the hereafter. Such a person is not the object of ghibṭah, for Allah has not enabled him to expend his wealth in the cause of truth. The one who truly deserves to be envied is he whom Allah empowers to use up his money in what is right.

Likewise, we do not feel envy toward a man whom Allah has enriched so that, whenever the idea of marriage occurs to him, he takes another wife, gathering around himself a number of beautiful women such as no one else can assemble. We do not envy him either—unless Allah has granted him the ability to spend that wealth in what is right, and his aim in doing so is to safeguard his chastity, uphold the Sunnah, and increase the Muslim offspring. These are legitimate, Sharʿī objectives for which a person may indeed be envied.

The point in this hadith that belongs in the Chapter on the Excellence of Knowledge is the first part of it: “Whomever Allah grants wisdom”—that is, knowledge—“so he judges by it and teaches it.” Such a man, the Prophet said, is the better of the two; he surpasses the wealthy man whom Allah empowers to dispose of his fortune in the cause of truth. We ask Allah to grant us and you beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds.

1378 – Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “The case of what Allah has sent me with of guidance and knowledge is like abundant rain that fell upon the earth. Some of the ground was good; it absorbed the water and produced plentiful grass and herbage. Another portion was barren yet retained the water, so Allah made it beneficial for people: they drank from it, gave others to drink, and watered their crops. And a third portion was flat ground that neither held the water nor produced vegetation. Such is the likeness of the one who comprehends the religion of Allah and benefits from what Allah sent me with—he learns it and teaches it—and the likeness of the one who pays no heed to it and does not accept the guidance with which I have been sent.” Agreed upon.