This article is compiled on the topic of a very dangerous and deadly disease of the heart, envy. Envy is an internal disease that destroys a person’s religion, morals, peace of heart, and social relationships. In this article, the definition of envy, its reality, the difference between envy and jealousy, condemnation of envy in the light of the Quran and Hadith, its causes, and initial harms are explained in detail so that the reader can examine their heart and obtain salvation from this deadly disease.
Envy: A Deadly Internal Disease
Among the diseases of the heart, one very dangerous disease is envy. Whoever suffers from this disease, their life is never pleasant. As some wise men have said:
(( ثَلَاثَۃٌ لَا یَہْنَأُ لِصَاحِبِہَا عَیْشٌ : اَلْحِقْدُ ، وَالْحَسَدُ ، وَسُوْئُ الْخُلُقِ))
Translation:
“There are three things in which if found, a person’s life is not pleasant: hatred, envy, and bad temper.”
Envy is not just a single disease but it gives rise to many other spiritual and psychological ailments, such as: hatred, grudge, hostility, longing, dissatisfaction with Allah’s decree, mental stress, sorrow, and anxiety, etc.
Definition of Envy
Scholars have defined envy as follows:
( تَمَنِّی زَوَالِ النِّعْمَۃِ عَنْ صَاحِبِہَا )
Translation:
“To desire the removal of a blessing from someone who possesses it.”
( کُرْہُ النِّعْمَۃِ عِنْدَ الْغَیْرِ وَتَمَنِّی زَوَالِہَا )
Translation:
“To dislike the blessing that another has and to wish for its disappearance.”
Practical Examples of Envy
❀ Seeing someone with a good watch or fine clothes and wishing that they no longer have it.
❀ Seeing someone’s good vehicle and desiring its end.
❀ Feeling jealousy in the heart over a student’s good position.
❀ Being unhappy with the popularity and progress of a scholar, reciter, or businessman.
❀ Feeling envy in the heart over a woman’s beauty or adornment.
From all these examples, it becomes clear that envy is actually disliking the blessings granted by Allah.
Difference Between Envy and Jealousy
Envy
Wishing for the end of a blessing someone possesses — whether that blessing is granted to oneself or not.
Envy
Seeing a blessing with someone and praying that Allah grants you the same blessing, without causing that blessing to be removed from them.
Evidence for the permissibility of envy
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( لَا حَسَدَ إِلَّا فِی اثْنَتَیْنِ… ))
Translation:
“Envy is only permissible for two persons:
➊ The one whom Allah has given the Qur’an, and he recites it during the day and night.
➋ The one whom Allah has given wealth, and he spends it during the day and night.”
This hadith clarifies that envy is a commendable and permissible act, whereas jealousy (hasad) is impermissible and forbidden.
Condemnation of jealousy in the Holy Qur’an
Verse
﴿ اَمْ یَحْسُدُوْنَ النَّاسَ عَلٰی مَآ اٰتٰھُمُ اللّٰہُ مِنْ فَضْلِہٖ ﴾
Translation:
“Do they envy people for what Allah has given them of His bounty?”
Verse
﴿ وَدَّ کَثِیْرٌ مِّنْ اَھْلِ الْکِتٰبِ… ﴾
Translation:
“Many among the People of the Book wish that you should become disbelievers after having believed, out of envy from themselves, even after the truth has become clear to them.”
Condemnation of Envy in Hadith
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( لَا تَحَاسَدُوْا وَلَا تَبَاغَضُوْا… ))
Translation:
“Do not envy one another, do not hate one another, do not spy on one another, but be servants of Allah and brothers.”
The Holy Prophet ﷺ described envy as a disease that uproots religion.
Envy: The Serious Effects of a Deadly Disease
Envy is such a dangerous and deadly disease that sometimes it compels a person to commit the greatest sins, even to the extent of committing murder. The clearest example of this is the incident of Qabil and Habil, which Allah Almighty has detailed in the Holy Quran.
The Incident of Qabil and Habil: The Outcome of Envy
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَاتْلُ عَلَیْھِمْ نَبَاَ ابْنَیْ اٰدَمَ بِالْحَقِّ اِذْ قَرَّبَا قُرْبَانًا فَتُقُبِّلَ مِنْ اَحَدِھِمَا وَلَمْ یُتَقَبَّلْ مِنَ الْاٰخَرِ ﴾
Translation:
“And relate to them the true story of the two sons of Adam, when both of them offered a sacrifice, and it was accepted from one of them but was not accepted from the other.”
Habil was righteous and pious; he offered the sacrifice with pure intention, so it was accepted. Qabil’s heart was filled with envy, and he threatened:
﴿ لَاَقْتُلَنَّکَ ﴾
Translation:
“I will surely kill you.”
