The Noble Shaykh ‘Abdur Rahmaan Ibn Naasir as-Si’dee (may Allah have mercy upon him) stated:

The people are divided into four categories:

1. The one who is good in himself and his good extends to other than himself. He is the best of the different categories. This person is the believer who reads the Qur’aan and learns the different sciences of the religion. He is a benefit for himself and his benefit extends to other than himself. He is blessed wherever he may be. Just as Allah mentioned about ‘Eesaa (‘alayhis salaam):

And He made me blessed wherever I may be.
(Soorah Maryam: 31)

2. The one who is good within himself. A person of good. He is the believer who does not have knowledge which he can extend to other than himself.

These two categories are the best of creation. And the good that is within them returns back to that which is with them from the faith that is limited (to oneself) and the faith that extends (beyond oneself), one whose benefit extends to others according to the situation of the believers.

3. The one who is absent of the good. However his harm doesn’t extend to other than himself.

4. The one who is evil upon himself and to other than himself. This one is the worst of the categories. Allah said:

Those who disbelieve and prevent (people) from the path of Allah, increase them in punishment over the punishment due to the corruption they caused.
(Soorah an-Nahl: 88)

Source: At-Tawdeeh wal-Bayaan li Shajartil-Eemaan

Translated by Abu Yusuf Khaleefah
16th of Rabee’ ath-Thaani, 1436 H (02-05-2015)
Masjid Nur Allah, Queens, NYC

Original Arabic

:فإن الناس أربعة أقسام

الأول : خيرُ في نفسه، متعد خيره إلى غيره. وهو خير الأقسام. فهذا المؤمن الذي قرأ القرآن، وتعلم علوم الدين. فهو نافع لنفسه، متعد نفعه إلى غيره؛ مبارك أينما كان. كما قال الله تعالى عن عيسى [عليه السلام] {وَجَعَلَنِي مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنْتُ} سورة مريم: 31

والثاني : طيب في نفسه، صاحب خير. وهو المؤمن الذي ليس عنده من العلم، ما يعود به على غيره
.فهذان القسمان هما خير الخليقة؛ والخير الذي فيهم عائد إلى ما معهم من الإيمان القاصر، والمتعدي نفعه إلى الغير بحسب أحوال المؤمنين

.والقسم الثالث : من هو عادم للخير، ولكنه لا يتعدى ضرره إلى غيره

والرابع : من هو صاحب شر على نفسه، وعلى غيره. فهذا شر الأقسام: {الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَصَدُّوا عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ زِدْنَاهُمْ عَذَابًا فَوْقَ الْعَذَابِ بِمَا كَانُوا يُفْسِدُونَ} سورة النحل: 88

التوضيح و البيان لشجرة الإيمان ص٦٦
للعلامة السِّعدي رحمه الله