Is Seeking Attention and Displaying Success a Form of Shirk?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I understand that sincerely displaying good friendly qualities towards people is considered an act of worship.
As we should only do good for the sake of Allah, is enjoying the idea of people thinking you’re a good person, and being nice to, or comedic, or displaying general intelligence/ success and even beauty, etc., in front of people, so that they can be impressed and like you, considered shirk or kufr? If not, is it considered a sin?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
It is not a form of associating someone or something with Allah Most High (shirk) or disbelief (kufr) to act in a way that others enjoy your company. However, it can be sinful in some cases, like if you out rightly show off and act arrogantly, thinking of yourself to be superior to others, or contempt and scorn to others, arrogant in your lineage, your beauty, wealth, strength, and in possessing knowledge. See the links below. [Hamza Yusuf, Purification of the Heart]
Allah Loves to see His Blessings on His Servants.
Zuhayr ibn Abi’ Alqama (Allah be pleased with him) reported the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Verily, Allah Most High loves to see the traces of blessings on his servant. He does not love one who wallows in misery and pessimism.” [Tabarani, Al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir]
Rest assured, it is not shirk or kufr, however, seek knowledge and be in the company of the righteous in the form of frequenting the masjid, circles of knowledge and remembrance, and befriending righteous believers.
Check these links:
18 – Showing Off and Insincerity – Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained – Shaykh Faraz Rabbani – YouTube
A Reader on OCD and Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings) (seekersguidance.org)Sins Archives – SeekersGuidance
Purification of the Heart for Youth: Diseases of the Heart and Their Cure – YouTube
The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained – YouTube
Purification of the Heart: Signs, Symptoms, and Cures of the Spiritual Diseases of the Heart: Hamza Yusuf: 9780985565909: Amazon.com: Books (Book)
Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersAcademy (seekersguidance.org)
I pray this helps with your question.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey.
He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan.
He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.
He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His personal interest is the love of books and gardening.
