Source: Khutbāt Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad Isḥāq Zāhid – Compiled by: Tauheed.com
Envy (ḥasad) is one of the most dangerous and destructive spiritual diseases of the heart. A person afflicted with it can never live a peaceful life. As some wise men have said:
ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا يَهْنَأُ لِصَاحِبِهَا عَيْشٌ: الْحِقْدُ، وَالْحَسَدُ، وَسُوءُ الْخُلُقِ
“Three things prevent a person from living a pleasant life: hatred, envy, and bad character.”
Ḥasad does not come alone — it gives birth to numerous other spiritual and psychological diseases, such as hatred, hostility, sorrow, grief, anxiety, mental stress, and even anger towards Allah's decree.
Scholars have defined envy (ḥasad) as:
(تَمَنِّي زَوَالِ النِّعْمَةِ عَنْ صَاحِبِهَا)
“To wish for the removal of a blessing from someone.”
(كُرْهُ النِّعْمَةِ عِندَ الْغَيْرِ وَتَمَنِّي زَوَالِهَا)
“To dislike a blessing possessed by someone and desire its loss.”
✿ Desiring that someone's nice watch or clothing be taken away
✿ Wishing someone's beautiful vehicle be ruined
✿ Feeling irritated at a student's academic excellence
✿ Being displeased with a scholar, reciter, or businessman’s success
✿ Envying a woman for her beauty or adornments
These examples reveal that ḥasad is essentially a dislike for Allah’s blessings upon others.
To wish the blessing be removed from someone — regardless of whether one receives it or not.
To wish for the same blessing without wanting it removed from the other person.
Sayyidunā ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
((لَا حَسَدَ إِلَّا فِي اثْنَتَيْنِ...))
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 815]
“Envy is not permitted except in two cases:
① A person whom Allah has given the Qur’an, and he recites it day and night.
② A person whom Allah has granted wealth, and he spends it by day and night.”
This hadith clearly distinguishes between permissible ghibṭah and forbidden ḥasad.
﴿أَمْ يَحْسُدُونَ النَّاسَ عَلَىٰ مَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ﴾
[Surah an-Nisā’: 54]
“Or do they envy others because of what Allah has given them from His bounty?”
﴿وَدَّ كَثِيرٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ...﴾
[Surah al-Baqarah: 109]
“Many of the People of the Book wish to turn you back into disbelievers after you have believed — out of envy from within themselves, even after the truth has become clear to them.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
((لَا تَحَاسَدُوا وَلَا تَبَاغَضُوا...))
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2563]
“Do not envy one another, do not hate one another… Be brothers, O servants of Allah!”
He ﷺ further described ḥasad as a disease that destroys faith from its roots.
Ḥasad can lead a person to major sins, even to murder — as in the story of Qābīl and Hābīl.
﴿وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ ابْنَيْ آدَمَ...﴾
[Surah al-Mā’idah: 27–30]
Allah accepted Hābīl’s sincere sacrifice but not Qābīl’s. Consumed by envy, Qābīl threatened:
﴿لَأَقْتُلَنَّكَ﴾
“I will surely kill you.”
Hābīl replied:
﴿إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ﴾
“Indeed, Allah accepts only from the righteous.”
Despite this, Qābīl followed his ego and killed his brother.
① Discontent with Allah’s Distribution of Provision
“Allah expands provision for whom He wills…”
[Surah al-ʿAnkabūt: 62]
② Arrogance and Self-Admiration
The envious person feels they deserve the blessing, not others.
③ Hatred in the Heart
Personal dislike leads to wishing ill for others.
④ Inability to Accept Others’ Superiority
Failure to reach another’s rank or talent triggers envy.
⑤ Love of Prestige and Position
Status-based envy — as seen in the case of Abdullāh ibn Ubayy and Quraysh chieftains toward the Prophet ﷺ.
⑥ Love for Wealth
“And indeed, he is severe in love of wealth.”
[Surah al-ʿĀdiyāt: 8]
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If the son of Ādam had two valleys of wealth, he would seek a third…”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6436, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1048]
➊ Angering Allah
The envious one expresses dissatisfaction with Allah’s decree.
➋ Constant Depression and Restlessness
His own heart burns before harming others.
Poet says:
“Be patient with the plot of the envious — your patience will kill him.”
➌ Loss of Honor
“The envious can never lead.”
➍ Broken Relationships
Envy ruins families and friendships, like in the case of Yūsuf (ʿalayhis salām).
➎ Hypocrisy
As seen in the heart of Abdullāh ibn Ubayy, the leader of the hypocrites.
➏ Leads to Major Sins
Including murder, as in the case of Qābīl and Hābīl.
