Do Not Wish for What Allah Favored Some Over Others — Envy of Blessings and Acceptance of Destiny
tadabbur
Level: basic
contentment
td-365
وَلَا تَتَمَنَّوۡاْ مَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ بَعۡضَكُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ
— النساء 32
Verse: "Do not wish for what Allah has favored some of you over others. For men is a share of what they earn, and for women a share of what they earn." (4:32) — Absolute prohibition of wishing that leads to envy. Each gender has a share of earnings — not nullified and replaced but completed. The following verse: "Ask Allah from His bounty" = the correct path: supplicate, do not envy. Envy is fundamentally an objection to Allah distribution of blessings — precisely what was prohibited. Lesson: instead of wishing for what others have, ask Allah from His bounty — He gives without diminishment.
Source: Ibn Kathir (2/277); Al-Sadi
Question: What Quranic alternative to wishing and envy does the verse propose?
Answer: "Ask Allah from His bounty" — supplication instead of envy.