Is It Better to Lead the Prayer or Refrain From Doing So Out of Fear of Showing Off?

Leading the prayer and reciting the Quran are acts of worship. Therefore, the questioner should ask himself: Why am I stepping forward? If his intention is to establish the prayer for the people, benefit them through his recitation, attain the virtue of congregational prayer and leading the prayer, and seek the reward of Allah through that, then this is a righteous intention. However, if his primary intention is for the people to hear his voice, admire his recitation, and praise him, then he must correct his intention, because showing off is a serious danger. Second: Enjoying reciting over the microphone does not, by itself, mean that you are showing off There is a difference between two things: The first is that you love reciting the Quran, enjoy good recitation and a good voice, and like leading the people in prayer while your fundamental intention is for Allah. The second is that your motivation for leading the prayer is for the people to hear your voice, praise you, and say, “So-and-so is a good reciter.” The first does not, by itself, make the deed an act of showing off. The second is what one must beware of. What is obligatory is that the deed be for Allah. A person should not seek the praise and commendation of the people. Third: Do not abandon leading the prayer merely out of fear of showing off This is the most important point in the question.

Fourth: Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen رحمه الله warned against this whispering

Fifth: If you are among the best reciters present, accepting the role of imam is in accordance with the Sunnah

Sixth: Your statement, “I want the reward of the people who pray behind me” If what you mean is, “I want the reward of leading the prayer and the reward of helping the Muslims establish the congregational prayer,” then this is a good and legislated intention. It is not showing off because you are seeking the reward from Allah.

Seventh: What about your feeling that you go to the mosque in order to lead the people? This requires some detail. If what you mean is, “I go to the mosque because I know that they need me to lead the prayer, and I like to establish the prayer for them and recite the Quran for them,” then there is nothing blameworthy in this in and of itself. However, if you find yourself saying, “If I were not going to lead them, I would not have wanted to go to the mosque,” then strive against yourself and remind yourself that your primary purpose is to pray to Allah in congregation, regardless of whether they put you forward or not. One of the best ways to test yourself is this: If you enter the mosque and they put someone else forward, can you happily pray behind him without feeling distressed because you were not put forward? If you find something within yourself, do not abandon the mosque or leading the prayer. Rather, treat your intention and strive against yourself. Eighth: A practical method to follow at every prayer Before stepping forward, say within yourself: “O Allah, I intend through this prayer to seek Your Face, establish Your congregation, and benefit my brothers, so do not give anyone else any share in it.” Then do not excessively monitor yourself during the prayer, asking: “Am I sincere? Am I showing off? Why did I beautify my voice? Why did I enjoy the recitation?” Excessive self-examination may turn into whisperings. Recite as you normally do, with correct and good recitation. Lead the people in prayer according to the Sunnah, and do not artificially beautify your voice specifically for the purpose of impressing the worshippers.

Its meaning is very precise and can be explained as follows: First: “Doing a deed because of people is shirk” This means that a person performs an act of worship so that the people will praise him, see him, or hear about him, rather than intending solely the Face of Allah through his deed. This is showing off, and in principle it is a form of minor shirk. For example, a man does not normally prolong his prayer, but when people see him, he prolongs and beautifies it in order to receive their praise. This is performing a deed for the sake of people.

Second: “Abandoning a deed because of people is showing off” This is a subtle matter. A person may want to perform an act of obedience to Allah, then say, “I will not do it because I fear that people will say that I am showing off, that I am religious, or that I want people to see me.” He then abandons the act of obedience because of his concern about how people view him. For example, a man regularly performs a voluntary prayer. Then, when some people enter upon him, he stops performing it so that they will not think that he wants to display his worship. Al-Fudayl says that this is also a form of paying attention to the people because you have made their presence a reason for abandoning the act of obedience. What is required is neither to say, “I will perform the deed for the sake of people,” nor, “I will abandon it because of people.” Rather, say: “I will perform it for Allah, whether the people see me or do not see me.” Third: “Sincerity is that Allah protects you from both” This means that your heart becomes free from paying attention to creation regarding the foundation of your worship. You neither act for their praise nor abandon a deed out of fear of what they will say. If you are reciting the Quran alone and then people enter upon you, do not stop reciting merely because they entered, nor should you beautify your voice in order to impress them. Rather, continue your worship for Allah. This does not mean that every instance of abandoning a deed out of fear of showing off is blameworthy. A person may leave a particular non-obligatory deed for a legitimate religious benefit, or he may conceal a voluntary act because he believes concealing it is closer to sincerity. What is blameworthy, as indicated by the statement of al-Fudayl, is when people’s perception becomes what moves you: you act when they see you, and you refrain when they see you. Conclusion: Step forward to lead the prayer when the people of the mosque put you forward and you are qualified to do so. Do not abandon it merely out of fear of showing off. Abandoning an act of obedience out of fear of showing off is not the remedy. Rather, the remedy is to continue performing the act of obedience while striving against yourself and correcting your intention. Your enjoyment of reciting over the microphone or your feeling of happiness when leading the prayer is not sufficient to judge yourself as someone who is showing off. Rather, make the foundation within your heart: “I pray for Allah, I lead the Muslims in prayer for Allah, and I recite the Quran for Allah.” If thoughts of loving praise or people’s admiration arise, repel them and do not dwell upon them. In your situation, given that there is no regular imam and there are few people proficient in recitation, your stepping forward when the people put you forward may achieve a clear benefit. The Sunnah has instructed that the one most proficient in the Book of Allah be put forward. Therefore, do not deprive yourself and the Muslims of this benefit merely because of fear and whisperings. Summary: The criterion is: For whom are you performing the deed? If you perform it for Allah, this is sincerity. If you perform it so that people will praise you, this is showing off. If you abandon an act of obedience merely because of your concern about people and fear of what they will say, then your heart has also turned toward them. As for the sincere person, he worships Allah privately and publicly, strives against his heart, and does not allow people to determine when he acts and when he refrains.