1377 – Ibn Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “No envy is warranted except in two cases: (1) a man to whom Allah has given wealth and who disposes of it in the paths of truth, and (2) a man to whom Allah has granted wisdom, so he judges by it and teaches it to others.” Agreed upon.

What is meant by “envy” here is ghibṭah—that is, to wish to possess the like of that blessing.

Explanation
Imām al-Nawawī, may Allah have mercy on him, states in his Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn, in the chapter on the excellence of knowledge sought and taught for Allah’s sake: after citing the ḥadith of Muʿāwiyah, “When Allah intends good for someone, He grants him understanding of the religion,” he follows it with this ḥadith of Ibn Masʿūd in which the Prophet ﷺ says, “No envy except in two…”

The term ḥasad (envy) is sometimes used in its forbidden sense, which ranks among the major sins: for a person to resent the favor Allah has bestowed upon someone else. You see someone with wealth and you dislike it, saying, “If only Allah had not provided it for him”; he possesses knowledge and you resent that, wishing Allah had not granted him that knowledge; he has righteous children and you detest it, wishing Allah had withheld them—and so on. Such envy is a grave sin.

This trait was characteristic of the Jews, as Allah the Exalted says of them, “Or are they jealous of people for what Allah has granted them of His bounty?” and He also says, “Many of the People of the Scripture wish to turn you back after…”