Showiness of Acts of Worship This category stands for...

Showiness of Acts of Worship This category stands for practicing acts of worship openly before people so as to show them, while the same acts of worship are neglected in seclusions. As example of this category is to offer prayers openly, show the signs of fasting, prolong the gestures of the prayer, recite in a distinguishable way, frequent to the mosques, witness the collective prayers incessantly, and practice similar acts pretentiously.

The showy, in this case, is considered as more sinful than the neglector of worship because he does so out of his disregarding God and trying to deceive people. 3. Practical Showiness Under this category lie the pretence of being pious, having the beard unshaved, branding the forehead as a sign of frequent prostration, dressing hard clothes, and the like false appearances of ascetics. 4.

Verbal Showiness Under this category lie the false declamation of wisdom, pretence of enjoining good and forbidding evil, and mentioning the divine reward and punishment. Incentives of Showiness • Fondness of high rank is the most important incentive of showiness. • The anticipation of criticism is a reason that pushes man to pretend to show acts of worship and charity in order to avoid censure. • Greed is a strong incentive urging showiness.

●The criminals try to dress themselves with false appearances of piety so as to cover up themselves. Some Facts For the purpose of completing this discussion, it is suitable to refer to some facts: Scholars have had different opinions regarding the preference of the concealment or exposure of the acts of obedience. In abstract, deeds are subject to intentions, and each will be rewarded according to his intention. Thus, there is no difference between concealed or open showiness.

Likewise, the semi- showiness does not differ, whether it is hidden or shown. In definite situations, it is preferable for those who cannot stand their showiness, because of its intense incentives in their inner selves, to conceal it. On the other hand, if one’s deed is purified from blemishes of showiness and intended for a good purpose, such as enjoining charity, it is, in this case, preferable to show the appearances of piety.

 In case sincerity is heartily intended in the acts of worship, it is inoffensive to show people such appearances and to be pleased by them provided that the source of such pleasure is the expectation of God’s favor.

✦ ✦ ✦