Ibn 'Abbas said, "What do you reckon to be nobility? Allah has made nobility clear. The noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the one with the greatest taqwa. What do you reckon as lineage? The best of you in lineage is the best of you in character."

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ بُرْقَانَ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ قَالَ‏:‏ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ‏:‏ مَا تَعُدُّونَ الْكَرَمَ‏؟‏ وَقَدْ بَيَّنَ اللَّهُ الْكَرَمَ، فَأَكْرَمُكُمْ عِنْدَ اللهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ، مَا تَعُدُّونَ الْحَسَبَ‏؟‏ أَفْضَلُكُمْ حَسَبًا أَحْسَنُكُمْ خُلُقًا‏.‏