• Allah Most High also said:

“Many among the People of the Book wish they could turn you back to disbelief after you have believed, out of envy from within themselves, even after the truth has become clear to them. So pardon and overlook until Allah brings about His command. Surely Allah is capable of all things.” Al-Baqara (109).

The hadith master Ibn Kathīr al-Dimashqī—may Allah have mercy on him—said: “Allah Most High warns His believing servants against following the way of the disbelievers among the People of the Book. He informs them of the inward hostility they bear toward them and the envy they harbor toward the believers, despite knowing the excellence of the believers and of their Prophet.” End quote. (1)

Ibn Taymiyya—may Allah have mercy on him—said concerning this verse: “Thus, He censured the Jews for envying the believers for their guidance and knowledge. Some of those affiliated with knowledge, as well as others, may be afflicted with a measure of envy toward someone whom Allah has guided through beneficial knowledge or righteous deeds. This character trait is reprehensible without qualification, and in this context it is one of the traits of those who have incurred Allah’s wrath.” (2)

Shaykh al-Uthaymīn—may Allah have mercy on him—said: “Among the lessons of this verse is that it demonstrates the intense hostility of the Jews and Christians toward the Muslim community. This is evident from the fact that many of them wish to turn the Muslims back into disbelievers, out of envy arising from within themselves...

“Another lesson is that envy is one of the traits of the Jews and Christians.

“Another is that envy is forbidden, because imitating the disbelievers in their character traits is forbidden, in view of the Prophet’s statement—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—‘Whoever imitates a people is one of them.’ Be aware that when a person sees Allah bestow a blessing upon someone else, he must ask Allah of His bounty. He must neither resent what Allah has bestowed upon others nor wish for it to be taken away, for Allah Most High says: ‘Do not covet what Allah has granted some of you over others. Men shall have a share of what they earn, and women shall have a share of what they earn. Ask Allah of His bounty.’ [Al-Nisa: 32] An envious person gains nothing from his envy but a fire blazing within him. Whenever Allah’s blessings upon His servants increase, his anguish increases. Besides resenting Allah’s blessing upon another person, he stands opposed to Allah’s decree, because he resents