Tips for Reading the Heart Through Appearance

There is an English proverb, "Don't Judge the book by the cover," meaning one should not judge something solely by its outward appearance. In Islam, however, it is taught that one's inner state always influences their outward appearance. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "Indeed, there is a piece of flesh in the body; if it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Verily, it is the heart." (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim). According to Ibn Ata Allah in his book Al-Hikam, what appears outwardly in a person is a characteristic of their inner self. A person whose heart is full of faith and close to Allah will radiate this from their being. Those around them can perceive and feel this by observing their behavior. "What is hidden behind the secrets of the heart can be clearly revealed and witnessed in the reality of one's life," said Ibn Ata Allah in chapter 28. One cannot claim to have a believing heart while their behavior remains ignorant (jahiliyah). It is impossible for someone with a righteous heart to possess bad character. The Messenger of Allah once said, "He is not a believer who sleeps with a full stomach while his neighbor is hungry." (Narrated by Tabarani). In a hadith from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) once saw a man playing with his beard during prayer. Upon seeing this, he said, "If his heart were humble, then his limbs would also be humble." (Narrated by Tirmidhi). Contrary to the initial proverb, Islam views the 'contents' as always being similar to the 'cover'. Have you ever felt a sense of coolness and peace of heart when you are around righteous people? Indeed, this can be experienced from a group of people who possess a good aura. Let alone interacting directly, just seeing them brings tranquility to the heart, and merely hearing their name evokes longing. However, for those who appear with an antagonistic persona (evil, cruel, stingy, etc.). For some reason, the heart feels constricted when near them; just seeing their face can be irritating, and no matter how impressive their appearance, the heart remains troubled. How can this be? Yes, this is what Ibn Ata Allah conveyed: that outward appearance is a reflection of one's inner self. A tranquil soul will radiate a calm aura. A peaceful heart will bring peace to one's body and soul, and even to those around them. A Salaf scholar named Yusuf bin Husain advised, "Associate with those who, when you look at them, remind you of Allah." Yusuf added that every righteous person possesses an aura of righteousness, and merely looking at them can make one remember Allah. Source: Republika Friday Dialogue, Friday, May 16, 2014. Note: May we be people with good hearts, so that we behave and radiate goodness, and can bring peace and comfort to others. Amen.