Sincerity in a World of Applause

DAILYREFLECTION

Riyā’ is subtle. The prayer is performed, the charity is given, the Qur’an is recited, but the heart shifts, not toward Allah, but toward the people watching. The Prophet ﷺ warned that this hidden disease is a form of shirk, for the act meant for Allah is redirected to human eyes.

Imam Mawlūd points to recognizable signs. Alone, we drag our feet. In company, we come alive. Compliments become the fuel that powers devotion, and silence makes us slow down. This is not the healthy encouragement the Prophet ﷺ praised, but a dependence on applause that corrodes the intention.

The cure begins with certainty. No crowd can harm or benefit except by Allah’s permission. Once this is grasped, the audience shrinks to its true size, and worship feels lighter. Tawakkul, reliance on Allah, and muraqabah, awareness of His gaze, are the anchors of sincerity.

In our age, riyā’ wears many disguises. In the masjid, it may sound like an extra sweetness of tone when a respected elder enters. Online, it looks like sharing worship updates “to inspire,” when the real aim is to be seen. In study circles, it appears as chasing obscure facts, not for Allah, but to seem insightful. Even in service, riyā’ can creep in, turning community work into a path for influence instead of sacrifice.

What then should we do? Not abandon deeds. To leave worship out of fear of riyā’ is simply another way of centering people. Instead, we persist and polish our intentions. The believer keeps a private portfolio of hidden worship, small night prayers, secret charity, a page of Qur’an before dawn. These acts train the heart to seek Allah’s gaze alone.

Modern psychology confirms what our tradition has always taught. Relying too heavily on external validation weakens persistence. Sincere, intrinsic orientation stabilizes effort. Ikhlāṣ, sincerity for Allah alone, becomes not only a spiritual safeguard but also a psychological strength.

True sincerity is a discipline, not a passing mood. It grows with repetition. Do the deed, return it to Allah, and keep it small, regular, and hidden until the heart learns its rightful audience.

REFLECT ON THIS:

In which setting do my deeds change most between private and public, and what one adjustment will make them the same?

^{Share your reflections in the poll at the end of the email.}

WATERMELONWATCH

• Israel intensifies its bombardment of Gaza City, destroying at least 30 residential buildings and forcing thousands of Palestinians to flee their homes as U.S. Secretary of State Rubio arrives in Israel to engage in talks on the conflict.

• Medics in southern Gaza raise the alarm that hospitals like Nasser near Khan Younis are running out of fuel, medicine, and staff; experts warn the healthcare system could collapse under the onslaught of incoming wounded and displaced.

• Arab, Muslim leaders gather in Qatar for an emergency summit in response to an Israeli airstrike in Doha targeting Hamas leaders, a move that has heightened diplomatic tensions across the region.

• U.N. reports nearly 90% of Gaza’s 2.1 million people have been displaced, with many lacking access to sufficient shelter, clean water, or medical services, according to humanitarian agencies.

• A story of escape: Muhammad Abu Dakha, a 31-year-old from Gaza, made a perilous journey via jet ski and dinghy through multiple countries to reach Italy, driven by desperation but guided by hope for safety and reunion with family.

QURANCORNER

Each day, you’ll be introduced to one of the 300 most common Qur’anic words. The Qur’an has about 77,430 words in total, all built on just 2,000 root words. By learning these frequently recurring ones, you’ll recognize 70–80% of the Qur’an’s vocabulary and begin connecting more deeply as you read.

Sharīk (شَرِيك) - Partner / Associate

From the root ش–ر–ك (sh-r-k), meaning to share or to associate, sharīk refers to one who is made a partner in something. In the Qur’an, it is most often mentioned to declare what is not true of Allah, that He has no sharīk in His dominion, power, or worship. Every time we say lā sharīka lahu. He has no partner; we affirm that all creation belongs to Him alone, without division, without rival.