Reflections from some statements of Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali [1 of 80]

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali, may Allah preserve him, said:

Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the noble Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “There is no envy except in two cases: a man whom Allah has given Al-Hikmah [knowledge of the Qur’an and Sunnah] and he acts according to it; and a man whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it righteously”. [Al-Bukhari 73]

These people have Ghibtah (i.e. desire the blessings bestowed on others but do not desire that its possessors should be deprived of it). Hasad in this hadith means Ghibtah, whereas envy (i.e. the blameworthy one) is to wish that the blessings bestowed on a person, such as wealth, knowledge and other than them should cease to exist – regardless whether you want to have the same or merely wishing that the blessings be taken away from him. This is a disease of the Yahud and we ask Allah to remove (it) from the Muslims because it is a destructive disease and Allah’s refuge is sought. So, the Hasad intended in this hadith is Al-Ghibtah, which is to wish for the same blessings given to another person (i.e. without wishing that he be deprived of it). For example, Allah bestows a person knowledge and the (ability) to perform good deeds, so you wish that Allah should also grant you knowledge and the (ability) to perform good deeds just as it has been bestowed on that person. This is Ghibtah and it is praiseworthy. It is to strive to excel one another in good deeds. Allah says: [وَفِى ذَٲلِكَ فَلۡيَتَنَافَسِ ٱلۡمُتَنَـٰفِسُونَ – And for this (i.e. paradise) let (all) those strive who want to strive (i.e. hasten earnestly to the obedience of Allah)]. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the students of knowledge to strive in acquiring knowledge and hasten towards all that is good, but without (blameworthy) envy; rather they should do this based on Ghibtah and hastening earnestly to obey Allah.

As for striving and hastening towards the worldly things (against one another), it is blameworthy. “Do not envy one another, do not hate one another and do not outbid one another”. [Muslim 2563] All these traits are blameworthy – both in the worldly and religious affairs. Therefore, in the hadith, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, urged the Ummah towards good deeds, such as knowledge, Salah etc. The Prophet said, “The best rows are the first rows” [Muslim 440]. “If the people knew (the reward for) pronouncing the Adhan and standing in the first row (in the congregational prayer) and found no other way to get it except by drawing lots, they would do so”. [Al-Bukhari 654]

Hastening to get to the first row is a praiseworthy deed, similarly hastening towards knowledge, seeking to become proficient in it, excel and become talented in it. I ask Allah to facilitate (ability) for the Mutanaafiseen (i.e. those striving and hastening towards all good to excel) so that there arises from this ummah the likes of the senior Imams, such as Al Awzaa’ee, Ath-Thawri, Malik, Ash-Shafi’ee, Ahmad, Ibn Taymiyyah, Muhammad Ibn Abdil Wahhab and those like them among the Imams of guidance – those through whom Allah raised the guiding light of Islam and guided the nations, and whose knowledge enlightened the whole world. [An Excerpt from “Marhaban Yaa Talibal Ilm”. pages 51-52]