Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, and do not follow the religion of truth. Some of them make this a spiritual practice and a path.

“When they commit an indecency, they say, ‘We found our forefathers doing this, and Allah has commanded us to do it.’ Say, ‘Allah does not command indecency.’” (Sūrah al-A‘rāf, 28)

Others direct their jealousy at both what Allah has forbidden and what He has commanded, treating such feelings of love and aversion as protective jealousy. Thus, one of them resents in another things that Allah and His Messenger love. Some have made this a path and a religion, treating envy, hindering others from Allah’s path, and hatred of what Allah and His Messenger love as protective jealousy.

Others direct their jealousy at what Allah has commanded, but not at what He has forbidden. We find that they neither hate nor feel any aversion to indecent acts; rather, they hate prayers and acts of worship. As the Most High says of them:

“But they were succeeded by generations who neglected prayer and followed their desires; so they will meet perdition.” (Sūrah Maryam, 59)

Others feel protective jealousy concerning what Allah hates, and love what Allah loves. These are the people of faith.

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One cause of this is the use of the word ‘protective jealousy’ in different senses in the speech of the spiritual masters of the path. They have spoken of it in senses some of which accord with the Lawgiver’s usage, while others do not. Some have praised the kinds of jealousy that the Lawgiver has praised, while others have praised kinds that the Lawgiver has not praised, but rather condemned.