who resents the blessing Allah has bestowed upon another is an unjust aggressor. Whoever dislikes another being favoured over him and wishes to be his equal is forbidden to do so, except in matters that bring him closer to Allah. If he wishes to receive the same as another has received of what brings him closer to Allah, there is nothing wrong with that. Yet it is better for his heart to turn away from such comparisons altogether, without looking at the circumstances of others.

If an envious person acts upon his envy, he becomes an unjust aggressor deserving punishment unless he repents. The person envied is then wronged and is commanded to remain patient and mindful of Allah: he should patiently endure the envious person’s harm, forgive him, and overlook his offences. As Allah Most High says:

“Many of the People of the Book wish they could turn you back to disbelief after you have believed, out of envy arising within themselves, after the truth has become clear to them. So forgive and overlook until Allah brings His command.”

Joseph was tried by his brothers’ envy when they said:

“Joseph and his brother are certainly dearer to our father than we are, though we are a strong group. Our father is clearly mistaken.”

They envied the two because their father favoured them. This is why Jacob said to Joseph:

“Do not tell your brothers your dream, lest they devise a plot against you. Surely Satan is a clear enemy to humankind.”

Then they wronged him by discussing killing him, casting him into the well, and selling him as a slave to someone who took him to a land of disbelief. Thus he became the slave of disbelieving people. After suffering this injustice, Joseph was then tried by someone who called him to sexual immorality, sought to seduce him, and enlisted others to help overcome his resistance. But he stood firm, choosing prison over sexual immorality, and preferred the torment of