Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Not to wish to be the like of except the like of two men: a man whom Allah has given the Qur'an and he recites it during the hours of the night and the hours of the day, in which case one may say, "If I were given the same as this man has been given, I would do the same as he is doing.' The other is a man whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it in the right way, in which case one may say, 'If I were given the same as he has been given, I would do the same as he is doing."
Oneness, Uniqueness of Allah (Tawheed)
Sahih al-Bukhari 7528
Hadith Text
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Not to wish to be the like of except the like of two men: a man whom Allah has given the Qur'an and he recites it during the hours of the night and the hours of the day, in which case one may say, 'If I were given the same as this man has been given, I would do the same as he is doing.' The other is a man whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it in the right way, in which case one may say, 'If I were given the same as he has been given, I would do the same as he is doing.'"
Commentary on the Prohibition
The Prophet (ﷺ) begins with a prohibition: "Not to wish to be the like of except..." This establishes that generally, wishing to be like others is discouraged in Islam, as it can lead to envy (hasad) and discontent with Allah's decree (qadr).
The Two Permissible Exceptions
The first exception is a man gifted with Quranic knowledge who acts upon it day and night. This represents the path of religious knowledge and devotion. The second is a wealthy man who spends righteously in Allah's cause, representing the path of charitable action and wealth purification.
Spiritual Wisdom
This teaching directs believers to channel their aspirations toward spiritual and beneficial worldly pursuits rather than worldly status or appearances. It emphasizes that true value lies in how one utilizes Allah's blessings, not merely in possessing them.
Practical Application
Scholars explain that this hadith teaches us to admire and emulate people for their piety and good deeds, not for their worldly possessions or status. It encourages healthy competition in righteousness while protecting the heart from destructive envy.