This also includes the intentions behind deeds, for deeds are judged only by intentions, and each person will have only what he intended. “Intention” is something a person conceals within himself. If his purpose is to seek the Face of his Lord, the Most High, he deserves reward; but if his purpose is to show off before people, he deserves punishment. As Allah Most High says:

“So woe to those who pray, yet are heedless of their prayer—those who show off.”

And He says:

“When they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing off before people.”

The authentic hadith narrated by Abū Hurayrah concerning the three with whom the Fire will first be kindled mentions the man who learned and taught so that he would be called a scholar and a reciter; the man who fought so that he would be called bold and courageous; and the man who gave charity so that he would be called generous and noble. Their sole purpose was to gain people’s praise and esteem and to seek status among them. They did not seek the Face of Allah through these deeds, even though their deeds were outwardly good. When such people are brought to account, they will be among those who deserve punishment, as stated in the hadith:

“Whoever seeks knowledge to vie with scholars, argue with fools, or draw people’s attention to himself will have the Fire as the recompense for his deed.”

And in another hadith:

“Whoever seeks knowledge by which the Face of Allah should be sought, seeking it only to obtain some worldly gain, will not smell the fragrance of Paradise, although its fragrance can be detected from a distance of five hundred years’ travel.”

In short, the heart is the foundation, as Abū Hurayrah said: “The heart is the king of the limbs, and the limbs are its troops. If the king is good, its troops are good; and if