What does the Hadeeth say about Jealousy?

Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the prophet of Allah (May the peace and salutations of Allah be upon him) said “Jealousy is not permitted excepted in respect of two people, one whom Allah blesses with recitation of Qur’an and he remains engaged in it day and night and the other who is given a lot of wealth by Allah and he spends it day and night”. [Bukhari]

Lesson: It is encouraged to recite the Qur’an a lot and to give charity a lot. “Jealousy is not permitted excepted in respect of two people…” Jealousy is of 2 types. One that is permissible and the other is non permissible. The definition of the first type is that one looks at others blessings from Allah than he or she longs for or wishes to attain that particular thing without that blessing being taken away from the next person. This is permissible in Islam.

The second type is when one looks at others blessings; then he wishes that the blessings from the second person should be taken away just because he does not have it. This is forbidden in Islam.

Shaikhul Hadeeth Hadhrat sheikh Zakaria (rahmatullahi alyh) interprets “Jealousy” in this Hadeeth as emulation in his book ‘Fadhail-e-A’mal’ or to compete with each other for example in recitation of the Qur’an and in charity. Competing with others in doing good deeds is not only permissible but encouraged in Islam.

“…one whom Allah blesses with recitation of Qur’an and he remains engaged in it day and night…” To be able to recite the Holy Qur’an correctly is a great blessing because only then one can taste and feel the magical beauty of it and be part of the miracle.

‘...recitation...’ means the ability to recite correctly. Those of us who can’t read the Qur’an should try our utmost to learn to recite the Holy Qur’an correctly even if it means to hire a personal teacher. Those of us who are able to read the Qur’an, it is advised in this Hadeeth that they should recite it very frequently.

“…and the other who is given a lot of wealth by Allah and he spends it day and night…” To have a lot of wealth is also a blessing provided one spends from it in the path of Allah and does not spend from it in unlawful ways.