This is the theme of the hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, as mentioned inn Sahi Muslim, being shared today' given herein under:
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'Allah does not look at your (outward) forms and your wealth, rather He looks at your hearts and your deeds."'
Arabic Test:
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ ، حَدَّثَنَا كَثِيرُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ ، حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ بُرْقَانَ ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ الأَصَمِّ ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى صُوَرِكُمْ وَأَمْوَالِكُمْ ، وَلَكِنْ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَأَعْمَالِكُمْ.
This hadith highlights that external appearances and material status are not what earn a person value before Allah — rather, it is the state of the heart and the sincerity of actions that matter.
Explanation of the Hadith
1. "Allah does not look at your forms..."
This means that your physical appearance, race, beauty, body, or worldly image do not determine your spiritual worth.
- Qur’anic Reflection:
- “Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.” — Surah Al-Hujurat (49:13)
- This verse rejects the idea of superiority based on ethnicity, wealth, or appearance — and replaces it with taqwa (God-consciousness) as the true measure.
2. "...nor your wealth"
Wealth, status, and possessions may impress people, but they carry no weight with Allah unless used for good, and earned in halal ways.
- Qur’anic Reflection:
- “Neither their wealth nor their children will avail them against Allah at all…” — Surah Al-Imran (3:10)
- That is wealth is a test, not a sign of divine favor.
- Qarun boasted of his immense wealth, the keys of his coffers are said to have been loaded on seventy camels. Yet his arrogance robbed him of the Divine favour on him and was engulfed by the earth along with his entire wealth.
3. "...but He looks at your hearts"
The heart (qalb) in Islam is the seat of intentions, sincerity, faith, and desires. A sound heart is crucial to salvation.
- Qur’anic Reflection:
- “The Day when neither wealth nor children will benefit, but only one who comes to Allah with a sound heart.” — Surah Ash-Shu’ara (26:88–89)
- A heart full of sincerity, humility, and faith is what Allah values most.
4. "...and your deeds"
Intentions are not enough without righteous action. Deeds reflect what's in the heart and show commitment to Allah’s commands.
- Qur’anic Reflection:
- “So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.” — Surah Az-Zalzalah (99:7–8)
- That is deeds — big or small — are recorded and judged with perfect justice and mercy.
Key Lessons
- Sincerity (Ikhlas) is more important than public image.
- Righteousness, not race or riches, determines your closeness to Allah.
- Islam judges character and conduct, not external glamor.
- A pure heart + good deeds = spiritual success.
Summary:
This hadith and its Quranic parallels emphasize that Allah's judgment is not based on appearances or status, but on what lies deep within — the heart — and how that is expressed in sincere actions. It's a call to purify our intentions and live with integrity.
So let us brothers and sisters in Islam beautify our inner-self and make our hearts reservoirs of good thoughts, love for other and rid it from any trace of arrogance and pride. That is when Allah would start look at us and showier His fathomless blessings on us.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more Hadiths on the General Subjects.
For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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