٢٣. وَقَالَ (عليه السلام): مَنْ أَبْطَأَ بِهِ عَمَلُهُ لَمْ يُسْرِعْ بِهِ حَسَبُهُ.
23. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: He whose deeds accord (him) a back position cannot be given a front position because of his lineage.
Deeds outweigh lineage in merit
Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 3|Chapter 23