Riya (showing off and pretending to do good actions) in Islamic teachings refers to a good action that one performs but his aim is not pleasing God.
According to a Hadith, all kinds of Riya are Shirk (polytheism). Shirk has different types. It is sometimes open and clear like the Shirk of idolaters and those who worship the sun or the moon. It is sometimes very slight and subtle so that one may not notice it himself.
Riya infiltrates our actions very quietly and gradually and that is why we may not even notice it.
According to a Hadith, Riya is subtler than the crawling of a small black ant on a black stone in the darkness of the night.
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That is why it is very important to be always vigilant and careful and seek help from God to avoid Riya, which is equivalent to Shirk.
source: iqna
