16:07 Even I can't take the…25:02 So riya' is showing…
Character & conductFrom the masjid's own video, Jul 18, 2026.

Praise can turn worship into hidden shirk

Al-Masjid Islamic Center · Mansour Mahmoud

“Allah is the one who sanctifies people.”

The khateeb, at 13:36

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In one sentence

The khutbah argues that hidden shirk appears when worship or self-image is shaped by people’s praise or one’s own ego, so believers must guard their intentions, avoid self-purification and exaggerated praise, honor others’ rights, and cultivate humility before Allah.

The khutbah in 4 steps

  1. Explains shirk’s unique danger and Allah’s just judgment of lesser sins.
  2. Rejects claims of personal purity and excuses based on Allah’s mercy.
  3. Warns against taking others’ rights and giving exaggerated praise.
  4. Defines riya and ujb as hidden shirk and calls for sincere encouragement, self-examination, humility, and supplication.
Try this week
Examine the intention behind worship and good deeds, especially when others may notice them.
Do not claim personal purity or assume Allah’s forgiveness excuses taking other people’s rights.
Praise good efforts moderately, and stop if praise is making someone self-important.
End each salah by seeking refuge in Allah from the punishment of the grave and Hell, the trials of life and death, and the Dajjal.
Ask Allah regularly for humility and keep the ego in check when people praise you.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Even I can't take the rights of other people and Allah is ghafur raheem. No, ya Habibi.”
Al-Masjid Islamic Center · Greenville, NC
Play from 16:07
“So riya' is showing off. You do for the people. Ujb self-admiration.”
Al-Masjid Islamic Center · Greenville, NC
Play from 25:02
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah warns us about hidden shirk: doing good deeds for people’s praise or becoming impressed with ourselves. It reminds us that Allah alone knows our hearts, so we should not claim to be pure or use Allah’s mercy as an excuse to harm others. We should encourage good efforts kindly, but avoid exaggerated praise that can feed someone’s ego. The examples of Umar and other early Muslims show us to remember our humble reality and ask Allah for humility. It closes with prayers for forgiveness, protection from spiritual trials, and help for oppressed Muslims in several places.

  1. When have you felt proud of yourself, and how could you turn that feeling into gratitude?
  2. How can we compliment someone kindly without making them feel superior?
  3. What private good deed could you do this week just for Allah?
Where it was given

The masjid

Al-Masjid Islamic Center Greenville1303 South Evans Street, Greenville, NC 27834KhateebMansour MahmoudMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at Al-Masjid Islamic Center40 khutbahs
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