Bulugh al-Maram

Takhrij:
[بخاري 6490],
[مسلم، الزهد 7428],
[بلوغ المرام : 1237]

Vocabulary:
«أسفل» — Both nominative (raf‘) and accusative (nasb) are permissible on the letter lām; nominative because it is the predicate (khabar) of “huwa,” and accusative because it is the adverbial (zarf) for a deleted predicate of “huwa.”
«أن لا تزدروا» — This is from the form “ifti‘āl”; its root is “zary.” In «زريت عليه» and «ازريت به», “I belittled him.” Originally it was «تزتريوا»; if the tā’ of ifti‘āl comes after a zā’, it is changed to a dāl.

Benefits:
➊ If a person looks only at those people who have been given more worldly blessings than himself, there is a danger that complaint against the Creator may arise in his heart, or he may develop envy towards that person. Both of these things are causes of his ruin. The hadith provides a remedy for this: when he looks at those who are below him in worldly blessings, his heart will be filled with gratitude to the Creator, patience and contentment with his own condition, and mercy towards his fellow brothers. And he will not consider Allah’s blessing insignificant.

➋ “Those below oneself” refers to those who are less than him in worldly blessings. If he is healthy, he should look at those afflicted with illness; through this, he will attain the blessing of gratitude for the health Allah has granted him. If he is ill, he should look at those who are even more ill than himself, or who do not even have limbs, who are blind, deaf, lame, or leprous. Through this, he will realize the value of his own well-being. If he is poor, he should look at those who are even poorer, whom neediness has utterly humiliated, or who are crushed under the dreadful burden of debt. In short, whatever worldly trial he is afflicted with, he will find thousands of people afflicted with even greater calamities. When he reflects on their condition, he will attain the blessings of gratitude, patience, and contentment.

➌ In matters of religion, he should always look at those who are above him. Allah the Exalted has said:
«وَفِي ذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَتَنَافَسِ الْمُتَنَافِسُونَ» [83-المطففين:26]
“And in this (Paradise), let those who desire, compete with one another.”
And He said:
«فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ» [5-المائدة:48]
“So race with one another in good deeds.”

When he looks at those below him in blessings, and at those above him in good deeds, then from the first glance he will be grateful for Allah’s blessings and will be pleased with Allah. And from the second glance, he will become aware of his own shortcomings, will adopt utmost humility before his Lord out of modesty, and, feeling remorse, will repent from sins and strive to join the ranks of those above him.

Hadith Commentary:
It is a natural weakness of man that when he sees someone who surpasses him in wealth or appearance, greed and covetousness arise within him, and he wonders why Allah Ta’ala did not make him like that person.
In this hadith, a remedy for this spiritual ailment has been prescribed: that one should look at those who are poorer, more destitute, and weaker than oneself.
By doing so, this ailment will be cured.
Further clarification of this is found in the following hadith:
“Whoever possesses two qualities, Allah Ta’ala will record him as patient and grateful (sabr and shukr) in His presence:
The person whose habit is that, in matters of religion, he looks at those servants who surpass him in religion and adopts their example, and in worldly matters, he looks at those who are in a worse state than himself and expresses gratitude to Allah Ta’ala that He has granted him superiority—such a person will be recorded as patient and grateful in the sight of Allah.
And the person who, in religious matters, looks at those who are inferior to him, and in worldly matters, looks at those who are above and superior to him, and expresses regret and sorrow over the worldly blessings he has not received—such a person will not be recorded as patient and grateful in the sight of Allah Ta’ala.”
(Jami’ al-Tirmidhi, Description of the Resurrection, Hadith: 2512)

Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
an la tazdarū:
Do not consider (someone) insignificant or inferior,
because the meaning of izdirā’ is
to regard someone as insignificant or deficient,
to find fault.

Benefits and Issues:

➊
By “the one below” is meant the person who possesses less of a blessing than us, and by “the one above” is meant the person who possesses more of a blessing than us.

➋
Looking at someone who has more blessings than oneself gives rise to the thought that I have received less of this blessing. Shaytan presents this deficiency in such a way as if this blessing has not been granted at all. In this manner, a sense of deprivation is created, which leads one to feel inclined to complain to Allah instead of being grateful. This is a major form of ingratitude.

➌
By looking at someone who is less fortunate than oneself, one comes to appreciate the blessings one has received, which in turn generates a feeling of gratitude.

➍
This is the case with every blessing: if a person has received less of a particular blessing than someone else, then that same blessing has also been granted to him in greater measure than to another person. Another aspect of this matter is that if a person has received less of one blessing than someone else, then he has been granted some other blessing in greater measure, such as a person who possesses less wealth than someone, but is wealthier than another. Similarly, it is also a reality that if he is less than someone in wealth, he may surpass him in health and strength; if he is less in physical beauty, he may be greater in knowledge, virtue, or good character. Therefore, there is no reason to fall into an inferiority complex, nor is there any need to complain to Allah.

