How can one overcome the feeling of ostentation (riya') when performing good deeds, and the fear of others' criticism when enjoining good?

Satan is keen on diverting Muslims from righteous deeds, and one of his tricks is to beautify for the servant the abandonment of good deeds out of fear of ostentation (riya'). Therefore, one should turn away from this whispering (waswasa) and be eager to perform righteous deeds, striving against the self to achieve sincerity (ikhlas) for Allah, and supplicating to Him to bestow upon him sincerity and protect him from ostentation. Abandoning a deed for the sake of people is ostentation, and performing a deed for the sake of people is shirk (polytheism).

As for enjoining good and forbidding evil, it is the greatest pillar of the religion, and its doer may be exposed to criticism. However, the believer prioritizes Allah's pleasure over the pleasure of creatures, and prefers people's displeasure over Allah's displeasure. Preferring the pleasure of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, over others means wanting and doing what pleases Him, even if it displeases creation, and this is the rank of the prophets.

This preference can be achieved by three things: good character, excellent submission to Islam, and strong patience. The essence of this is asceticism (zuhd) in life and praise, and the essence of these two matters is sound certainty (yaqin) and strong love, and the essence of these two is sincere seeking and asking, and tackling the means that lead to them.