Putting Oneself Down to Make Oneself Look Better

Imām Ibn Rajab, may Allāh have mercy on him, said:

Right here, there’s a subtle point, [which] is that a person might put himself down in front of [others], aiming by that to be seen as humble. In that way, he gets raised up among them, and they speak well of him.

This is from the most subtle gateways to riyāʾ [seeking other’s praise for doing good deeds]. The Salaf [the righteous ones who preceded us] indeed drew attention to it.

Sharḥ Ḥadīth Mā Dhiʾbān Jāʾiʿān, p. 88.

Tweeted by Shaikh ʿAbdullāh Al-Bukhārī.