Transliteration:( Wa laa tatamannaw maa faddalal laahu bihee ba'dakum 'alaa ba'd; lirrijaali naseebum mimmak tasaboo wa linnisaaa'i naseebum mimmak tasabn; was'alullaaha min fadlih; innal laaha kaana bikulli shai'in 'Aleemaa )
122. From this, we learn that envy is not only forbidden but it is a root of all sins. The Devil was destroyed through it. Envy means to burn out of jealousy ie. to wish someone ill at someone's good things in life and to desire those things for oneself.
GHABTA, or envy, is forbidden in worldly bounties but is lawful in religious blessings. The literal meaning of this word is to desire also for oneself the bounty found in another person.
123. From this we learn that the wife of a pious husband or the husband of a pious wife cannot be unconcerned or independent of good deeds; everyone needs good deeds.
124. Circumstances for its revelation:
In response to Hazrat Umme Salma (Radiallahu Anha's) desire that if we women had been men we would have participated in the holy war, this verse was revealed. Allah Almighty says that cach of you should fulfil the obligations assigned to you, for which you will receive your reward.
This means that you can obtain the reward of holy war by faithfully taking care of your husband's house. From this we learn that it is incumbent upon the wife to remain indoors in purdah.
125. That is if Allah Almighty showers His Grace, He will give greater reward for a few deeds. From this, we learn that no one can achieve anything without the Grace of Allah Almighty. Furthermore, one should always seek the Grace of Allah Almighty when offering dua, because this is not just excellent, but is in itself a comprehensive Prayer.Â
Allah Almighty's Grace is included in everything.
126. Whatever Allah Almighty has bestowed on His servants He has done so with full knowledge and wisdom. Thus, being envious of anybody's good fortune is in reality objecting to Allah Almighty's choice of the recipient.
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32. And wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others. For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned, and ask Allah of His bounty. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Umm Salamah said, “O Messenger of Allah! Men go to battle, but we do not go to battle, and we earn one-half of the inheritance (that men get).” Allah sent down,
(And wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others). At-Tirmidhi also recorded this Hadith. Allah’s statement,
(For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned,) indicates, according to Ibn Jarir, that each person will earn his wages for his works, a reward if his deeds are good, and punishment if his deeds are evil. It was also reported that this Ayah is talking about inheritance, indicating the fact that each person will get his due share of the inheritance, as Al-Walibi reported from Ibn `Abbas. Allah then directed the servants to what benefits them,
(and ask Allah of His Bounty.)Therefore, the Ayah states, “Do not wish for what other people were endowed with over you, for this is a decision that will come to pass, and wishing does not change its decree. However, ask Me of My favor and I will grant it to you, for I Am Most Generous and Most Giving.” Allah then said,
(Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything.) meaning, Allah knows who deserves this life, and so He gives him riches, and whoever deserves poverty, He makes him poor. He also knows who deserves the Hereafter, and He directs him to perform the deeds that will help him to be sucessful in it, and whoever deserves failure, He prevents him from achieving righteousness and what leads to it. Hence, Allah said, m
(Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything).
(4:32) Do not covet what Allah has conferred more abundantly on some of you than others. Men shall have a share according to what they have earned, and women shall have a share according to what they have earned. Do ask of Allah His bounty. Allah has full knowledge of everything.[54]
54. This verse embodies a very important directive. By heeding it, man would be able to achieve a great measure of peace and tranquillity. God has not created all men alike. Some are handsome while others are ugly. The voices of some are sweet and those of others repulsive. Some are physically strong others are weak. Some have sound limbs others have inherent deformities. Some possess outstanding physical and mental abilities while others lack them. Some are born in favourable circumstances and others not. Some have been endowed with more resources than others. It is this diversity which gives variety to human civilization, and hence serves a useful purpose. Whenever man superimposes distinctions of his own over and above this natural inequality he disrupts the natural order of things, and paves the way for corruption. Likewise, when anyone attempts to obliterate all differences between human beings he in fact engages in a war against nature and inflicts wrongs of another kind. Man is naturally inclined to feel uneasy whenever he sees someone else ahead of him. This is the root of jealousy and envy, of cut-throat competition and animosity, of mutual strife and conflict. These feelings often obsess a person to such a degree that whenever fair means do not prove effective, he resorts to unfair means to achieve his ambitions. In the present verse, God directs us not to allow this kind of mentality to take hold of us. The import of the directive is that one should not yearn for the good that God has bestowed on others. One should rather pray to God to bestow upon one the good which is in one’s best interests according to God’s wisdom and knowledge.
The statement that ‘men shall have a share according to what they have earned and women shall have a share according to what they have earned’ seems to mean, to the best of my understanding, that men and women shall have their shares of good and evil, depending on the good and evil they have earned in using the resources bestowed upon them by God.
[180]- This may refer to shares of inheritance, wages and reward in the Hereafter.
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