How can one make friends and the elderly more beloved of establishing prayer and drawing closer to religion, while ensuring sincerity of action and counsel for the sake of Allah Almighty, and overcoming the whispers of showing off?

The methods of inviting people to prayer vary according to the individuals. Some are influenced by good counsel, mentioning verses and hadith, and stories about the reward of the one who prays and the punishment of the one who abandons prayer. Others are influenced by associating with righteous people and visiting scholars. Still others may be affected by listening to a tape or reading a beneficial message about the danger of neglecting prayer. As for the fear of showing off (riya'), one must strive against it with sincerity and purifying the intention for Allah, being mindful of His constant observation, and frequently seeking refuge in Allah from polytheism, by saying: "O Allah, we seek refuge in You from associating anything with You knowingly, and we seek Your forgiveness for what we do not know." One must be careful not to let Satan approach him through the fear of showing off and tempt him to abandon some good deeds. Al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyad said: "Abandoning a deed for the sake of people is showing off (riya'), and doing a deed for the sake of people is polytheism (shirk)."