in every good deed; so when the rich heard the counsel the Prophet—blessings and peace be upon him—had given the poor, they hurried to act upon it themselves. The poor then returned, complaining that they were once again lagging behind those who possessed wealth, whereupon he said, “That is Allah’s grace; He bestows it upon whom He wills.”

In sum, when Allah grants a person wealth, he ought to spend it in whatever pleases Allah, for this is the sort of blessing that may rightly be envied—that is, admired and wished for in like measure—because of the good it enables him to do.