Shirk ashghar, is an act set by the nash-nash al-Quran
and as Sunnah, by calling it shirk, but not
including shirk akbar. Like: riya 'in practice, swearing by
other than Allah, the saying: "Masya Allah wa sya-a Fulan" (what God requires and wants by the Prophet) and so forth.
Based on the Prophet's statement: "Surely I fear most
you are a little shirk. "The Prophet asked:" What is shirk?
little, Messenger of Allah? "He sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam replied:" That is riya