'A person may hope for some matter of trade or position of authority, until he is close to attaining it. Thereupon Allah looks at him and says to His angels: "Divert it from him, for if he attains it I shall enter him into the Hellfire." Thus, Allah diverts it from him and the slave of Allah remains pessimistic, saying "So and so preceded me to it, So and so outwitted me," when in fact it is a favor from Allah.'
- Abdullah ibn Mas’ood