Why am I ugly? The secret of the human soul in hadiths The Almighty does not look at your appearance
عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم:
« إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى صُوَرِكُمْ وَأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَأَعْمَالِكُمْ »
رواه أحمد (2/284 و539) ، ومسلم (2564) ، وابن ماجه (4143) .
1862: صحيح
" 15: صحيح
قال الشيخ الألباني في « غاية المرام في تخريج أحاديث الحلال والحرام ل لقرضاوي » 415: صحيح
It is reported that Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Verily, Allah does not look at your appearance or your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds.”
This hadith was narrated by Ahmad 2/284, 539, Muslim 2564 and Ibn Majah 4143. The hadith is authentic. See “Sahih al-targhib wa-t-tarhib” 15, “Sahih al-jami’ al-saghir” 1862.
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Many people diligently take care of their appearance, wanting to look as good, beautiful and neat as possible. However, they do not cleanse their hearts from diseases from which Allah Almighty warned us, such as hypocrisy, lies, envy, arrogance, bragging, complacency, injustice in all its manifestations, ignorance, anger towards believers, forbidden vile passions and desires, etc. . But Allah Almighty has shown us that the best attire is fear of God, and that decorating oneself with fear of God is better than simply decorating oneself with worldly clothes.
Almighty and Great Allah said:
﴾ يَا بَنِي آدَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَارِي سَوْآتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَى ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ ﴿
“O sons of Adam! We have sent down to you a robe that covers your nakedness and ornaments.However, the robe of piety is better."(al-A'raf, 7:26).
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Truly Allah does not look at your appearance and property, but looks at your hearts and deeds.”
Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “This hadith clarified that the heart is the place where the gaze of God is directed. And how amazing is the one who takes care of his face, where the eyes of creation turn, washes his face, cleanses it and decorates it in every possible way, so that people do not notice any blemish on it. But he does not take care of his heart - the place where the Creator’s gaze is directed, does not cleanse it (from vices) and does not adorn it (with excellent features) so that the Lord does not see dirt and other shortcomings in it.” See Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhab. “al-Kabair”, page 28. Wizaratu al-Shuun al-Islamiya KSA.
We should not evaluate faith by external manifestations, we should not be deceived by the righteous deeds of people, just as the bad deeds of a Muslim should not make us despise him.
The eminent interpreter of the Qur'an, Muhammad al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “This is a great hadith, which indicates that one cannot give an unambiguous assessment to someone based only on external signs of righteousness or depravity. Because it may be that a person treats external affairs with care, but Allah knows that he has a bad quality in his heart, due to which these affairs are not accepted. Conversely, we may see a person neglecting his duties or disobeying Allah, but Allah knows in his heart a wonderful quality due to which he will forgive him. Acts are indications based on conjecture, not solid and indisputable evidence. It follows from this that exaggeration should not be allowed in praising a person behind whom we see righteous deeds. And also that we cannot treat with contempt a Muslim whom we have noticed bad deeds. It is necessary to despise and condemn the act itself and the bad state itself, but not the person committing this act. Think about this, for (in this matter) this is a subtle view! See Muhammad al-Qurtubi. “al-Jami’ li ahkam al-Quran”, 16/326. Dar al-Kutub al-Misriyya. 1384 AH Second edition.
It was reported from Abu Huraira ‘Abdu Rahman ibn Sahra (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Verily, Allah Almighty does not look at your bodies or your appearance, but He looks at your hearts and deeds.” .
This hadith indicates the same thing as the words of Allah Almighty: “O people! Verily, We created you from a man and a woman and made you nations and tribes so that you recognize each other, and the most revered among you before Allah is the most God-fearing.”
Allah Almighty does not look at the bodies of His slaves: whether they are big or small, healthy or sick. He does not look at their appearance: whether it is beautiful or unpleasant. All this has no value before Allah Almighty. Allah Almighty does not look at their genealogy, does not look at their property. There is no connection between Allah and people except through piety (taqwa). He who fears the most God is the one closest to Allah and the most revered by Him. Don't be proud of your possessions, don't be proud of your beauty, don't be proud of your body, don't be proud of your children, don't be proud of your palaces, don't be proud of your cars. There is no need to boast about something worldly! If Allah Almighty helps you to be God-fearing, then this is a huge mercy from Him, therefore thank Him for this!
Everything comes back to the heart. How often do we see that outwardly things are righteous, but they are built on ruins, and therefore they themselves turn into ruins. Intention is the foundation. Sometimes you see two people praying in the same row, following the same imam, but the difference between their prayers is like the difference between east and west. The whole difference is in their hearts! The heart of one of them is careless, or it is occupied with ostentatious piety, desiring worldly goods. May Allah protect us from this! The other is completely occupied with prayer, wishing for the Face of Allah and following the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). There is a huge difference between them. That is why, on the Day of Judgment, reckoning will be for what was in the heart, as Allah said: “On that day all secrets will be tested.” In worldly life, we judge people by their external actions, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I make a decision based on what I hear.” But on the Day of Judgment there will be reckoning for what is in the hearts! I ask Allah Almighty to cleanse our hearts!
