Protect what matters from what harms
The Prophet Muhammad said: No one has more jealousy than Allah. That’s why He forbids dirty and shameful acts. (HR. Bukhari 4634, Muslim 2760)
He also said: Allah feels ghirah (protective jealousy) when someone dares to do what He already forbade. (HR. Muslim 2761)
And about Sa’ad, the Prophet Muhammad said: “Sa’ad is jealous. I’m even more jealous than him. But Allah is more jealous than me.” (HR. Bukhari 6846, Muslim 4699)
This kind of jealousy isn’t about ego. It’s about caring enough to protect dignity, honor, and what’s right.
There are two types:
The inner kind - the feeling in your heart.
The outer kind - when you speak up or remind others not to do what’s haram, like immodesty or disgraceful behavior.
So ghirah, when it’s about something Allah made sacred, is not weakness — it’s a sign you care about truth and honor.
(from Syajaratul Ma‘arif, Syaikh al-‘Izz bin Abdus Salam)