Allah Looks to Your Hearts

From Abū Hurayrah ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Sakhr, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: 

«Indeed, Allah looks not to your bodies, nor to your faces, rather He looks to your hearts [and deeds].»(1)

Shaykh al-`Uthaymīn comments:(2)

Allah, the Perfect and Most High, does not look to the slaves and their bodies, and whether they are large or small in stature, nor whether they stand in good health or illness. He does not look to their faces, and whether or not they are beautiful or hideous. All of these affairs are of [absolutely] no significance to Allah.

Similarly, He does not look towards their lineage nor ancestry, and whether or not they are of nobility or ignobility, nor does He look towards their wealth. He does not look towards any of these affairs at all.

There lies no connection between Allah and His creation except through at-taqwā (righteousness). Whomever possesses more taqwā of Allah, is nearer to Him, and thus most honorable with Him, so do not take pride in your wealth, nor in your beauty, nor in your body, nor in your children, nor in your palaces, nor in your cars, nor in any worldly matter. Indeed, if Allah granted you success in attaining at-taqwā, it is from the His Grace upon you, so praise Allah.