Chapter: Reports Concerning Ostentation (riyāʾ)

The words of Allah, Most High: “Say, ‘I am only a human being like you. It has been revealed to me that your God is but One God.’”

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The rest of the verse runs: “So whoever hopes to meet his Lord, let him do righteous deeds and let him not associate anyone at all in the worship of his Lord.” ⦗Al-Kahf 18:110⦘

The reason this chapter appears in the Book of Monotheism is that ostentation undermines tawḥīd and renders the deed with which it is mixed null and void. For that reason the author found it necessary to warn against it here.

Riyāʾ (ostentation) is derived from the verb rāʾā, yurāʾī: it is to perform an act in such a way that people see it, while concealing in one’s heart a different intention.

“Say”: the address is to the Prophet ﷺ, meaning, “say to the people.”

“I am only a human being like you”: with respect to humanity; I possess nothing of lordship or divinity.

“Your God is but One God”: the sole Deity who is rightfully worshiped, the One to whose worship I am summoning you, a Deity without partner.

“Whoever hopes to meet his Lord”: that is, fears the return to Him and longs to behold Him on the Day of Resurrection.

“Righteous deeds”: those that conform to Allah’s law and are performed solely for His sake.