➐ Cause of Evil Eye
The Prophet ﷺ said:
((الْعَيْنُ حَقٌّ))
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2188]
“The evil eye is real…”
✔ Reciting al-Muʿawwidhatayn (Surah al-Falaq & an-Nās)
✔ Ruqyah (Healing Supplications)
((بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ...))
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2186]
“In the name of Allah, I perform ruqyah upon you…”
((بِسْمِ اللَّهِ يُبْرِيكَ...))
“In the name of Allah, may He cure you…”
① Seeking Refuge in Allah
﴿وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ﴾
[Surah al-Falaq: 5]
“And from the evil of the envier when he envies.”
② Adopting Taqwā (Piety)
③ Tawakkul (Reliance) Upon Allah
﴿وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ﴾
[Surah at-Ṭalāq: 3]
④ Being Patient
⑤ Avoid Overthinking About the Envious
⑥ Giving Charity
⑦ Responding With Good Conduct
﴿ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ﴾
[Surah Fuṣṣilat: 34–35]
“Repel evil with what is better…”
⑧ Concealing Blessings
﴿لَا تَقْصُصْ رُءْيَاكَ عَلَىٰ إِخْوَتِكَ﴾
[Surah Yūsuf: 5]
And the Prophet ﷺ said:
((استعينوا على إنجاح الحوائج بالكتمان))
[as-Silsilah aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah: 1453]
“Seek help in fulfilling your needs by concealing them.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
((لَا يَجْتَمِعَانِ فِي قَلْبِ عَبْدٍ: الْإِيمَانُ وَالْحَسَدُ))
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ: 7620]
“Faith and envy cannot exist together in a servant's heart.”
If we desire success in this life and the next, we must purify our hearts from envy, hatred, and malice. A true believer is one whose heart is clean, tongue is truthful, and intentions are sincere.
May Allah cleanse our hearts from envy and fill them with love and brotherhood.
Āmīn.
✦ Envy (Ḥasad): A Destructive Spiritual Disease
Envy (ḥasad) is one of the most dangerous and destructive spiritual diseases of the heart. A person afflicted with it can never live a peaceful life. As some wise men have said:
ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا يَهْنَأُ لِصَاحِبِهَا عَيْشٌ: الْحِقْدُ، وَالْحَسَدُ، وَسُوءُ الْخُلُقِ
“Three things prevent a person from living a pleasant life: hatred, envy, and bad character.”
Ḥasad does not come alone — it gives birth to numerous other spiritual and psychological diseases, such as hatred, hostility, sorrow, grief, anxiety, mental stress, and even anger towards Allah's decree.
❖ Definition of Ḥasad
Scholars have defined envy (ḥasad) as:
(تَمَنِّي زَوَالِ النِّعْمَةِ عَنْ صَاحِبِهَا)
“To wish for the removal of a blessing from someone.”
(كُرْهُ النِّعْمَةِ عِندَ الْغَيْرِ وَتَمَنِّي زَوَالِهَا)
“To dislike a blessing possessed by someone and desire its loss.”
❖ Practical Examples of Ḥasad
✿ Desiring that someone's nice watch or clothing be taken away
✿ Wishing someone's beautiful vehicle be ruined
✿ Feeling irritated at a student's academic excellence
✿ Being displeased with a scholar, reciter, or businessman’s success
✿ Envying a woman for her beauty or adornments
These examples reveal that ḥasad is essentially a dislike for Allah’s blessings upon others.
❖ Difference Between Ḥasad and Ghibṭah (Admiration)
① Ḥasad:
To wish the blessing be removed from someone — regardless of whether one receives it or not.
② Ghibṭah (Righteous Envy):
To wish for the same blessing without wanting it removed from the other person.
❖ Valid Forms of Ghibṭah (Admiration)
Sayyidunā ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
((لَا حَسَدَ إِلَّا فِي اثْنَتَيْنِ...))
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 815]
“Envy is not permitted except in two cases:
① A person whom Allah has given the Qur’an, and he recites it day and night.
② A person whom Allah has granted wealth, and he spends it by day and night.”
This hadith clearly distinguishes between permissible ghibṭah and forbidden ḥasad.
❖ Condemnation of Ḥasad in the Qur’an
﴿أَمْ يَحْسُدُونَ النَّاسَ عَلَىٰ مَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ﴾
[Surah an-Nisā’: 54]
“Or do they envy others because of what Allah has given them from His bounty?”
﴿وَدَّ كَثِيرٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ...﴾
[Surah al-Baqarah: 109]
“Many of the People of the Book wish to turn you back into disbelievers after you have believed — out of envy from within themselves, even after the truth has become clear to them.”
