honour belongs to whoever has more, as it has been said:
I am not the wealthiest among them;
Honour belongs only to him who has more.
If someone possessed abundance without competing to amass more, it would not harm him. A number of the Companions possessed abundance, yet it did not harm them, because they did not compete over it. Whoever competes with another in worldly possessions, status, or anything else is distracted by that rivalry from competing with those who seek the Hereafter.
Noble, lofty souls with high aspirations compete only in what brings lasting benefit, perfects and purifies them, and leads them to success. They do not wish others to surpass them in this, rival them in its pursuit, or race ahead of them. This is the rivalry that brings a servant the utmost happiness.
Its opposite is the rivalry of worldly people over their worldly advantages. Such rivalry distracts from Allah and the abode of the Hereafter, and ultimately leads to utter want.
The outcome of this rivalry is scarcity, poverty, and deprivation.
Competing in the means of happiness in the Hereafter, however, continually reminds one of Allah and His blessings. Its outcome is everlasting abundance that neither vanishes nor perishes. Someone engaged in this rivalry does not take it lightly when he sees another surpassing him in speech, deeds, or knowledge. If he sees someone exceeding him in a virtue in which he cannot catch up, he competes with him in another virtue in which he can. Such rivalry is neither blameworthy nor detrimental to a servant’s sincerity. Rather, it is the very essence of striving to excel and racing to do good.
Such was the relationship between al-Aws and al-Khazraj—may Allah be pleased with them—as they vied with one another before the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, each seeking to outdo the other in whatever would please him and support his cause.
Such, too, was the relationship between ʿUmar and Abū Bakr—may Allah be pleased with them both. When ʿUmar realized how far Abū Bakr had surpassed him, he said, “By Allah, I will never compete with you in anything again.”