Food served for show (ta‘am al-riya’)

Question

Question: What is the ruling on someone who, with the intention of boasting and gaining renown, feeds his biradari (a kinship or caste community) pilaf, sweet rice and the like?

Answer

Such feeding is ostentation (riya’) and boasting, and therefore a grave sin; repentance from it is necessary. [ar]يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُبْطِلُوا۟ صَدَقَـٰتِكُم بِٱلْمَنِّ وَٱلْأَذَىٰ كَٱلَّذِى يُنفِقُ مَالَهُۥ رِئَآءَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ[/ar] “O you who have faith, do not ruin your charity by reproaching or causing hurt,…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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