If your heart is healthy, then rejoice and expect good things! And if it is not such, then do not expect good. Allah Almighty said: “Does man not know that when what is in the graves is overturned, and when what is in the chest is revealed, on that day their Lord will be made aware of them?”
Allah Almighty in His Book and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in his Sunnah indicate the importance of the right intention. Therefore, a person must definitely begin to correct his intention, correct his heart. Do you have doubts in your heart? If there are, replace them with deep conviction. How to do it? Look at the signs of Allah Almighty. He says: “Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are signs for those who have understanding.” And also: “Indeed, there are signs in the heavens and on earth for those who believe. In the creation of you and the living creatures that He dispersed, there are signs for people of conviction.” If the shaitan introduces doubts into your heart, then immediately look at the signs of Allah Almighty! Look at who controls this Being! Look how everything changes, how Allah Almighty alternates the days. Cleanse your heart from polytheism!
Therefore, brother, always heal your heart! Clean it constantly until it is clean! As Allah Almighty said (about the unbelievers): “Allah did not want to cleanse their hearts.” Purifying the heart is a very important matter.
From Ibn Uthaymin's sharh to "Riyadh Salihin"
I am writing to you because I need help. Please tell me what a person should do if his appearance, so to speak, is not very beautiful, and there are shortcomings in it? This is my problem: people judge by my appearance, they talk about my external shortcomings, but they don’t know what’s inside me. Is it really true that if a person is ugly, he is unhappy? If a person is ugly, is this his fault and can this be considered a punishment from Allah Almighty?
When others say about me that I am ugly, ugly, I feel offended, I begin to hate myself and ask myself: why did Allah Almighty create me like this... why?
From a religious point of view:
Unfortunately, this happens, including among Muslims. Muslims should not pay attention to appearance, one of the hadiths of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) says this: “Truly Allah does not look at your appearance and material condition, but He looks at your hearts and deeds.” (Sahihu Muslim 4651).
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَى صُوَرِكُمْ وَأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَأَعْمَالِكُمْ
This hadith makes it clear that the main thing we should pay attention to is piety and piety, since this is what the Almighty Himself pays attention to (!), but not to beautiful appearance! The Almighty says in the Quran (meaning): “The most honorable among you is the most God-fearing” (Surah Al-Hujurat, 13).
إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ
Ugly appearance is a test from the Almighty; try to pass this test with dignity, and then the Almighty will repay you in full. Make friends with observant Muslims, they do not attach as much importance to appearance as others. For every belittling, arrogant look you will be rewarded by the Almighty, not to mention slander behind your back! In addition, you can work a little on your appearance: do your hair, choose clothes that hide your flaws, etc.
From a psychological point of view:
People often come to us with a similar problem. Not everything is so simple here, and much requires clarification. It is important to understand that the concept of beautiful and ugly appearance is very relative and subjective. It’s not for nothing that they say that there are no comrades according to taste and color. Often, girls who have a fear that they will never get married and will be alone all their lives come across this problem. It is important to know that a person who considers himself ugly creates problems for himself out of nothing. Namely, he experiences complexes in communication, demonstrates his irritability and uncertainty. Naturally, such manifestations of character push people away from him, and he, in turn, is mistakenly convinced that it’s all about his appearance. A vicious vicious circle arises. There is a proven way out of this circle - self-development, enrichment of your internal culture. Many people dream of finding a good person, and only a few think about the fact that you need to become an interesting and positive person yourself, and then let others look for you.
On the other hand, an ugly appearance (which is again debatable) serves as a kind of test for others: narrow-minded people will simply move away from you. Many beautiful people have the problem that people pay attention to them and want to communicate with them only because they are beautiful in appearance, and they are offended by the fact that others do not want to see them as a person, but just as a beautiful application.
The question was answered:
Muhammad-Amin Magomedrasulov
theologian
Aliaskhab Anatolyevich Murzaev
Psychologist-consultant at the Center for Social Assistance to Family and Children
The essence of the soul is one of the secrets of the Almighty
The human soul is an immense world full of mystery. Man is of particular value, since he is endowed not only with a mortal physical body, but also with an eternal spiritual one. The soul is the essence of a person, since it determines what he is like in the eyes of Allah.
The hadith says: “Allah Almighty does not look at your appearance and condition, but at your hearts and actions.”.
A person wants to comprehend and know the secret of his soul: what it is for, where it comes from and what is the meaning of its existence. How the Quran and the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace be upon him) answer this question:
In the Quran, Allah Almighty says that man will never know the secret of the soul, since it is the mystery of Allah:
They ask you about your soul. Say: “The essence of the soul is one of the secrets of the Almighty, which only He knows. And your knowledge is insignificant compared to His knowledge” [Quran, 17:85].
