Although their outward conduct appeared righteous, it did them no good. Therefore, do not be dazzled by the uprightness of your limbs; look, before anything else, to your heart. I ask Allah to set right my heart and yours. The heart is what matters most.

A man was once brought to the Messenger ﷺ for having drunk wine, and the Prophet ordered that he be flogged. He was brought again for the same offense and the Prophet had him flogged a second time. One of the Companions cursed him, saying, “May Allah curse him—how often he is brought before the Messenger ﷺ!” The Prophet ﷺ replied, “Do not curse him, for he loves Allah and His Messenger.” The heart is the foundation; for this reason Allah the Exalted says, “Those are the ones whose hearts Allah did not intend to purify” (al-Maʾidah 5:41).

In this world, as far as our dealings with others are concerned, we are obliged to judge people by their outward actions, for we do not know the unseen or what lies within hearts, and Allah does not burden any soul beyond its capacity. The Prophet ﷺ said, “I only judge according to what I hear.” We are not charged with investigating what is hidden in people’s hearts. Hence Allah says, “If they repent, establish prayer, and pay zakah, then leave them alone—surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Merciful” (al-Tawbah 9:5); that is, if the polytheists repent, establish prayer, and pay zakah, then leave them to their own affair, for Allah is All-Forgiving, Merciful.