas. Her intention was for the sake of Allah so Allah placed barakah in her work.


Eiya is so common even a good mumin-beleiver can have riya. It is a disease from love of the dunya-world. You love this dunya and your nafs-soul.

We love ourselves more than Allah.