by Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh

A dhākir is that person who is aware at all times that Allāh ta‘ālā is watching him and it is only He who controls the universe and holds authority to cause benefit or harm. A gh āfil is that person who does not have such a condition. Consequently, a dhākir will be an obedient servant of Allāh ta‘ālā and a ghāfil will be disobedient. If a person entertains the desire that people become aware of his devotion and closeness to Allāh ta‘ālā then he is not a dhākir, rather a ghāfil as this is riyā and riyā is disobedience and a disobedient person cannot be a dhākir. Therefore, in essence this person is ghāfil.