What is the meaning of the Almighty’s saying: (Or do they envy people for what Allah has given them of His bounty)? And are the people referred to as the Household of the Prophet (Ahl al-Bayt), peace be upon them, and who are the envious ones?

The envious people, mentioned in the verse: "Or do they envy people for what Allah has given them of His bounty?" (Surat An-Nisa, 54) are, by consensus, the Jews. As for those who are envied, it was said that it is the Prophet (peace be upon him) alone, and it was also said that it is the Prophet and the Arabs. It was narrated from Ibn Abbas, with a weak chain of transmission, that it refers to the Ahl al-Bayt (the Prophet's household). Most exegetes, however, favor the interpretation that it refers to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Arabs, because the Jews envied the Arabs for prophethood and for what Allah Almighty honored them with by sending Muhammad (peace be upon him) from among them, after they had thought that the Prophet would be from the Children of Israel.