falling into the trap of showing off set for us by the Nafs and Satan. For example, someone says, ‘Every year I observe fasts in Rajab, Sha’ban and Ramadan!’ (even though the fasts of Ramadan are Fard anyway, but because this show off observes Nafl fasts for two months, he mentions three months (Rajab, Sha’ban and Ramadan) a year in which he observes fasts just to increase the weight of his showing off, وَ لَآ حَوۡلَ وَلَآ قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّٰه).

Another person says, ‘I have been fasting on the 13^th, 14^th, and 15^th of every Madani month for many years!’ Some people mention the number of Hajj and ‘Umrah they have performed. Some say, ‘I recite Salat-’Alan-Nabi so many times every day! I have been reciting the book Dalaail-ul-Khayraat for a long time! I recite so much of the Holy Quran, I donate so much money to such and such Madrasah every month!’ In short, unwise people talk about their Nawafil, Tahajjud, Nafl fasts and other acts of worship excessively without any reason. Alas! O sincerity, where are you? All these things are wrong if they are done with the intention of showing off.

(Taken from the words of Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat)

The beloved son of A’la Hadrat, the grand Mufti of Hind (Mufti-e-A’zam Hind), Hadrat ‘Allamah Maulana Mustafa Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would show humility himself and advise us in the following manner:

نَفسِ بدکار نے دل پہ یہ قِیامَت توڑی

عملِ نیک کِیا بھی تو چھپانے نہ دِیا

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب       صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Show-off will be left with nothing

Dear Islamic brothers! Certainly, good deeds should be performed to please Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and to make the Hereafter better. Remember! The good deeds of the show offs, who perform them for the purpose of showing off, have no role in pleasing Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and making their Hereafter better, but such people