Is a sinful person leading prayer and delivering lessons and sermons, while believing himself to be the most ignorant and sinful, considered a divine enticement or good tidings, and how can he be better than people perceive him to be?

If God gives a servant worldly possessions while they persist in disobedience, this could be a gradual drawing away (istidraj). There is a severe warning against those who enjoin good but do not practice it, and forbid evil but commit it, for they will be cast into the Fire on the Day of Judgment. Your being disobedient, yet people think well of you and put you forward to lead prayers, give lessons, and issue fatwas—all of this is cause for fear.

However, your feeling of guilt, your fear of being gradually drawn away (mustadraj), and your keenness to be better in the sight of God than people imagine you to be, all indicate faith and good inner character.

We advise you to repent from sins, be sincere in worship, strengthen your faith, and supplicate with the prophetic supplications for those who fear showing off, such as: "O Allah, we seek refuge in You from associating anything with You knowingly, and we seek Your forgiveness for that which we do not know," and "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit, deeds that are not raised (accepted), and prayers that are not heard." Also, increase your seeking of forgiveness, especially during the pre-dawn hours.