belongs to character—knowledge, faith, and piety—is greater than the beauty of physical form, namely outward appearance.

The same applies to beautiful outward clothing: the garment of piety is greater and more perfect. He loves the beauty of the garment of piety more than He loves the beauty of fine clothing, and He loves beauty of character more than beauty of physical form.

As is authentically reported from the Prophet, he said: “The believers whose faith is most complete are those with the best character.”

In Sahīh Muslim, al-Nawwās ibn Samʿān said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, about righteousness and sin. He replied: ‘Righteousness is good character, and sin is what troubles your conscience and what you would dislike people discovering.’”

In the Sunan, it is reported that he said: “The heaviest thing placed on the Scale is good character.”