PUNISHMENT IN THE HEREAFTER FOR SHOWING OFF:
Ignorance about how showing off will be punished in the Hereafter can lead one to commit this sin. We must realize that it cancels out the reward of all our good deeds, and brings the wrath of Allah. No sensible person would like to waste energy doing that which doesn’t bring any reward, and certainly wouldn’t like to invite Allah’s anger. One of the greatest ahadith in this connection is the following (part of the long hadith stated below):
Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated a hadith of the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) that clearly shows how the act of doing things for others can cause some to be enflamed on the Day of Judgment. One of them, for example, will be a wealthy man who will be brought, and Allah will say to him:
“Was I not so generous with you that I did not leave you without any need from anyone?”
He will reply:
‘Of course O Lord!’
Allah will ask:
“Then what did you do with what I gave to you?”
He will say:
‘I would nurture the ties of kinship and give charity.’
Then Allah will say to him:
“You have lied. Rather, you wanted it to be said that so-and-so is so generous, and that was said. (meaning that you wanted to get appreciated and that’s what happened.)”
[Part of a long hadith in Sunan Tirmidhi Vol. 4, Book 10, Hadith 2382]
Again, such are the people who according to the prophet (SAWS) will face severe punishment in the hereafter.
PUNISHMENT IN THIS WORLD FOR SHOWING OFF:
Just as there will be a punishment in the Hereafter for showing off, so will there be one in this world. Allah will expose the person and his bad intentions.
Allah’s Messenger (SAWS) said:
“If anyone wants to have his deeds widely publicized, Allah will publicize (his humiliation). And if anyone makes a hypocritical display (of his deeds) Allah will make a display of him.”
[Sahih Muslim Book 42, Hadith 7115]