«غِيرْ مِنْ جَارَكْ وَلَا تِحْسِدُهْ»

The saying separates two reactions to the good fortune of a neighbor, meaning anyone close enough to invite comparison. One is competitive emulation, not romantic or possessive jealousy: a rivalry that makes you strive until you reach the same level. The other is envy, a resentful wish that the other lacked what they have. Only the first is encouraged.

Behind the advice is a practical and moral judgment. Envy gains you nothing and only sours your character, which makes it a disgraceful trait. Emulation, by contrast, turns comparison into motivation, so watching someone else prosper becomes a reason to work harder rather than a source of bitterness.

Suitable when advising someone who is eyeing another person's success, such as a colleague's promotion or a relative's prosperity. It steers resentment toward effort, encouraging them to work for similar gains rather than begrudge what the other person already holds.