Is what Satan whispers to me—that my actions, such as walking quickly to catch the prayer, or elderly people seeing me, or greeting them in the mosque—are hypocrisy, and what is your advice to me?
The ostentation that invalidates a deed is when the sole motive for performing it is to be seen by people. However, if a deed was intended for Allah, and then ostentation occurred, but the Muslim resisted it, then it does not harm him. But if he succumbed to it, then it diminishes the reward of his deed but does not invalidate it entirely.
One must resist the whispers of Satan, who tempts the Muslim to abandon acts of obedience. There is a difference between striving against one's self and mere whispers.
Abandoning good deeds for fear of ostentation is (polytheism). If people praise a doer of good without his intention, there is no harm in him being pleased by it, for it is the immediate glad tidings for the believer.
It is recommended to associate with upright youth and to read the section on "The Destructive Vices" (ربع المهلكات) from the book "Mukhtasar Minhaj al-Qasidin."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Read the full answer on Ftawy