Tradition

"لا تُرّاءِ بِعَمَلِكَ مَنْ لاَ يُحْيي وَ لا يُمِيْتُ وَ لايُغْنِى عَنْكَ شَيْئاً"

Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is narrated to have said: “Do not perform good actions for the sake of posturing and showing off to people who neither have the power of life or death, nor the power of solving any problems for you.”1

Brief Commentary

Those who become used to showing off and posturing in front of others end up living lives that are completely empty and devoid of any substance. Due to this manner of living, their lives begin to lack all felicity and happiness. They only possess the very outer aspects of religion and religiosity, and they suffice with dry rituals when it comes to their religious practices. It is for this same reason that Islam has severely criticized this type of behavior and it has mentioned that since these people have no power over one’s destiny, why should they behave in such a way? Such a thing is not only illogical but it is also of no benefit to anyone.

• 1. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 72, p. 300.