On Protective Jealousy: Its Types and Its Praiseworthy and Blameworthy Forms

In the two Sahīh collections, ‘Abd Allāh ibn Mas‘ūd reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“No one has greater protective jealousy than Allah; for this reason He has forbidden immoral deeds, both open and hidden. And no one loves praise more than Allah; therefore He has praised Himself.”

A version narrated by Muslim adds:

“And no one loves to accept excuses more than Allah; for this reason He sent down the Book and sent the messengers.”

In this hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) combined two descriptions of Allah, glorified be He: His most perfect love of praise and His most perfect hatred of forbidden acts.

In the two Sahīh collections, al-Mughīra ibn Shu‘ba reports that Sa‘d ibn ‘Ubāda said, “If I saw a man with my wife, I would strike him with the edge of my sword, not its flat.” This reached the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), who said:

“Do you marvel at Sa‘d’s protective jealousy?