Is it wrong to wish I had what someone else has?

The short answer

Wishing for good like someone else's, without wanting it taken from them, is not the forbidden envy. The Prophet ﷺ even encouraged it for two things: wealth spent in good causes and knowledge acted upon and taught. The Quran encourages racing one another in good, while warning against coveting worldly things Allah gave others.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Explanation

Scholars distinguish two feelings. Hasad is resenting someone's blessing and wanting it gone from them. Ghibtah is admiring someone's blessing and wishing for something similar for yourself, with no ill will. The first is a disease of the heart; the second can be a motivation.

The two things worth "envying". The Prophet ﷺ said, "Do not wish to be like anyone except in two cases": a person whom Allah gave wealth and who spends it rightly, and one whom Allah gave wisdom who acts on it and teaches it 1. Another narration speaks of a man given the Quran who recites it in the night, and a man given wealth who spends it in charity by night and day 2.

Race in good. Allah says, "race to [all that is] good" 3, and about the delights of Paradise, "for this let the competitors compete" 4. Seeing a friend memorise Quran or give generously and thinking "I want that too" is exactly this kind of competition.

Careful with worldly comparisons. "Do not wish for that by which Allah has made some of you exceed others... And ask Allah of his bounty" 5. The Prophet ﷺ was told, "do not extend your eyes toward" the worldly enjoyment given to others, "the splendor of worldly life by which We test them", for "the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring" 6. When Qarun paraded his wealth, those who wanted this world said, "would that we had like what was given to Qarun", but the people of knowledge said that Allah's reward is better 7.

So it is fine to be inspired by others, especially in faith and goodness. Ask Allah for good for yourself, and keep wishing good for them too 8.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 73
    Sahih Bukhari

    Wishing to be like others is praised only in two cases, wealth spent rightly and wisdom acted upon and taught.

    Narrated `Abdullah bin Mas`ud:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not wish to be like anyone except in two cases. (The first is) A person, whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it righteously; (the second is) the one whom Allah has given wisdom (the Holy Qur'an) and he acts according to it and teaches it to others." (Fath-al-Bari page 177 Vol)

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي خَالِدٍ، عَلَى غَيْرِ مَا حَدَّثَنَاهُ الزُّهْرِيُّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ قَيْسَ بْنَ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لاَ حَسَدَ إِلاَّ فِي اثْنَتَيْنِ رَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ مَالاً فَسُلِّطَ عَلَى هَلَكَتِهِ فِي الْحَقِّ، وَرَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ الْحِكْمَةَ، فَهْوَ يَقْضِي بِهَا وَيُعَلِّمُهَا ‏"‏‏.‏

  2. 2
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 5025
    Sahih Bukhari

    The two to emulate are one who recites the Quran at night and one who spends his wealth in charity.

    Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Not to wish to be the like except of two men. A man whom Allah has given the knowledge of the Book and he recites it during the hours of the night, and a man whom Allah has given wealth, and he spends it in charity during the night and the hours of the day

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَالِمُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ لاَ حَسَدَ إِلاَّ عَلَى اثْنَتَيْنِ، رَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ الْكِتَابَ وَقَامَ بِهِ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ، وَرَجُلٌ أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ مَالاً فَهْوَ يَتَصَدَّقُ بِهِ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ ‏"‏‏.‏

  3. 3
    Quran Al-Baqara · 2:148

    Race to all that is good.

    وَلِكُلࣲّ وِجۡهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَاۖ فَٱسۡتَبِقُواْ ٱلۡخَيۡرَٰتِۚ أَيۡنَ مَا تَكُونُواْ يَأۡتِ بِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعًاۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءࣲ قَدِيرࣱ‏ ۝١٤٨

    For each [religious following] is a direction toward which it faces. So race to [all that is] good. Wherever you may be, Allah will bring you forth [for judgement] all together. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent

  4. 4
    Quran Al-Mutaffifin · 83:26

    For the delights of Paradise let the competitors compete.

    خِتَٰمُهُۥ مِسۡكࣱۚ وَفِي ذَٰلِكَ فَلۡيَتَنَافَسِ ٱلۡمُتَنَٰفِسُونَ ۝٢٦

    The last of it is musk. So for this let the competitors compete

  5. 5
    Quran An-Nisaa · 4:32

    Do not wish for what Allah has given others over you; ask Allah of His bounty.

    وَلَا تَتَمَنَّوۡاْ مَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ بَعۡضَكُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضࣲۚ لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبࣱ مِّمَّا ٱكۡتَسَبُواْۖ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيبࣱ مِّمَّا ٱكۡتَسَبۡنَۚ وَسۡـَٔلُواْ ٱللَّهَ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦٓۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمࣰ ا ۝٣٢

    And do not wish for that by which Allah has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah of his bounty. Indeed Allah is ever, of all things, Knowing

  6. 6
    Quran Taa-Haa · 20:131

    Do not extend your eyes toward the worldly splendour given to others; your Lord's provision is better.

    وَلَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيۡنَيۡكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعۡنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزۡوَٰجࣰ ا مِّنۡهُمۡ زَهۡرَةَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا لِنَفۡتِنَهُمۡ فِيهِۚ وَرِزۡقُ رَبِّكَ خَيۡرࣱ وَأَبۡقَىٰ ۝١٣١

    And do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [some] categories of them, [its being but] the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring

  7. 7
    Quran Al-Qasas · 28:79–80

    Those who wanted this world wished for Qarun's wealth; the people of knowledge said Allah's reward is better.

    فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ فِي زِينَتِهِۦۖ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا يَٰلَيۡتَ لَنَا مِثۡلَ مَآ أُوتِيَ قَٰرُونُ إِنَّهُۥ لَذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمࣲ‏ ۝٧٩ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ وَيۡلَكُمۡ ثَوَابُ ٱللَّهِ خَيۡرࣱ لِّمَنۡ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحࣰ اۚ وَلَا يُلَقَّىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلصَّٰبِرُونَ ۝٨٠

    79 So he came out before his people in his adornment. Those who desired the worldly life said, "Oh, would that we had like what was given to Qarun. Indeed, he is one of great fortune 80 But those who had been given knowledge said, "Woe to you! The reward of Allah is better for he who believes and does righteousness. And none are granted it except the patient

  8. 8
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 13
    Sahih Bukhari

    No one truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he likes for himself.

    Narrated Anas: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏ وَعَنْ حُسَيْنٍ الْمُعَلِّمِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ لا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لأَخِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ ‏"‏‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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