And in the hadith: “The thing I fear most for you is minor shirk.” He was asked about it and said, “al-riyāʾ (showing off).” (1)

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This hadith—the narration reported by Imām Aḥmad, al-Ṭabarānī, Ibn Abī al-Dunyā, and al-Bayhaqī—contains the Prophet’s words, “The thing I fear most for you,” meaning: the danger I dread for you above all others.

al-riyāʾ: to display an act of worship so that people may witness it and praise the performer for it.

Overall meaning of the hadith: Because of his perfect compassion, mercy, and sincere counsel for his nation, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, left no good without guiding them to it and no evil without warning them against it. Among the evils he cautioned against is assuming the guise of worship in order to gain people’s acclaim, for this is shirk in worship. Although it is classed as minor shirk, its danger is grave because it nullifies the deed that accompanies it. Human souls are naturally inclined toward prestige and status in other people’s hearts—except those whom Allah safeguards—so this is what is most to be feared for the righteous, given the strength of its temptation. The urge toward major shirk, on the other hand, is either absent or very weak in the hearts of fully committed believers.

Relevance of the hadith to the chapter: The hadith instils fear of minor shirk, while the two verses that precede it instil fear of major shirk; thus the chapter addresses both kinds.