which are fleeting. This accords with the hadith of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, for he forbade envy except toward someone granted knowledge who acts upon it and teaches it, and someone granted wealth who spends it. As for someone granted knowledge who neither acts upon it nor teaches it, or someone granted wealth who does not spend it in obedience to Allah, one does not envy such a person or wish to be in his position. His circumstances offer nothing desirable; rather, he is exposed to punishment.

Anyone entrusted with authority who exercises it with knowledge and justice, renders trusts to their rightful owners, and judges between people according to the Book and the Sunnah has an exalted rank. Yet he is engaged in a tremendous struggle, as is the one who fights in Allah’s cause. People do not envy someone enduring great hardship. This is why the Prophet did not mention him, even though someone who fights in Allah’s cause is superior to someone who spends wealth. Those who spend and those who teach, by contrast, ordinarily have no external enemy. If they should have an enemy against whom they struggle, that further elevates their rank.

Likewise, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not mention those who pray, fast, or perform Hajj, because these deeds do not ordinarily benefit people in the way that teaching and spending do—benefits for which people esteem a person and make him their leader. Envy arises primarily because of the honour and leadership another person attains. Otherwise, a worker is not ordinarily envied, even if his enjoyment of food, drink, and marital relations exceeds that of others. These two types, however, are frequently envied. This is why one finds among the people of