A spiritual aspirant wrote;

While reciting my tasbeehat (wird) I make sure no one sees me. I worry what they might start thinking of me as being devout. Is this riya (ostentation)?

Sayyidi wa sandi Hazrat Moulana Mohammad Taqi Usmani sahib (Allah SWT preserve him and allow us to benefit from him abundantly. Ameen) replied:

“If you abandoned the recitation of the tasbeehat based on these thoughts, it will be riya. However, if you continue the recitation despite these (involuntary) feelings then there is no wrongdoing.

The treatment of these thoughts is not to pay any attention to them and focus on your recitation.”

Islahi Khutoot