This is a person who does not attach importance to others learning about their deeds, considering it sufficient that Allah knows, and who immediately rejects any thought to the contrary. The second degree of a strong person is one who does not care about the praise or blame of the public (ḥalq), but instead pays attention to the praise and blame of Allah. The third degree of a strong person is one who, after feeling the urge to accept praise or blame that arises from ostentation (riyāʾ), rejects this offer after experiencing feelings of encouragement or fear. (Riʿāya, 103)
Since you will not obey him (Satan) in abandoning deeds, beware of ostentation (riyāʾ) by abandoning deeds! If you do not obey him in abandoning deeds, Iblis will invite you to ostentation in order to nullify your deed. If you do not submit in either case, he will say: 'You are a hypocrite, abandon the deed!' At the outset, he desires to direct you toward abandoning the deed. If you do not respond to his warning, a sense of security from him arises. Thus, you become secure from him. However, you do not realize that, under the guise of warning you from harm, he has deprived you of the reward of your deed. With this deed, you had sought ikhlas (sincerity). But when you abandon the deed, there remains no act done with ikhlas for Allah. For ikhlas is to act while avoiding riyāʾ, to remove ostentation from your deed so that it is pure in the sight of Allah. (Riʿāya, 117)
I said: ...The times and stations (maqāmāt) of ostentation (riyāʾ) are various. He said: One...