Jealousy (hasad )

"Beware of jealousy,
for verily it destroys good deeds
the way fire destroys wood."

Presented by HAJI MOHAMAD HANIM MOHAMAD ISA

Hasad (jealousy and envy) is among the
most destructive emotions or feeling
which a man may have towards his
fellow human being. It causes him to
wish evil for others and to be happy
when misfortune befalls them. The
Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam)
warned against envy by comparing it to
fire that completely burns the wood. He
(s.a.w) said: "Beware of jealousy, for
verily it destroys good deeds the way fire
destroys wood." [Abu Dawood]
Hasad is a disease of the heart and it
causes impurity to the heart, when
Allah's Messenger (s a w) was asked
who are the best of people? He (s a w)
replied: "the one with a clean heart and
truthful tongue." They asked: 'We
understand a truthful tongue, but what
does a clean heart mean?' he answered:
'It is the heart of one that is pious, pure,
and is free of sin, transgressions, hatred
and Hasad." [Ibn Majah]
Hasad is such a dangerous characteristic
that Allah revealed verses of the
Qur'an to be recited as a protection
from the jealous, "Say: I seek refuge in the
Lord of the dawn… from the evil of envious
when he envies." [Surah al-Falaq (113): 1]

ُ ‫ْل أَع‬
‫ُوذ ِب َربِّ ْال َفلَ ِق‬
Qul a’ouzu bi-Rabbil-Falaq,
Hasad can cause the person to indulge in
disbelief because it causes the individual
to feel that Allah has not been fair with
him; he forgets all the mercy and
blessings which Allah has bestowed
upon him. The Messenger of Allah (s a
w) said: "They are enemies for Allah's
bounties." They asked: "Who are they?"
He said: "Those who envy people for
what Allah has given them of Bounty." [at-
Tabaranee]
Allah through His Absolute Wisdom has given
some people more wealth, intelligence, beauty,
strength, children, etc. than others. The believing
Muslim should be content with what Allah has
destined for him. Allah says: "Allah favoured some
of you over others with wealth and properties… Do
they deny the favours of Allah?" [Surah an-Nahl (16): 71]
‫ٌن‬َ ‫ض ِفً الرِّ ْز ِق ۚ َف َما اله ِذ‬ ٍ ْ‫ض ُك ْم َعلَ ٰى َبع‬ َ ْ‫ض َل َبع‬ ‫َو ه‬
‫َّللاُ َف ه‬
ۚ ‫ت أَ ٌْ َما ُن ُه ْم َف ُه ْم ِفٌ ِه َس َواء‬
ْ ‫ضلُوا ِب َرا ِّدي ِر ْز ِق ِه ْم َعلَ ٰى َما َملَ َك‬ِّ ُ‫ف‬
‫ون‬ ِ ‫أَ َف ِب ِنعْ َم ِة ه‬
َ ‫َّللا ٌَجْ َح ُد‬
WaLLaahu fazzala ba’zakum alaa ba’zin-fir-rizq; famal-lazeena fuzzilou bi-raaaddee
rizqihim alaa maa malakat aymaanuhum fahum feehi sa-waaa’. Afa-bi-ni’matiLLaahi
yajhadoun

And:"Do they envy men for what Allah has given

them of His Bounty?" [Surah an-Nisa (4): 54]
‫اس َعلَ ٰى َما آ َتا ُه ُم ه‬
‫َّللا ُ ِمنْ َفضْ لِ ِۖ ِه‬ َ ‫أَ ْم ٌَحْ ُس ُد‬
َ ‫ون ال هن‬
Am yahsudou-nan-naasa alaa maaa’aataahumuLLaahu min-fazlih?
"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." [Surah az-Zukhruf (43): 32] meaning mercy of
Allah is better than the convenience of the world.
The materials of this life do not make one
superior to another in Allah's Judgment.

ً‫ك ۚ َنحْ نُ َق َس ْم َنا َب ٌْ َن ُه ْم َم ِعٌ َش َت ُه ْم ِف‬ َ ‫أَ ُه ْم ٌَ ْق ِسم‬

َ ‫ُون َرحْ َم‬
َ ‫ت َر ِّب‬
‫ت لِ ٌَ هت ِخ َذ‬
ٍ ‫ض دَ َر َجا‬ َ ْ‫ْال َح ٌَا ِة ال ُّد ْن ٌَا ۚ َو َر َفعْ َنا َبع‬
ٍ ْ‫ض ُه ْم َف ْو َق َبع‬
َ ‫ك َخٌْر ِممها ٌَجْ َمع‬
‫ُون‬ َ ‫ت َر ِّب‬ُ ‫ض ُه ْم َبعْ ضًا س ُْخ ِر ًٌّا ۚ َو َرحْ َم‬ ُ ْ‫َبع‬
Ahum yaqsimouna Rahmata Rabbik? Nahnu qasamnaa baynahum-
ma’eeshatahum fil-hayaatid-dunyaa wa rafa’na ba’zahum fawqa ba’zin-
darajaatil-liyattakhiza ba’zuhum-ba’zan-sukhriyyaa. Wa rahmatu Rabbika
khayrum-mimmaa yajma’oun.
True superiority lies in Taqwa (righteousness, fear
of Allah). He said: "Surely, the most noble of you
to Allah is the most God-fearing." [Surah al-Hujurat
(49): 13]

