What are the acts of worship that are nullified by showing off (riyaa), and in which seeking worldly gain is considered minor shirk? And are actions for which no otherworldly reward is intended—such as marriage, spending, a smiling face, honoring a guest, and maintaining kinship ties—considered acts of worship for which the doer is sinful if he intends worldly matters by them or if showing off (riyaa) enters into them?

A distinction must be made concerning showing off (riya') between pure acts of worship, such as prayer, fasting, and Hajj, where reward is only granted with a sincere intention, and other actions that were primarily established for livelihood and worldly benefits, then later acquired the meaning of worship, such as marriage, maintaining kinship ties, and honoring guests. One who shows off in these latter actions does not incur sin, but rather misses out on the reward if their intention was not solely for Allah.

Thus, showing off in pure acts of worship is forbidden (haram), whereas showing off in worldly actions is not forbidden if it does not involve deception. "No reward except with intention" is a legal principle. For example, spending on one's family, if the servant intends the reward from Allah, is charity. However, if they do not intend that, there is no reward for them.

The validity of an action differs from obtaining reward for it. Actions that are originally customs do not require an intention to be valid, but the reward for them depends on the intention. Some scholars have differentiated between 'qaasirah' (intransitive/self-contained) and 'muta'addiyah' (transitive/benefiting others) actions. Permissible acts, if performed with the intention of worship, are rewarded. If there is no intention, there is no reward unless the action has a transitive benefit.

Renewing the intention is more complete and greater, but one who neglects this is not deprived of the fundamental reward. It is sufficient for them to carry the ruling of the intention, not necessarily its continuous remembrance.