Habil replied:
﴿ اِنَّمَا یَتَقَبَّلُ اللّٰہُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِیْنَ ﴾
Translation:
“Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous.”
Then he further said:
﴿ لَئِنْ بَسَطْتَّ اِلَیَّ یَدَکَ لِتَقْتُلَنِیْ… ﴾
Translation:
“If you do stretch your hand against me to kill me, I will not stretch my hand against you to kill you. Indeed, I fear Allah, Lord of the worlds. I want you to bear my sin and your sin, and be among the companions of the Fire. And that is the recompense of the wrongdoers.”
But Qabil did not accept the advice:
﴿ فَطَوَّعَتْ لَہٗ نَفْسُہٗ قَتْلَ اَخِیْہِ… ﴾
Translation:
“Finally, his ego compelled him to kill his brother, so he killed him and became one of the losers.”
Basic Causes of Envy
➊ Dissatisfaction with the distribution of sustenance
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ اَللّٰہُ یَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ یَّشَآئُ… ﴾
Translation:
“Allah enlarges the provision for whom He wills among His servants and restricts it for whom He wills. And He is All-Knowing of everything.”
A person who is not satisfied with this distribution falls into envy.
➋ Arrogance and self-conceit
The envier believes that he alone deserves the blessings, and therefore cannot tolerate others’ success.
➌ Malice and enmity of the heart
When hatred arises in the heart against someone, their happiness, health, and progress all appear bad.
➍ Inability to tolerate others’ superiority
For example, if Allah grants a student, trader, or woman superiority in some ability and another person cannot reach that position despite efforts, envy is born.
➎ Desire for status and position
The race for positions and fame in political, familial, or office fields also gives rise to envy. Abdullah bin Ubayy and the chiefs of Quraish had this kind of envy towards the Prophet ﷺ.
➏ Love of wealth and riches
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَاِنَّہٗ لِحُبِّ الْخَیْرِ لَشَدِیْدٌ ﴾
Translation:
“And indeed, man is extremely fond of wealth.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( لَوْ کَانَ لِابْنِ آدَمَ وَادِیَانِ مِنْ مَالٍ… ))
Translation:
“If the son of Adam had two valleys of wealth, he would desire a third, and only the soil of the grave can fill the stomach of a human.”
The harms of envy
Envy is a poison that first burns the heart and mind of the envier, then gradually destroys his religion, morals, and social relations. Scholars have described many harms of envy, among which some important ones are as follows:
➊ Allah Almighty’s displeasure
The envier actually expresses dissatisfaction with Allah Almighty’s decree, destiny, and distribution of sustenance, therefore Allah Almighty becomes displeased with him.
The poet says:
أَیَا حَاسِدًا لِیْ عَلٰی نِعْمَتِیْ أَتَدْرِیْ عَلٰی مَنْ أَسَأْتَ الْأَدَب
“O you who envy my blessing! Do you know with whom you have been rude?”
أَسَأْتَ عَلَی اللّٰہِ فِیْ حُکْمِہٖ لِأَنَّکَ لَمْ تَرْضَ لِیْ مَا وَہَب
“You have been disrespectful to Allah’s decree, because you were not content with the gift He gave me.”
➋ Permanent sorrow, regret, and depression
The envious person is always sorrowful, troubled, and burning inside. He remains constantly afflicted with longing by seeing others’ blessings, which hollows out his heart.
The poet says:
اِصْبِرْ عَلٰی کَیْدِ الْحَسُودِ فَإِنَّ صَبْرَکَ قَاتِلُہُ
“Be patient with the tricks of the envious; your patience will be what destroys him.”
اَلنَّارُ تَأْکُلُ بَعْضَہَا إِنْ لَّمْ تَجِدْ مَا تَأْکُلُہُ
“If fire finds nothing to burn, it consumes itself.”
➌ Disgrace in the eyes of people
The envious person falls in the eyes of people, and they begin to hate him. That is why it is said:
اَلْحَسُودُ لَا یَسُودُ
“The envious one can never become a leader.”
➍ Enmity and destruction of relationships
Envy turns friendships into enmity, even brothers become hostile to each other.
Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) and his brothers
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ لَیُوْسُفُ وَ اَخُوْہُ اَحَبُّ اِلٰٓی اَبِیْنَا مِنَّا وَ نَحْنُ عُصْبَۃٌ ﴾
Translation:
“Joseph and his brother are more beloved to our father than we, even though we are a strong group.”
This very jealousy later caused Joseph (peace be upon him) to be thrown into the well.
➎ The emergence of hypocrisy in hearts
Jealousy gives birth to hypocrisy, as it increased in the hearts of Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul and his companions when they envied the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
➏ Cause of major sins
Jealousy leads a person to great sins like murder, as Cain killed his brother Abel.
