PRETENCE

Many promising seekers are relegated to lower spiritual levels due to their ostentatious display of piety and rank, hindering their progress towards the ultimate destination because such show-off is considered pretence.

It is permissible for a person to seek respect and honour through things other than worships. For instance, dressing well, per the Sunna, is not only permissible but also recommended as it presents one's good impression rather than displaying virtuosity.

Only the actions done with absolute sincerity for Allah are accepted in the court of Allah. If there is a personal interest behind devotions or you wish to become known as a pious person through these devotions, then such devotions are contaminated with pretence.

Mystics regard pretence as a great sin and veil between Allah and His slave. It is very close to polytheism. No deed or prayer of a pretentious person is accepted in the court of Allah rather it becomes a source of adversity for him.

A pretentious person is essentially a hypocrite. If a traveller of the path of Faqr indulges in pretence, he is disgraced both in this world and the hereafter. Never trust a person who boasts about his piety.

Only when a person performs all devotions and virtues with the intent of pleasing Allah, Allah blesses him with His closeness. Acts based on pretence may impress people but in the court of Allah they have no value.