Islamic Thoughts

• ANALYSES
• 1 Behavior code of Muslims toward non-Muslims
• 2 September 11 (2001) attacks on America not compatible with Islam
• 3 Ways To Defuse Religious Tensions
• 4 The Value Of The Ten Commandments
• 5 Bright Spot Of The Us Constitution: Religious Freedom
• 6 Lessons from the prophet's hudaibiah treaty.
• 7 Rulers' roles in promotion of christianity.
• 8 Exploring a model definition of 'religion'
• 9 Where islam stands as a civilized religion?
• 10 Proving god's existence through experimental science.
• 11 Roles of man as necessary & God as sufficient condition.
• 12 Human kindness is a shadow of god's kindness.
• 13 Why islam is the best choice for the Africans?
• 14 In Old Age, All Roads Lead To Death.
• 15 No Creations Are Without Purposes & Uses.
• 16 Prayer Prevents People From Bad Actions.
• 17 When Haram May Be Excusable: Five-Step Conditions.
• 18 Islamization Of Some Un-Islamic Cultures.
• 19 Greater The Faith, Tougher The Test.
• 20 How Science Can Make A Difference For Muslims?
• 21 The Time Gap Reality Between Sin & Punishment.
• 22 Good & Bad Days Alternate In Cyclic Order.
• 23 Let Moon-Sighting Unite & Not Divide The Muslims.
• 24 Faith Crisis Among Some Intellectuals.
• 25 Islamic Policy Toward Animals.
• 26 Improving The Muslim Performance (Aamal) Standard.
• ARGUMENTS
• 27 How Middle Course Better Than Conservative And Liberal Extremes?
• 28 Why God Is The Best One To Be Worshipped?
• 29 Costs And Benefits Of Belief In The Afterlife
• 30 Bible Is Similar To Hadith But Different From Quran
• 31 Defaming Islam: Freedom Of Speech Or Violation Of Rights?
• 32 How Islam Compares With Democracy?
• 33 Who Is Responsible For '0' Small Pox Since 1980?
• 34 Timeliness Is The Leading Condition For Prayer.
• 35 Ten Arguments For Women's Education.
• 36 Why Physical Fitness Matters For The Muslims?
• 37 Homosexuality Vs Adultery: Which Is Worse And How?
• 38 Countering Abortionist Argument
• 39 Which Is Better: Open Or Secret Prayer?
• 40 Small Or Large Recitation: Which Is Better In Prayer?
• 41 Personal Or Social Suffering: Which Is More Painful & Why?
• 42 Cultural Slavery Vs Cultural Diffusion.
• 43 Why Should America Ban Religious Defamation?
• ASSORTMENTS
• 44 Visible Action Of Invisible God: From Author's Diary.
• 45 Optional Good Deeds Are Like Bodyguards For Compulsory Ones.
• 46 The Gravitation Law Of Performance (Not One Of Newton).
• 47 The Theory Of Relativity (Not That Of Einstein).
• 48 In Good Deeds
• 49 "Rob Peter to pay Paul" is not for islam
• 50 Muslims Cannot Be "Penny Wise And Pound Foolish".
• 51 Islam Endorses Salad Bowl & Not Melting Pot Theory.
• 52 100% Homosexuality Means Prospect Of 'O' World Population.
• 53 Sinning In Teens To 40's & Suffering From 50's To Death.
• 54 Revenge May Be Lower But Not Greater Than Harm.
• 55 Why Karl Marx Is Irrelevant Forever?
• 56 Is God The Same One For All Religions?
• 57 How God Controls Economy And Livelihood?
• 58 How Muslim Repression In Myanmar Violates Buddhist Principles?
• MISCELLANEOUS
• 59 Grim Reality of Death: Unfailing Lesson for Everyone
• 60 Religion Vs Reason: Which is More Important?

39 : WHICH IS BETTER: OPEN VERSUS SECRET PRAYERS?

Islam allows for both open and secretly performed good actions like charity or prayer etc. subject to some conditions described below:

(i) Openly performed good action has the merit of being seen by others that might inspire them to do the same. For example, if the Muslims flock together to the mosque wearing Islamic outfits (e.g. cap, long dress), some others may want to be like them while others will see this as Muslim power and piety. Anyway, if your visible good actions are intended and able to inspire others for good actions, both you the inspirer and the inspired persons will qualify for divine credits for such inspired actions.

(ii) Visibility of good actions are, however, exposed to the risk of showing people for gaining social honor (ex: being addressed as 'Hajji') or enjoying sweet feeling of pride (ex: being honored as a charitable person). If in this way, you intend worldly gains, your good deeds will not reach God and you will be shut out from His blessings and instead you may be charged with partnership sins. Islam, therefore, usually favors invisible good actions over visible ones. "If you disclose charity, it is well, but if you conceal that, it is best for you" (2:271).

(iii) By comparison, secretly performed deeds enjoy safety from public show and therefore the quality may remain solid and more acceptable. Lack of motivational effects is, however, its one downside.

Overall, both overt and covert actions have good and bad sides. So you should practice both the types in suitable combination in your performance package. Unless it is otherwise justified, you may follow the following two standard rules. (a) Perform your optional good deeds like charity in private in order to avoid public show. If, however, anybody asks you about that, tell the truth in measured and restrained words without feeling any pride. (b) The compulsory actions like zakah should be done in public for inspiring others to follow suit as well as preventing them from developing a negative idea about your performance.