to attain something that he was able to do and did not seek help from it in any of his affairs. if that is the case then he i mean the one who is envied is in the same position as all those who attain good and achieve their wish from among the people who are absent from the envious person. so how can he not envy those in india and china? if he does not envy them because of their absence from him then let him imagine their conditions and the blessings they are in. if it is foolishness or madness to be sad about what these people have attained and achieved of their wishes then it is foolishness like that to be sad and grieved about what those in his presence have suffered since they are in the position of those who are absent from him in that they did not take away anything that was in his hands nor prevent him from achieving something that he was able to do nor seek help from it in any of their affairs. there is no difference between them and those who are absent from him except in the envious persons observation of their conditions the likes of which can be imagined from those who are absent from him and he knows and is certain that they are in the same state as they are in.
بلوغ شئ كان يقدر عليه ولا استعان به على شئ من أمره. وإذا كان ذلك كذلك فما هو أعني المحسود إلا بمنزلة سائر من نال خيرا وبلغ أمنيته من الناس الغائبين عن الحاسد. فكيف لا يحسد من بالهند والصين؟ فإن كان لا يحسدهم من اجل غيبتهم عنه فليتصورهم بأحوالهم وما ينقلبون فيه من نعيمهم. فإن كان حمقا أو جنونا أن يحزن لما نال هؤلاء وبلغوا من أمانيهم فإن حمقا مثله الحزن والاغتمام لما نال من بحضرته إذ كانوا بمنزلة الغيب عنه في أنهم لم يسلبوه شيئا مما في يديه ولا منعوه بلوغ شئ كان يقدر عليه ولا استعانوا على أمر من أمورهم به. وليس بينهم وبين الغيب عنه فرق إلا في مشاهدة الحاسد أحوالهم التي يمكن تصور مثلها من الغيب عنه ويعلم ويستيقن أنهم منها في مثل ما هم فيه.