The soul is a mystery, and it acquires a body even when the child is in the womb: “For each of you, all the components of your creation come together in the womb of your mother by the 40th day. During this period, it becomes like a blood clot, and then after the same period - a chewed piece. After this, an angel is sent to him, who breathes his soul into him. He is given four instructions: write down his destiny, term, deeds and whether he will be unhappy or happy.”
The soul is a mystery, but the believer must strive to know it, to know himself, his weaknesses and strengths. The whole life of a person in this world is the education and improvement of one’s inner self. A person will not take anything with him into another world except his soul, and it is for this that he will be responsible before the Lord.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The most knowledgeable of you about yourself (or about your soul - nafs) is the most knowledgeable about your Lord.”
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) called for the purification of the soul and warned about the importance of keeping one’s soul righteous: “Truly, there is a piece of flesh in the human body, which, being good, makes the whole body good, and being unfit, makes the whole body unusable , and this piece is the heart.”
A person gains faith when he lets Allah into his soul, reveals his soul to Allah, realizes that the soul is His creation and it will return to Him. The soul finds peace only from the awareness of its true purpose. The hadith says: “There is no slave who would direct his heart towards Allah without Allah directing the hearts of the believers towards him.” A soul that has come to know Allah has also come to know the essence of its existence and has established the boundaries of what is forbidden and what is permitted.
“To find out what righteousness is, turn to your heart. Righteousness is that which does not disturb the soul and heart, and sin is that which stirs unkindly in the soul and tosses heavily in the chest.”
The soul of a believer is valuable to the Almighty. Allah will certainly bestow his blessings on him. About the soul of a believer, the hadith says: “The heart of a believer is open; there is a shining lamp in it. The heart of an unbeliever (kafir) is black, overturned.”
“If a slave secludes himself with his Master in a dark night and begins to talk to Him, Allah will light a light in his heart.”
“There is no slave who, for forty days, would sincerely devote his deeds to Allah alone, lest Allah cause springs of wisdom to flow from his heart to his tongue.”
“Allah the Almighty says: “I will be what My servant considers Me to be, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in his soul, then I will remember him in My soul, and if he remembers Me in the company (of other people), then I will remember him among those who are better than them. If a slave approaches Me by an inch, I will approach him by an elbow, if He approaches Me by an elbow, I will approach him by a fathom, and if he approaches Me at a walk, then I will rush to him at a run!”
As reported by Abu Hurayrah Abdurrahman bin Sakhr (radhiyallahu anhu) the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Truly Allah Almighty does not look at your bodies and appearance, but looks at your hearts” (Muslim, Birr, 33).
Often people base their assessments only on what is visible to the eye. In society, as a rule, those who are good-looking and rich enjoy success, while the ugly and poor are neglected. However, this method of assessment is inherent in people who are superficial and spiritually poor.
When assessing people, Allah Almighty does not look at the beauty of their body or the abundance of property. The main thing is the beauty and richness of the soul. Even more important is the reflection of this inner beauty in sincere worship, the manifestation of inner wealth in righteousness and good deeds. To live, devoting oneself to the worship of Allah and serving people - this is true superiority over others, superiority, from the point of view of true values.
Another version of this hadith, reported in Muslim's Sahih, states that Allah evaluates hearts and ibadah:
“Allah Almighty does not look at your appearance and property, but looks at your hearts and deeds.” (Muslim, Birr, 34).
“Allah Almighty looks at your hearts and deeds”- means that a person will be rewarded for a pure heart and good deeds. The Koran says that Allah evaluates a person not by external qualities, but by his faith and deeds:
وَمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُكُم بِالَّتِي تُقَرِّبُكُمْ عِندَنَا
زُلْفَى إِلَّا مَنْ آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحاً فَأُوْلَئِكَ لَهُمْ جَزَاء الضِّعْفِ
بِمَا عَمِلُوا
« Neither your wealth nor your children bring you closer to Us. [Close to Us] are those who believe and do good deeds. It is they who will be rewarded doubly for what they did" (Sura Saba, 34/37)
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), pointing to his heart, said: “God-fearing is here!”(Muslim, Birr, 32; Tirmidhi, Birr, 18). That is, the true wealth of a person is ikhlas, sincerity.
At the end of the famous statement of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), where he talks about the obviousness of what is permitted and forbidden and the need to avoid the doubtful, it is said: « Truly, there is a piece of flesh in the body, which, being good, makes the whole body good, and when it becomes unusable, it spoils the whole body, this is the heart.” (Bukhari, Iman, 39).
Lessons from hadith
1. The main thing in ibada and good deeds is ikhlas and pure intention.
2. Before Allah Almighty, the most important thing in a person is his heart, his soul. The heart must be protected, cleansed from bad inclinations, decorated and filled with the light of faith.
3. With a pure heart, ibadah gains value and is accepted by Allah. We must constantly work on the heart: cleanse it from anger, envy, obvious and hidden vices until it is completely cleansed and becomes beautiful.