In the verse (Perhaps my Lord will give me something better than your garden), is there envy in it?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question : The questioner says: In the noble verse in Surat al-Kahf, [Al-Kahf 18:40] regarding me [Al-Kahf 18:40], she asks: Is there a type of envy in that, Honorable Shaykh?
Answer : There is no type of envy in this; rather, it is a case of repelling the aggressor with the like of his aggression. This man mocked the other man, saying[Al-Kahf 18:34], and despite his boasting over him and his arrogance toward him, he understood. He claimed to be the owner of this world and the Hereafter, and said [Al-Kahf 18:36], hesitating regarding whether he would be resurrected and returned to Allah the Exalted.
Therefore,[Al-Kahf 18:37-41]. The matter is a case of repelling aggression with its like. Just as this man who boasted over his brother disbelieved in Allah the Exalted in his hesitation and doubt about his return to Allah the Exalted. May Allah reward you and bless you. Thank you to the sister questioner for her questions.
It may be that my Lord will give me [something] better than your garden and will send
فَعَسَىٰ رَبِّي أَن يُؤْتِيَنِ خَيْرًا مِّن جَنَّتِكَ وَيُرْسِلَupon it a calamity from the sky, and it will become a smooth, dusty ground,
عَلَيْهَا حُسْبَانًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ فَتُصْبِحَ صَعِيدًا زَلَقًاAnswer : There is no type of envy in this; rather, it is a case of repelling the aggressor with the like of his aggression. This man mocked the other man, saying
I am greater than you in wealth and mightier in [numbers of] men."
أَنَا أَكْثَرُ مِنكَ مَالًا وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرًاAnd even if I should be brought back to my Lord, I will surely find better than this as a return."
وَلَئِن رُّدِدتُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّي لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا مُنقَلَبًاTherefore,
(37) His companion said to him while he was conversing with him, "Have you disbelieved in He who created you from dust and then from a sperm-drop and then proportioned you [as] a man? (38) But as for me, He is Allah, my Lord, and I do not associate with my Lord anyone. (39) And why did you, when you entered your garden, not say, 'What Allah willed [has occurred]; there is no power except in Allah '? Although you see me less than you in wealth and children, (40) It may be that my Lord will give me [something] better than your garden and will send upon it a calamity from the sky, and it will become a smooth, dusty ground, (41) Or its water will become sunken [into the earth], so you would never be able to seek it."
قَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ أَكَفَرْتَ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَكَ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ سَوَّاكَ رَجُلًا لَّٰكِنَّا هُوَ اللَّهُ رَبِّي وَلَا أُشْرِكُ بِرَبِّي أَحَدًا وَلَوْلَا إِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ إِن تَرَنِ أَنَا أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا فَعَسَىٰ رَبِّي أَن يُؤْتِيَنِ خَيْرًا مِّن جَنَّتِكَ وَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهَا حُسْبَانًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ فَتُصْبِحَ صَعِيدًا زَلَقًا أَوْ يُصْبِحَ مَاؤُهَا غَوْرًا فَلَن تَسْتَطِيعَ لَهُ طَلَبًا
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين»، 38- في الآية (فعسى ربي ان يؤتين خيرا من جنتك) هل فيها حسد /سؤال على الهاتف /ابن عثيمين — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.