Surah Al-Baqarah (2:90)

بِئۡسَمَا اشۡتَرَوۡا بِهٖۤ اَنۡفُسَهُمۡ اَنۡ يَّڪۡفُرُوۡا بِمَآ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰهُ بَغۡيًا اَنۡ يُّنَزِّلَ اللّٰهُ مِنۡ فَضۡلِهٖ عَلٰى مَنۡ يَّشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهٖۚ فَبَآءُوۡ بِغَضَبٍ عَلٰى غَضَبٍؕ وَلِلۡكٰفِرِيۡنَ عَذَابٌ مُّهِيۡنٌ‏ ۝

Bi/sama ishtaraw bihi anfusahum anyakfuroo bima anzala Allahu baghyan an yunazzilaAllahu min fadlihi AAala man yashaomin AAibadihi fabaoo bighadabin AAalaghadabin walilkafireena AAathabun muheen

How wretched is that for which they sold themselves - that they would disbelieve in what Allāh has revealed through their outrage that Allāh would send down His favor upon whom He wills from among His servants. So they returned having earned wrath upon wrath. And for the disbelievers is a humiliating punishment.

Tadabbur (Reflection)

Theme of the Ayat

The Worst Trade: Selling their soul to deny what God revealed out of envy.

The Insight

They traded the beautiful revelation of God for a despicable price—the envy and denial of the Prophet Muhammad's status—thereby incurring the compounding of God's anger. Envy is spiritual poison. Letting jealousy guide your actions results in compounding spiritual loss. Always seek protection from the sin of envying the gifts, status, or revelations bestowed upon others.