How can one differentiate between showing off (riya') and the love of praise? Is it permissible or forbidden to display one's self and one's achievements? How does a person make their deeds purely for the sake of Allah? And is a person rewarded for actions whose benefit is limited to themselves?

If a person performs an action to gain people's praise or to show their excellence, this is riya' (ostentation), which Allah does not accept, as Allah Almighty says: ﴿So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous deeds and not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord.﴾ [Al-Kahf: 110]. And the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, said: 'I am the most self-sufficient of partners; whoever performs a deed in which he associates another with Me, I will abandon him and his shirk.'"

However, if a Muslim performs an action purely for the sake of Allah, and people praise him for it, that is not considered riya', but rather it is a good tiding for him, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "That is the immediate good tidings for the believer."

The desire to show off and excel is blameworthy, and the principle is humility, which elevates the servant's status with Allah, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed, Allah has revealed to me that you should be humble so that no one boasts over another, and no one oppresses another."

To make an action purely for the sake of Allah, one must address the intention and strive against the self to remove riya'. Correcting the intention is among the most important things to attend to.

A person is rewarded for an action whose benefit is limited to himself if the Law has prescribed a reward for it and the doer performs it in a lawful manner. One should occupy their time with obedience to Allah and seeking beneficial knowledge, with permissible recreation sometimes. And engaging in what benefits others is among the best deeds.

One should seek refuge from Satan and avoid the whispers that deter from the remembrance of Allah.