The Resemblance Between Envy and Fire
Authored by: Dr. Raza Abdullah Pasha حفظہ اللہ
❖ Question:
What is the resemblance between envy (ḥasad) and fire?
❖ Answer:
It is narrated from Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه that he reported from the Noble Prophet ﷺ:
« إياكم والحسد، فإن الحسد يأكل الحسنات كما تأكل النار الحطب، أو قال: العشب »
“The Prophet ﷺ used to say: Beware of envy! Indeed, envy consumes good deeds just as fire consumes wood, or he ﷺ said: just as fire consumes grass.”
The meaning of this ḥadīth is that envy destroys the good deeds of the envious person and wipes out his rewards. Therefore, the one afflicted with envy must repent and seek forgiveness, and he should hold firmly to abundant remembrance of Allah, so that he may be saved from this harmful disease.
[Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Ḥadīth no. 4903]
Ibrāhīm ibn Abī Usayd’s grandfather, who is among the narrators, is unknown; therefore, this narration is weak (ḍaʿīf).
