“They ostentatiously show themselves to people and remember Allah only a little.” (Surah al-Nisāʾ, 4:142)

1623 – Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: “Allah, Exalted be He, says: I am the One most free of any need for partners; whoever performs a deed in which he associates someone else with Me, I leave him and his act of association.” Narrated by Muslim.

1624 – He likewise narrated: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: “The first person whose case will be decided on the Day of Resurrection is a man who was martyred. He will be brought forward and Allah will remind him of His favors, which he will acknowledge. Allah will say, ‘What did you do with them?’ He will reply, ‘I fought for Your sake until I was martyred.’ Allah will say, ‘You have lied; you fought only so that people would say, “What a courageous man!” – and they have already said it.’ Then he will be commanded to be dragged face-down until he is flung into the Fire.

“Next a man who studied sacred knowledge, taught it, and recited the Quran will be brought. Allah will remind him of His favors, which he will acknowledge. Allah will say, ‘What did you do with them?’ He will reply, ‘I acquired knowledge, taught it, and recited the Quran for Your sake.’ Allah will say, ‘You have lied; you learned so that people would say, “He is a scholar,” and you recited so that they would say, “He is a reciter” – and they have already said it.’ Then he will be commanded to be dragged face-down until he is flung into the Fire.

“Then a man whom Allah had made affluent, granting him every kind of wealth, will be brought. Allah will remind him of His favors, which he will acknowledge. Allah will say, ‘What did you do with them?’ He will reply, ‘I did not leave any avenue You love to see donations made in except that I spent in it for Your sake.’ Allah will say, ‘You have lied; you did it only so that people would say, “He is generous,” – and they have already said it.’ Then he will be commanded to be dragged face-down until he is flung into the Fire.” Narrated by Muslim.

“Jarīʾ” – with a soft “j”, a kasrah on the rāʾ, and an extended long vowel – means a skilled and daring fighter.

1625 – Ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them both) was told by some people, “We visit our rulers and speak to them differently from the way we speak after we leave their presence.” Ibn ʿUmar replied, “In the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ we used to regard that as hypocrisy.” Narrated by al-Bukhārī (1).