In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-

Compassionate

"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon

You"
Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with
Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah
guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can
guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that
Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam

'ala Rasulillah
As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-
Barakatuhu
 Are you jealous of what others have?
By Shawana A. Aziz

Hasad (jealousy and envy) is among the most destructive

emotions which a man may develop toward his fellow
human being.

With Hasad, a person will wish evil for others and will be
happy when misfortune befalls them.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) warned against envy by

comparing it to fire that completely burns the wood.

He (peace be upon him) said: Beware of jealousy, for

verily it destroys good deeds the way fire destroys wood.
(Abu Dawood)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: There has come to
you the disease of the nations before you, jealousy and
hatred. This is the "shaver" (destroyer); I do not say that
it shaves hair, but that it shaves (destroys) faith (Al-
Tirmidhi, No. 2434)

Hasad can take a person into disbelief because he may

conclude that Allah has not been fair with him, while Allah
is the Most Just.

The person may forget all of Allahs mercy and blessings

bestowed upon him.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
They are enemies of Allahs bounties.
When asked, Who are they?, he replied: Those who envy
people for what Allah has given them of Bounty.
(At-Tabarani)

Allah through His Absolute Wisdom gave some people

more wealth, intelligence, beauty, strength, and children
than others. Discontentment comes from the slaves
ignorance of his Lord. If he recognizes his Lord with the
attributes of Perfection, he would not be discontent and
as a result would not develop Hasad. A believing Muslim
should be content with what Allah has destined for him.

Imam Ibn Qayyim said: It (contentment) opens the door

of peace and security for the slave.
Allah favored some of you over others with wealth and
properties Do they deny the favors of Allah? (Quran,
16:71)

Do they envy men for what Allah has given them of His
Bounty? (Quran, 4:54)
It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in
this world, and We raised some of them above others in
ranks, so that some may employ others in their work. But
the mercy of your Lord is better. (Quran, 43:32)

This means that the mercy of Allah is better than the

convenience of the world.

Material things of this life do not make one superior over

another.
True superiority lies in Taqwa (righteousness and fear of
Allah). Allah said: Surely, the most noble of you to Allah is
the most God-fearing.
(Quran, 49:13)

And the Hereafter with Your Lord is (only) for those who
have Taqwa.
(Quran, 43:35)

What belongs to the transient world is of no significance

at all before Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
If this world were worth a mosquitos wing before Allah,
He would not give a disbeliever a drink of water. (Al-
Tirmidhi)

In order to discourage envy, the Prophet (peace be upon

him) said: Do not look to those above you. Look to those
below you, as it will more likely remind you of Allahs
favors bestowed on you.
(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

On another occasion, he said: If one of you looks at

someone wealthier and better built than him, he should
also look at someone of lower standard than himself.
(Sahih Muslim)
 Good Envy
What Islam permits in contrast to Hasad (destructive
jealousy) is Ghibtah (envy that is free from malice). It
means that a person neither wishes for misfortune to fall
on others nor does he hate the blessings with them. He
desires for similar blessings without having any ill-feeling
toward others.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Envy is

allowed in two cases: a man whom Allah has given the
Quran and who recites it throughout night and day; and a
man on whom Allah has bestowed wealth who gives it
away night and day. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) also explained what is

allowed to be said: I wish I were given what he was given
and did with it what he did.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: The

similitude of the people of this Ummah is like that of four
individuals. One whom Allah has given wealth and
knowledge, so he handles his wealth with knowledge.
One whom Allah has given knowledge but not wealth, and
he says, "Lord, should I have wealth like so-and-so, I
would have handled it like him."
So they both have the same reward. Such a person loves
to have wealth like others so he can do good like others
without wishing that others lose their wealth.

Another man whom Allah gave wealth but no knowledge

spends it in disobedience to Allah. And last, a man whom
Allah has not given knowledge or wealth but who says,
Should I have wealth like so-and-so, I would spend it in
the way he does. So, both will have the same sin against
them. (Al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah) As-Sunnah
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