Tradition

إنَّ اللّهَ لا يَنْظُرُ إلَى صُوَرِكُمْ وَ لا إلى أَمْوالِكُمْ وَ إنَّما يَنْظُر إلى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَ أَعْمالِكُم

The Prophet (S) is narrated to have said: “God does not look at your faces and your wealth; rather, he looks at your hearts and your actions.”1

Brief Commentary

Even though most societies judge people based on how they look and how much money they have, Islam has explicitly mentioned that such judgements are actually incorrect and misguided. What God really judges are our hearts (meaning our intentions and beliefs) and our actions. Our hearts are the root of all of our actions and if we possess pure hearts, then likewise, our actions will be pure and wholesome as well. In front of God’s judgement, the only successful people are those who possess these valuable things.

• 1. Muhajat al-Bayda’, vol. 6, p. 312, Mustadrak Al-Wasa’il, vol. 11, p. 264, Alam Al-Deen, p. 201, Al-Amali, p. 535, Jami' Al-Akhbar, p. 100, Sharh Nahj Al-Balaghah, vol. 2, p. 181, Makarim Al-Akhlaq, p.469.