❖ Condemnation of Ḥasad in Hadith
The Prophet ﷺ said:
((لَا تَحَاسَدُوا وَلَا تَبَاغَضُوا...))
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2563]
“Do not envy one another, do not hate one another… Be brothers, O servants of Allah!”
He ﷺ further described ḥasad as a disease that destroys faith from its roots.
❖ Envy: A Destructive Force With Deadly Consequences
Ḥasad can lead a person to major sins, even to murder — as in the story of Qābīl and Hābīl.
◈ The Story of Qābīl and Hābīl
﴿وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ ابْنَيْ آدَمَ...﴾
[Surah al-Mā’idah: 27–30]
Allah accepted Hābīl’s sincere sacrifice but not Qābīl’s. Consumed by envy, Qābīl threatened:
﴿لَأَقْتُلَنَّكَ﴾
“I will surely kill you.”
Hābīl replied:
﴿إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ﴾
“Indeed, Allah accepts only from the righteous.”
Despite this, Qābīl followed his ego and killed his brother.
❖ Causes of Ḥasad
① Discontent with Allah’s Distribution of Provision
“Allah expands provision for whom He wills…”
[Surah al-ʿAnkabūt: 62]
② Arrogance and Self-Admiration
The envious person feels they deserve the blessing, not others.
③ Hatred in the Heart
Personal dislike leads to wishing ill for others.
④ Inability to Accept Others’ Superiority
Failure to reach another’s rank or talent triggers envy.
⑤ Love of Prestige and Position
Status-based envy — as seen in the case of Abdullāh ibn Ubayy and Quraysh chieftains toward the Prophet ﷺ.
⑥ Love for Wealth
“And indeed, he is severe in love of wealth.”
[Surah al-ʿĀdiyāt: 8]
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If the son of Ādam had two valleys of wealth, he would seek a third…”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6436, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1048]
❖ Harms of Ḥasad
➊ Angering Allah
The envious one expresses dissatisfaction with Allah’s decree.
➋ Constant Depression and Restlessness
His own heart burns before harming others.
Poet says:
“Be patient with the plot of the envious — your patience will kill him.”
➌ Loss of Honor
“The envious can never lead.”
➍ Broken Relationships
Envy ruins families and friendships, like in the case of Yūsuf (ʿalayhis salām).
➎ Hypocrisy
As seen in the heart of Abdullāh ibn Ubayy, the leader of the hypocrites.
➏ Leads to Major Sins
Including murder, as in the case of Qābīl and Hābīl.
➐ Cause of Evil Eye
The Prophet ﷺ said:
((الْعَيْنُ حَقٌّ))
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2188]
“The evil eye is real…”
❖ Protection from Evil Eye and Ḥasad
✔ Reciting al-Muʿawwidhatayn (Surah al-Falaq & an-Nās)
✔ Ruqyah (Healing Supplications)
((بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ...))
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2186]
“In the name of Allah, I perform ruqyah upon you…”
((بِسْمِ اللَّهِ يُبْرِيكَ...))
“In the name of Allah, may He cure you…”
❖ Effective Ways to Protect Against the Envious
① Seeking Refuge in Allah
﴿وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ﴾
[Surah al-Falaq: 5]
“And from the evil of the envier when he envies.”
② Adopting Taqwā (Piety)
③ Tawakkul (Reliance) Upon Allah
﴿وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ﴾
[Surah at-Ṭalāq: 3]
④ Being Patient
⑤ Avoid Overthinking About the Envious
⑥ Giving Charity
⑦ Responding With Good Conduct
﴿ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ﴾
[Surah Fuṣṣilat: 34–35]
“Repel evil with what is better…”
⑧ Concealing Blessings
﴿لَا تَقْصُصْ رُءْيَاكَ عَلَىٰ إِخْوَتِكَ﴾
[Surah Yūsuf: 5]
And the Prophet ﷺ said:
((استعينوا على إنجاح الحوائج بالكتمان))
[as-Silsilah aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah: 1453]
“Seek help in fulfilling your needs by concealing them.”
❖ Faith and Envy Cannot Coexist
The Prophet ﷺ said:
((لَا يَجْتَمِعَانِ فِي قَلْبِ عَبْدٍ: الْإِيمَانُ وَالْحَسَدُ))
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ: 7620]
“Faith and envy cannot exist together in a servant's heart.”
Conclusion
If we desire success in this life and the next, we must purify our hearts from envy, hatred, and malice. A true believer is one whose heart is clean, tongue is truthful, and intentions are sincere.
May Allah cleanse our hearts from envy and fill them with love and brotherhood.
Āmīn.
