He has stopped advising people for fear of showing off

Question I am afraid of showing off, and I am cautious about it to the extent that I cannot advise some people or forbid them from doing certain things such as backbiting, slandering, etc. I am afraid that doing so would be showing off on my part, and I am scared that people may think…

Question

I am afraid of showing off, and I am cautious about it to the extent that I cannot advise some people or forbid them from doing certain things such as backbiting, slandering, etc. I am afraid that doing so would be showing off on my part, and I am scared that people may think that I am showing off. So I do not give any advice, and I tell myself that they are educated people and they do not need any advice. What do you suggest?

Praise be to Allah.

This is one of the plots of the Shaytaan by means of
which he discourages people from calling others to Allaah and from enjoining
what is good and forbidding what is evil. For example, he makes them
think that this is a kind of showing off or that people will think he
is showing off. You, my sister in Islam, should not pay any attention
to it, rather you should advise your sisters and your brothers if you
see them falling short in any duty or committing any sin such as backbiting,
slandering, or not covering in front of men. Do not be afraid of showing
off, rather focus your intention on Allaah and be sincere towards Him,
and be of good cheer. Ignore the plots and whispers of the Shaytaan.
Allaah knows what intention is in your heart and how sincere you are
towards Him and towards His slaves. Allaah knows that showing off is
shirk and it is not permissible, but it is also not permissible for
a believer, man or woman, to stop doing what Allaah has enjoined, namely
calling people to Him and enjoining what is good and forbidding what
is evil, for fear of showing off. So you have to beware of that and
do what is obligatory in the midst of men and women. Men and women are
equal in this regard. Allaah has explained this in His Book where He
says (interpretation of the meaning):

“The believers, men and women, are Awliyaa’ (helpers,
supporters, friends, protectors) of one another; they enjoin (on the
people) Al-Ma‘roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam
orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism
and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); they
perform As-Salaah (Iqaamat-as-Salaah), and give the Zakaah, and obey
Allaah and His Messenger. Allaah will have His Mercy on them. Surely,
Allaah is All-Mighty, All-Wise”

[al-Tawbah 9:71]

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