The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Allah does not look at your appearance or property, but only at your hearts and works.”
Appearance and wealth are the criteria by which Shaytaan misguides people to judge one another. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has altogether another set of criteria. Since Allah is the Bestower of looks and He is the one who determines the rizq/wealth of a person, these mean nothing to Him. What the person has done to endear himself to his or her Lord is what they will be judged on. What Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) appreciates about them is their application to improving their beliefs, their hearts, their characters and their deeds.
Some people master the religious sciences but neglect to examine their outward habits and practices, not keeping their external self from sin or making it faithful in obedience. They are deluded by their learning and feel sure that they rate high with Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). Whereas, the whole point of knowing about religious practice is to apply it. Without works, it is useless. Allah Most High says, “He who purifies it (the soul) has succeeded” [Al-Quran 91:9], not “He who knows how to purify it has succeeded.”
Some people master religious learning and its outward performance, but do not examine their hearts to eliminate the blameworthy traits therein such as pride, envy, ostentation, and seeking exaltation or fame. They have made their exterior seemly while neglecting their interior, forgetting this hadith of the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). Such people apply themselves to works but do not apply themselves to hearts, though the heart is the real foundation, since no one is saved “except he who comes to Allah with a pure heart.” [Al-Quran 26:89]
Appearance and wealth are the criteria by which Shaytaan misguides people to judge one another. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has altogether another set of criteria. Since Allah is the Bestower of looks and He is the one who determines the rizq/wealth of a person, these mean nothing to Him. What the person has done to endear himself to his or her Lord is what they will be judged on. What Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) appreciates about them is their application to improving their beliefs, their hearts, their characters and their deeds.
Some people master the religious sciences but neglect to examine their outward habits and practices, not keeping their external self from sin or making it faithful in obedience. They are deluded by their learning and feel sure that they rate high with Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). Whereas, the whole point of knowing about religious practice is to apply it. Without works, it is useless. Allah Most High says, “He who purifies it (the soul) has succeeded” [Al-Quran 91:9], not “He who knows how to purify it has succeeded.”
Some people master religious learning and its outward performance, but do not examine their hearts to eliminate the blameworthy traits therein such as pride, envy, ostentation, and seeking exaltation or fame. They have made their exterior seemly while neglecting their interior, forgetting this hadith of the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). Such people apply themselves to works but do not apply themselves to hearts, though the heart is the real foundation, since no one is saved “except he who comes to Allah with a pure heart.” [Al-Quran 26:89]
