And it is related that Fātimah said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when ‘Alī wished to marry the daughter of Abū Jahl, “People are saying that you feel no protective jealousy for your daughters.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) delivered a sermon and mentioned his son-in-law Abū al-‘Ās, saying, “He spoke to me truthfully and made me a promise which he fulfilled.” He also said:

“Banū al-‘Ās have sought my permission to marry their daughter to ‘Alī. I do not give permission; again, I do not give permission—unless Ibn Abī Tālib wishes to divorce my daughter and marry theirs. By Allah, the daughter of Allah’s Messenger and the daughter of Allah’s enemy shall never be married to the same man.”

This, then, is the protective jealousy taught by the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Allah’s protective jealousy is aroused when a servant commits what He has forbidden him, and when His male or female servant commits unlawful sexual intercourse. The believer’s protective jealousy concerns such acts both in general and, particularly, when they affect him personally. The protective jealousy that Allah loves is jealousy where there are grounds for suspicion; the jealousy He hates is jealousy without grounds for suspicion. In this respect, humanity falls into four categories:

People who feel no protective jealousy whatsoever over Allah’s inviolable limits, nor over those under their protection, such as men who tolerate sexual immorality in their households, procurers, and others. These also include the advocates of unrestricted permissiveness, who do not forbid what