Is It Shirk to Avoid Good Deeds Out of Fear of People’s Reactions?
Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch
Question
If I adjust my actions, such as drinking less water to avoid being shouted at or not blocking my ears from haram sounds due to shyness, does this fall under shirk, considering the ruling that avoiding good deeds out of fear of showing off is shirk?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
This is not considered shirk (associating partners with Allah) that would take one out of the fold of Islam. [Ghazali, Ihya ‘Ulum al-Din]
Doing an action or leaving an action for the sake of someone other than Allah Most High is not fully sincere (ikhlas); however, it is not considered disbelief that would take one out of Islam. [Ibid.]
Doing or leaving actions solely for Allah’s sake is a lofty level of faith that every Muslim should strive to reach. This takes time and effort, so do not beat yourself up for not reaching that level just yet.
Related
- Seeking Sincerity: How Can One Strive To Have One’s Actions Accepted by Allah Most High?
- How Do I Develop Sincerity in My Relationship with Allah?
Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he went on to study at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and completed his studies at Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen.
There, he completed the memorization of the Quran and his study of Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study, he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, Shaykh ‘Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others.
Upon returning, he joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.
