(64) Chapter: Excellence of a Grateful Rich Man

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Envy is justified in regard to two types of persons only: a man whom Allah has given knowledge of the Qur'an, and so he recites it during the night and during the day; and a man whom Allah has given wealth and so he spends from it during the night and during the day." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Commentary: Ahadith permit us to envy (in the positive sense of the word: see commentary on the previous Hadith) only two traits of character of somebody. Grammatically, the texts of these Ahadith imply both feminine and masculine genders. In the preceding Hadith, the word 'knowledge' has been used. It stands for the Word of Allah. To apply and teach knowledge means to put into practise the teachings of the Qur'an. And that includes the recitation of the Qur'an (both in Salat and otherwise), imparting its teaching and passing judgements in its light. From this point of view both the Ahadith convey the similar sense, and similarly we may also read into them two persons or two traits of character.