 what shows you that envy is more despicable and more wicked than enmity is that all religions have condemned and criticized it. we do not know of any deviant or wayward person let alone a generation who has commanded envy. as it has been said be hostile to those who are hostile to you and fight with enmity those who are hostile. then the status of enmity became great among them and its value was great among them to the point that they differed in the ways of working with it. some of them commanded it with prudence and reason.
ومما يدلك على أن الحسد أخس وأغبن من العداوة، أن الملل كلها ذمته وعابته. ولا نعلم أن شاذا من الشواذ، وشاردا من الشراد، فضلا عن جيل من الأجيال، أمر بالحسد؛ كما قيل عاد من عاداك، وقارع بالعداوة أهلها . ثم عظم شأن العداوة عندهم، وجل قدرها لديهم، حتى اختلفوا في وجوه العمل فيها؛ فمنهم من أمر بها على الحزم والعقل.