Desiring to serve one’s parents

QUESTION:

With regards to the Hadith:
“If a person who has learnt the knowledge of the Quraan thinks that another person, who has been gifted with something else, to be more fortunate than himself, has shown disrespect to the blessings of Allah Ta’ala upon him.”
Am I guilty of this for envying my sister who does the Khidmah of our parents and still recites a lot of Quraan at night, whereas I am busy learning my Hifdh, so I do not do as much Khidmah for our parents as she does?

ANSWER:

In the queried scenario, you haven’t displayed ingratitude or disrespect for the Quraan Sharif, since you do not regard her as superior to you due to serving your parents. You simply desire to serve your parents as she does, but you are unable to do so, due to being occupied with your Hifz. When desiring a bounty enjoyed by another person (for yourself) but without wishing for that bounty to be snatched away from that person, then such envy is referred to as Ghibtah which is permitted in Shariah. On the other hand, Hasad (jealousy) is when a person desires a bounty that another person is enjoying, but with the desire of it being snatched away from that person, hence it is Haraam. Your desire to also serve your parents falls in the category of Ghibtah, hence it is acceptable. [1]

The Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum used to also desire to excel in acts of worship and acquire more rewards as is your desire as well. Below we have quoted a narration of Tirmidhi Sharif which indicates towards the desire of Sahaabah to vie with each other in good deeds.

Zaid bin Aslam narrates: “I heard ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab saying: ‘We were ordered by the Messenger of Allah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam to give in charity, and that was at a time when I had some wealth, so I said, “Today I will beat Abu Bakr.” So, I came with half my wealth, and the Messenger of Allah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: “What did you leave for your family?” I said: “The like of it (meaning half my wealth).” And Abu Bakr came with everything he had, so he said: “O Abu Bakr! What did you leave for your family?” He said: “I left Allah and His Messenger for them.” I said, “By Allah, I will never be able to beat him to anything.” [Tirmidhi]

[1] الموسوعة الفقهية الكويتية (31/ 136)

 الْغِبْطَةُ فِي اللُّغَةِ: حُسْنُ الْحَال وَالْمَسَرَّةُ، وَقَدْ تُسَمَّى الْغِبْطَةُ حَسَدًا مَجَازًا (1) .

وَفِي الاِصْطِلاَحِ: أَنْ يَتَمَنَّى الرَّجُل أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ مِثْل مَا لِغَيْرِهِ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ تَزُول عَنِ الْغَيْرِ……

وَالْفَرْقُ بَيْنَ الْحَسَدِ وَالْغِبْطَةِ: أَنَّ الْحَاسِدَ يَتَمَنَّى زَوَال نِعْمَةِ الْمَحْسُودِ وَتَحَوُّلَهَا عَنْهُ، وَالْغَابِطُ يَتَمَنَّى أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ مِثْل مَا لِغَيْرِهِ، وَلاَ يَتَمَنَّى زَوَال النِّعْمَةِ وَلاَ تَحَوُّلَهَا عَنِ الْمَغْبُوطِ….

الْغِبْطَةُ إِنْ كَانَتْ فِي الطَّاعَةِ فَهِيَ مَحْمُودَةٌ

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Abdur Rahman Abdur Razak

Date: – 18 Rabi ul Aakhir 1445 / 03 November 2023

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb