Question:
What is envy (hasad)?
Answer:
When Allah bestows a blessing upon one person, another person wishes that the blessing be taken away from him and come to him (the envier) instead; this is called envy (hasad).
The envy that Iblis felt towards our father Adam (peace be upon him) was the first envy, and the first act of disobedience among humans was Qabil killing his brother Habil.
Allah the Exalted says:
«وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ ابْنَيْ آدَمَ بِالْحَقِّ إِذْ قَرَّبَا قُرْبَانًا فَتُقُبِّلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِمَا وَلَمْ يُتَقَبَّلْ مِنَ الْآخَرِ قَالَ لَأَقْتُلَنَّكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢٧﴾»
“And recite to them the news of the two sons of Adam in truth, when they both offered a sacrifice, and it was accepted from one of them but was not accepted from the other. He said: ‘I will surely kill you.’ He said: ‘Indeed, Allah accepts only from the righteous.'”
It is narrated from Sayyidina Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said:
«أكثر من يموت من أمتي بعد قضاء الله وقدره بالأنفس»
“After the decree and destiny of Allah, the majority of deaths in my ummah will be by the evil eye.” Imam al-Bukhari narrated it in “al-Tarikh al-Kabir” 360/4, and Imam al-Haythami cited it in Kashf al-Astar 403/3, hadith no. 3052.
Envy is a disease of the nations until the Hour is established. Envy and faith cannot be combined in one heart.
It is narrated from Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«لا تقاطعوا ولا تباغضوا ولا تحاسدوا، وكونوا عباد الله إخوانا»
“Do not sever ties of kinship, do not hate one another, and do not envy one another. Be servants of Allah, brothers to one another.”
Also, the Prophet ﷺ said:
«خير الناس ذو القلب المخموم، واللسان الصادق قيل: ما القلب المخموم؟ قال: هو التقي النقي لا إثم فيه ولا بعي ولا حسد قيل: فمن على أثره؟ قال: الذى يشنأ الدنيا ويجب الآخرة قيل: فمن على أثره؟ قال: مؤمن فى خلق حسن»
“The best of people is the one with a clean-swept heart (al-qalb al-makhmum) and a truthful tongue.” He ﷺ was asked: “What is the clean-swept heart (al-qalb al-makhmum)?” He ﷺ said: “It is the pious and pure heart, in which there is no sin, no transgression, and no envy.” It was said: “Who is next in rank to him?” He ﷺ said: “The one who dislikes this world and loves the Hereafter.” It was said: “Who is next after him?” He ﷺ said: “A believer with good character.”
Abu Ubaydah mentioned that «النقي» refers to the one in whose heart there is no envy or malice.
Shaykh al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) graded it as sahih.
