The term ḥarī is pronounced with an open ḥāʾ, a kasra on the rāʾ, and a doubled yāʾ; it means “deserving.” The verb shafaʿ is pronounced with a fatḥa on the fāʾ.

[Explanation]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—relates from Sahl ibn Saʿd al-Sāʿidī (Allah be pleased with him): A man passed by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and the Prophet said to a companion, “What do you think of this man?” He replied, “He is one of the nobles; he is surely deserving—if he proposes he should be married, and if he intercedes his intercession ought to be granted.” Another man then passed by, and the Prophet ﷺ asked about him. The companion said, “Messenger of Allah, this man is one of the weak Muslims: if he seeks marriage he will not be accepted, if he intercedes his intercession will not be heeded, and if he speaks people will scarcely listen to him.”

Thus we have two men. The first belongs to the eminent class, someone whose word carries weight, whose proposal is accepted, and whose speech is heard. The second is the opposite: a man from the downtrodden with no standing—if he proposes he is turned down, if he intercedes he is refused, and if he speaks he is ignored.

The Prophet ﷺ declared, “This man is better than an earth-full of the likes of that one,” meaning that in Allah’s sight he outweighs an earth-full of men like the one who enjoys honor and prestige among his people. Allah does not look at lineage, status, wealth, appearance, clothing, conveyance, or dwelling; rather, He looks at the heart and at deeds. When a person’s heart is sound in its relationship with Allah—turning back to Him, remembering Him, fearing Him, humbling itself before Him, and acting in a way that pleases Him—such a person is the one esteemed by Allah, the one granted true standing with Him, the one who, if