626 — Hamza ibn al-Abbās related to me: Abdān informed us: Abd Allah informed us: Mamar informed us, from Yahya ibn al-Mukhtār, from al-Hasan, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:

“Judge people by their deeds and set their words aside, for Allah has left no statement without providing evidence for it in a deed that either confirms or belies it. When you hear fine words, do not be hasty concerning the speaker. If his words accord with his deeds, then excellent indeed—what a delight to the eye! Take him as a brother and love him. But if his words conflict with his deeds, what confusion about him could remain for you? What could still be hidden from you? Beware of him. Do not let him deceive you as he deceived the son of Adam.

“You have words and deeds, but your deeds are a truer measure of you than your words. You have an inward state and an outward one, but your inward state is a truer measure of you than your outward appearance. You have a present state and an ultimate outcome, but your ultimate outcome is more consequential than your present state.”