Chapter: The Prohibition of Affected Pretension (takalluf)—that is, doing or saying something that yields no benefit yet is undertaken with hardship.

Allah the Exalted says:
“Say, ‘I ask you for no recompense for this, nor am I one of those who affect pretension.’”

1655 – Ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with both of them) reported: “We were forbidden from takalluf.” Related by al-Bukhari.

1656 – Masrūq said: We entered upon ʿAbd Allah ibn Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him) and he said, “O people, whoever knows something should speak according to it, and whoever does not know should say: ‘Allah knows best.’ Indeed, part of knowledge is that a man, when he does not know, says, ‘Allah knows best.’ Allah the Exalted said to His Prophet ﷺ: ‘Say, “I ask you for no recompense for this, nor am I one of those who affect pretension.”’ ” Related by al-Bukhari.

Explanation

The author—may Allah have mercy on him—in his book Riyad al-Salihin entitled this chapter “The Prohibition of Takalluf.” Takalluf means forcing oneself into a matter, trying to master it, and appearing before people in the guise of a scholar, though one is not. Then the author cited the Almighty’s words: “Say, ‘I ask you for no recompense for this, nor am I one of those who affect pretension.’” That is, I do not seek from you any payment for the revelation I have brought; rather