The Categories of Riyaa' (Showing off)
Riyaa' may be classified according to two main Factors: riyaa' with respect to time, and riyaa' with respect to method.
The Time of Riyaa'
Riyaa' can occur, with respect to any act, at three successive times: before, during and after. At each stage, Satan tries his utmost to deprive the righteous act of any blessings.
1) Before the act is done
Intending to do an act of righteousness for praise is, without a doubt, the worst form of riyaa', and the person who does it is on the verge of hypocrisy - if he is not already one. Such a person does not even think of doing an act for the sake of Allah - he merely wishes to be recognized among the people. Allah describes the hypocrites in the Qur'an as follows:
"Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He who deceives them. And when they stand up to pray, they stand up with laziness, only to be seen by men, and they hardly remember Allah at all." (4: 142)
In these verses, Allah links this type of riyaa' with pure hypocrisy. This type of riyaa' is closest to Shirk fin-Neeyah wal-Iraadah wal-Qasd (Shirk in one's intentions and goals). Obviously, a righteous deed of this type is not acceptable to Allah whatsoever, and is a strong indication of the spiritual disease of hypocrisy.
2) While the act is being done
In this case, a person begins to do an act solely for the sake of Allah, but when he notices that people are looking at him, he tries to adorn his deed in order to give the impression that he is more pious than what he is in reality. For example, he might start reading the Qur'an in the Mosque, and when he notices that people are paying attention to him, he will beautify his voice for their sake, and try to show great emotion when he reads verses of punishment or reward.
3) After the act is done
The final stage occurs when a person performs an act of worship, solely for the sake of Allah, and then people start to praise him for it. He then begins to feel proud of this act, and happy with the praise that he receives from people. In fact, he wants people to talk about his deed even more, and likes hearing people praise him. Even though this person initially did the act solely for the sake of Allah, eventually Satan succeeds in boosting his ego and causing him to be proud of this meager deed that he has done.
The Method of Riyaa'
The second way in which Riyaa' may be classified regards the manner in which Riyaa' is done. Riyaa' may be committed by every limb of the body, with or without the help of external factors. Some examples of different manners of riyaa' are given below.
1) The body as a whole
This can occur, for example, during prayer, or when giving charity. All of the actions of the body come under this category. This is the type that is most commonly understood as riyaa'.
Even the most subtle of actions can be acts of riyaa'. Once, al-Hasan al-Basree was giving a moving lecture, and a person in the audience happened to sigh as if the lecture had made him feel worried about the Hereafter. Al-Hasan told him. "If this sigh was meant for Allah, then you have caused yourself to be the subject of attention, and if it was for other than Allah, then you have destroyed yourself!" Hence, even this insignificant public event was condemned for either of the two possible intentions behind it.
2) Speech
This is one of the most common types of riyaa' among those who give lectures, Khutbahs (speech before Friday prayer), and Islamic classes. Instead of having a genuine concern for the audience, and a feeling to guide them to the straight path, some speakers only seek to impress others with their eloquence, and only desire to establish for themselves fame and eminence in the community.
3) Appearance
Riyaa' may involve dressing in very poor clothes and keeping a disheveled appearance. This is the case when the intent is to give the impression of a person who does not care for his appearance and who is only concerned with the hereafter. Or it may result from the exact opposite; that a person dresses in very flashy clothes to attract attention to himself, or in a manner that is considered to be the dress of scholars, so that people might consider him to be a scholar. Both of these characteristics are contrary to the manners of a good Muslim. If a person can afford good clothes, he should dress nicely. Without extravagance, and show the blessings that Allah has given him.
4) Companions and Peers
Even the people that a person associates himself with can be a cause of riyaa'. For example, if a person acquaints himself with a scholar so that it may be known that he is the student of this scholar, or if he befriends a pious individual so that it can be said that he is always in the company of that pious individual - this also falls under the category of riyaa'. The real reason one should make friends is for the sake of Allah, and we should try to befriend those whom we consider pious and knowledgeable even more - not for the sake of people, but for the sake of Allah alone.
5) Family
Many parents desire that their children grow up as practicing Muslims, being knowledgeable of their religion. This is an essential desire that all Muslim parents should possess. But, once again, it is important that parents and spouses wish the best for their loved ones because of Allah, and not for any other reason.
An example may help to clarify this point. A very common occurrence in many countries today is that of Islamic competitions for children. Such competitions are a very healthy way to make young adults learn about their religion. However, some parents, on finding out that their child did not attain a high position in these competitions, get very upset and start complaining about the lack of fair judges or other such whimsical objections. One must wonder whether their real motive was to encourage their children to learn about Islam, or just to achieve a high position in the competition.
Other parents may boast about their children in gatherings, telling everybody, "My daughter has memorized this many chapters from the Qur'an," or, ''My son has given lectures and speeches in so many places," and other such comments.
Again, if the parents encouraged their children to do righteous acts so that the parents could boast to other people about their deeds, or so that they could feel proud when they make these comments, this too, falls under riyaa'. Rather, parents should instruct their children in Islamic knowledge for the sake of Allah, and be thankful to Allah for all that their children have achieved.
Summarized from: Riyaa': Hidden Shirk