➐ Cause of the evil eye
Sometimes jealousy causes the evil eye.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( اَلْعَیْنُ حَقٌّ… ))
Translation:
“The evil eye is real, and if anything could overtake destiny, it would be the evil eye.”
Protection and treatment from the evil eye
Reciting the Mu’awwidhatayn
Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
Translation:
“The Prophet ﷺ used to seek Allah’s protection from the evil eye of jinn and humans, and when Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas were revealed, he ﷺ began to recite them.”
Prescribed Supplications for Ruqyah
Supplication:
(( بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ أَرْقِیْکَ… ))
Translation:
“I perform ruqyah over you in the name of Allah; may Allah cure you from every harmful disease and from the evil of every envious eye.”
Supplication:
(( بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ یُبْرِیکَ… ))
Translation:
“In the name of Allah, may He cure you from every disease and from the evil of every envious one.”
Effective Means to Protect from the Evil of the Envious
Since envy is an internal and dangerous disease, the Islamic Shariah has not only advised to avoid it but has also clearly explained ways to protect oneself from the evil of the envious. If a believer adopts these means, by the grace of Allah, he can remain safe from envy and the evil of the envious.
➊ Seeking Allah’s Protection
The first and most effective means is that a person seeks Allah’s protection from the evil of the envious.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ اِذَا حَسَدَ ﴾
Translation:
“And I seek refuge in the evil of the envier when he envies.”
This verse is clear evidence that envy is a real evil, from which seeking Allah’s protection is necessary.
➋ Adopting Taqwa
Taqwa means a fear of Allah that prevents a person from committing sins. Whoever fears Allah and obeys His commands, Allah grants him special protection and saves him from all kinds of evil.
➌ Tawakkul (Trust) on Allah Almighty
Having complete trust in Allah is also a strong means of protection from the evil of the envier.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَمَنْ یَّتَوَکَّلْ عَلَی اللّٰہِ فَہُوَ حَسْبُہٗ ﴾
Translation:
“And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him.”
And He said:
﴿ قُلْ لَّنْ یُّصِیْبَنَآ اِلَّا مَا کَتَبَ اللّٰہُ لَنَا ﴾
Translation:
“Say, ‘Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us.'”
➍ Practicing Patience
Being patient with the envy of the envier is a very effective remedy. The person who is patient, Allah Almighty grants him high ranks, and the envier continues to burn in the fire of his own envy.
➎ Avoid thinking too much about the envier
Some people unnecessarily keep thinking about the enviers all the time, which increases mental distress. The correct way is for a person to turn towards Allah Almighty, recite the Mu’awwidhatayn morning and evening, keep seeking forgiveness, and have faith in Allah’s protection.
➏ Giving charity and alms
Charity protects a person from calamities and bad outcomes. Allah Almighty specially protects the one who gives charity and blesses his wealth and life.
➐ Good treatment of the envier
Although this remedy is difficult, it is very effective.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَلَا تَسْتَوِی الْحَسَنَۃُ وَلَا السَّیِّئَۃُ ۚ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِیْ ہِیَ اَحْسَنُ ﴾
Translation:
“Good and evil cannot be equal; repel evil with good, then you will see that your enemy has become a close friend.”
Then He said:
﴿ وَمَا یُلَقّٰہَآ اِلَّا الَّذِیْنَ صَبَرُوْا ﴾
Translation:
“This quality is only attained by those who are patient.”
➑ Hiding blessings
Every person who possesses a blessing can become a target of envy, so it is not necessary to disclose every blessing in front of everyone.
Prophet Yaqub (peace be upon him) said:
﴿ یٰبُنَیَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُءْیَاکَ عَلٰی اِخْوَتِکَ فَیَکِیْدُوْا لَکَ کَیْدًا ﴾
Translation:
“O my son! Do not tell your brothers about your dream, lest they plot against you.”
And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( اِسْتَعِیْنُوْا عَلٰی إِنْجَاحِ الْحَوَائِجِ بِالْکِتْمَانِ ))
Translation:
“Seek help in fulfilling your needs secretly, for every person who has a blessing is envied.”
Faith and envy cannot coexist in one heart
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
(( لَا یَجْتَمِعَانِ فِی قَلْبِ عَبْدٍ: الْإِیْمَانُ وَالْحَسَدُ ))
Translation:
“Faith and envy cannot coexist in the heart of a servant.”
Conclusion
If we want success in this world and the Hereafter, we must cleanse our hearts from envy, hatred, and malice. A true believer is one whose heart is pure, tongue truthful, and intention sincere. We pray to Allah Almighty to purify our hearts from envy and grant us mutual love and brotherhood. Ameen.