Vocabulary of the Hadith: ...... «فِى الْمَالِ وَالْخَلْقِ:» In the mentioned hadith, the word "خَلْق" (khalq) is used, which should be pronounced with a fatha (zabar) on the kha and a sukoon (jazm) on the lam, not as "خُلْق" (khulq) with a damma (pesh) on the kha, because this would distort the meaning. Imam Baghawi rahimahullah has narrated in "Sharh al-Sunnah" from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu a hadith in which, instead of the word "khalq," the word "jism" (body) is used. From this, it is clear that here "khalq" is to be used, not "khulq." And (most likely) for this reason, some scholars, in their explanation of "فِى الْمَالِ وَالْخَلْقِ" (in wealth and creation), have said that what is meant is the virtue of having a handsome or dignified face.

Explanation of the Hadith:
It should be remembered that in this blessed statement of the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, what is prohibited is looking towards someone of a higher status than oneself. The reason and wisdom behind this prohibition is to eliminate envy or to cultivate humility and modesty. Thus, it is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:
«انْظُرُوا إِلَى مَنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ، وَلَا تَنْظُرُوا إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ، فَوْقَكُمْ فَهُوَ أَجْدَرُ أَنْ لَا تَزْدَرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ. "» [صحيح مسلم، كتاب الزهد، رقم: 7430]
"Look at the one who is lower than you, and do not look at the one who is above you. Indeed, this is more appropriate so that you do not belittle the favors of Allah upon you."
From the above-mentioned hadith, it becomes clear that whoever focuses his attention on someone of a higher rank, the comforts and luxuries of that person take hold of his mind, and as a result, he becomes a complainer against Allah, begins to envy people, and, considering the countless favors of Allah as insignificant, becomes ungrateful for them. On the contrary, those who, instead of looking at landlords, capitalists, and wealthy people, look towards those like themselves or those of a lower status, this leads to the development of affection, love, brotherhood, and camaraderie, as well as gratitude for blessings. Thus, Awn ibn Abdullah rahimahullah says: "I used to frequent the gatherings of the wealthy (but I found nothing there except mental distress), for I saw that their mounts were better than mine and their clothes more regal than mine. After that, I joined the gatherings of the poor, and there I found (spiritual) comfort." [شرح السنة: 295/14]
The essence of the meaning is that whoever looks at someone of a higher status, his heart becomes filled with greed for wealth, prestige, clothing, and beauty, and his soul desires all these things. However, he does not realize that all these luxuries may become a source of calamity for him in the Hereafter. On the other hand, whoever turns his attention towards someone of a lower status, his heart is filled with gratitude for blessings, as well as humility, modesty, and a motivation to do good deeds.

Amr ibn Shu'ayb narrates from his father, who narrates from his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "There are two qualities such that whoever possesses them, Allah will record him as patient and grateful, and whoever does not possess them, Allah will not record him as patient and grateful. The first quality is that whoever, in terms of religion, sees someone who is more observant than himself and follows him, and in terms of worldly matters, sees someone who is of lower status than himself and gives thanks for the favor and bounty that Allah has bestowed upon him, then Allah will record him as patient and grateful. The second quality is that whoever, in terms of religion, looks at someone who is less observant than himself and, in terms of worldly matters, looks at someone who is above him, and then grieves over what he has been deprived of, Allah will not record him as patient and grateful." [سنن ترمذي، كتاب صفة القيامة والرقائق والورع، رقم: 2512 - مشكوٰة المصابيح، رقم: 5256 - فتح الباري: 323/11 - ارشاد الساري: 280/9]

In this noble hadith, two things have been commanded: one is asceticism (zuhd), and the other is encouragement to compete in religious matters. Therefore, it is absolutely inappropriate and unreasonable to emulate anyone in worldly matters. A person should not try to become like someone else by looking at his wealth, property, or beauty and clothing. However, if he wishes to excel over someone, it is appropriate that he seeks to excel in religious matters by obeying Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. As Allah the Exalted says: «فَاسْتَبِقُوْا الْخَيْرَاتِ» [البقرة: 148]
"Race one another in good deeds."
And the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:
«لَا حَسَدَ إِلَّا فِي اثْنَتَيْنِ: رَجُلٌ عَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ الْقُرْآنَ فَهُوَ يَتْلُوهُ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَآنَاءَ النَّهَارِ، فَسَمِعَهُ جَارٌ لَهُ، فَقَالَ: لَيْتَنِي أُوتِيتُ مِثْلَ مَا أُوتِيَ فُلَانٌ فَعَمِلْتُ مِثْلَ مَا يَعْمَلُ، وَرَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ مَالًا فَهُوَ يُهْلِكُهُ فِي الْحَقِّ، فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ: لَيْتَنِي أُوتِيتُ مِثْلَ مَا أُوتِيَ فُلَانٌ فَعَمِلْتُ مِثْلَ مَا يَعْمَلُ .» [صحيح بخاري، كتاب فضائل القرآن، رقم: 5026 - مسند احمد: 479/2]
"Envy is only appropriate in two cases: one, a man whom Allah has given knowledge of the Qur'an and he recites it night and day, so that his neighbor hears him and says, 'If only I had been given what he has been given, and I would have acted as he does.' And the other, a man whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it in the cause of truth, so that another person says, 'If only I had been given what he has been given, and I would have spent as he does.'"

Benefit:
In this hadith, it is explained that a person should always look at someone poorer than himself in terms of wealth and possessions, not at someone richer than himself; but in matters of religion, he should look at those who are superior to him, not those who are lesser. In this way, a person attains excellence in righteousness and piety, and develops aversion to wealth and material possessions.