An amazing, insightful post on a topic rarely talked about...
Why do scholars and students of knowelge turn envious to one another?
Ibnul Jawzi RA says: "I reflected on the envy that occurs among scholars and I realized that it all starts with the love for this world. That's becuase the scholars who are truly seekers of the Hereafter always kind to one another and never envy. Allah the Most High says: وَلَا يَجِدُونَ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ حَاجَةً مِّمَّا أُوتُوا "and they find not any want in their breasts of what they (muhajireen) were given" 59:9 And Allah says: وَالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا مِن بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا "And those who came after them, saying, "Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed." 59:10 Saaid al-khatir by Ibnul Jawzi In so many cases, hiding behind defending the true message of Islam and acting as guardians over the true interpretation of the sunnah and the path of the messenger - salla Allah alayhi wa sallam- is an ugly image of religious superiority and spiritual narcissism.
Yaser Birjas