ُ ‫ٌَا أَ ٌُّ َها ال هناسُ إِ هنا َخ َل ْق َنا ُك ْم ِمنْ َذ َك ٍر َوأ ُ ْن َث ٰى َو َج َع ْل َنا ُك ْم‬
‫شعُو ًبا َو َق َبا ِئ َل‬
َ ‫َّللا أَ ْت َقا ُك ْم ۚ إِنه ه‬
‫َّللا َعلٌِم َخ ِبٌر‬ ِ ‫ارفُوا ۚ إِنه أَ ْك َر َم ُك ْم عِ ْندَ ه‬ َ ‫لِ َت َع‬
Yaaa’ayyuhan-naasu innaa khalaqnaakum-min-zakarinw-wa’unsaa wa
ja’alnaakum shu’oubanw-wa qabaaa’ila lita’aarafou. Inna akra-makum
indaLLaahi atqaakum. InnaLLaaha aleemun Khabeer.

"And the Hereafter with Your Lord is (only) for those

who have Taqwa." [Surah az-Zukhruf (43): 35]
َ ‫َو ُز ْخ ُر ًفا ۚ َوإِنْ ُك ُّل َ ٰذل َِك لَمها َم َتا ُع ْال َح ٌَا ِة ال ُّد ْن ٌَا ۚ َو ْاْلخ َِر ُة عِ ْندَ َرب‬
‫ِّك‬
َ ‫ل ِْل ُم هتق‬
‫ٌِن‬
Wa zukhrufaa. Wa’in-kullu zaalika lammaa mataa’ul-hayaatid-dunyaa; wal-
Aakhiratu inda Rabbika lil-Muttaqeen.
The favours of Allah in the world are a test; the
more the favours, the more the tests. Al-Hasan
al-Basri said: "Umar Ibn Khattab wrote this
letter to Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, 'Be content with
your provision in this world, for the Most
Merciful has honoured some of His servants
over others in terms of provision as a test of
both. The one who has been given plenty is
being tested to see if he will give thanks to Allah
and fulfill the duties which are his by virtue of
his wealth…" [Ibn Hatim]
What belongs to the transient world is of no
significance before Allah. The Prophet (s a w)
said: "If this world were worth a mosquito's wing
before Allah, He would not give a disbeliever a
drink of water." [At-Tirmidhee]
Allah, the Exalted, has therefore forbidden
us from desiring what other have, "Do not
wish for what we have favoured some of you
over others." ..... [Surah an-Nisa (4): 32]
ِ ‫ال َن‬
‫صٌب‬ ِ ‫ض لِلرِّ َج‬ٍ ْ‫ض ُك ْم َعلَ ٰى َبع‬ ‫ض َل ه‬
َ ْ‫َّللا ُ ِب ِه َبع‬ ‫َو ََل َت َت َم هن ْوا َما َف ه‬
‫صٌب ِممها ْاك َت َسب َْن َواسْ أَلُوا ه‬
ْ‫َّللاَ ِمن‬ ِۖ ‫ِممها ْاك َت َسب‬
ِ ‫ُوا َولِل ِّن َسا ِء َن‬
‫ان ِب ُك ِّل َشًْ ٍء َع ِلٌمًا‬ ‫َفضْ ِل ِه إِنه ه‬
َ ‫َّللاَ َك‬
Wa laa tatamannaw maa fazzalaLLaahu bihee ba’zakum alaa ba’z. Lir-
rijaali nasee-bum-mimmak-tasabou, wa lin-nisaaa’i naseebum-mimmak-
tasabn. Was’aluLLaaha min-fazlih. InnaLLaaha kaana bi-kulli shay’in
Aleemaa.
In order to discourage envy, the Prophet
(sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: "Do
not look to those above you. Look to
those below you, as it will more likely
remind you of Allah's favors bestowed on
you." [Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh 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." [Saheeh Muslim]
Some Reasons that cause a
person to have Jealousy
"Beware of jealousy,
for verily it destroys good deeds
the way fire destroys wood."
Anger and Malice: When one is hurt by
someone for any reason, he is angered,
and his anger produces malice and urge for
revenge in the heart. The slave begins to
desire harm for the other person, he enjoys
when he sees him in hardships and he may
further thinks that Allah has done it to him
as an evil reward!
And if the person is blessed with a gift, he
grieves and this is Hasad, which does not
harm the envied person but it hurts and
destroys the Hasid (one who has Hasad)
himself.
In order to close the door to this evil Islam
advises the Muslims to be forgiving in
nature and control one's anger. Allah says
in the Qur'aan: "Those who spend (in Allah's
Cause) in prosperity and in adversity, who
repress anger, and who pardon men. Verily,
Allah loves the good doers." [Surah al-Imran (3): 134]
‫ٌن ْال َغ ٌْ َظ‬ ِ ‫ون ِفً السهره ا ِء َوالضهره ا ِء َو ْال َك‬
َ ‫اظ ِم‬ َ ُ‫ٌن ٌُ ْن ِفق‬َ ‫اله ِذ‬
‫ٌن‬ ‫اس َو ه‬
َ ‫َّللا ُ ٌُحِبُّ ْالمُحْ ِس ِن‬ ِ ‫ه‬
‫ن‬ ‫ال‬ ‫ن‬
ِ ‫ع‬َ ‫ٌن‬
َ ‫ف‬
ِ ‫ا‬ ‫ع‬
َ ْ
‫ال‬ ‫َو‬
Allazeena yunfiqouna fis-sarraaa-i wazzarraaa-i; wal-kaazimeenal-gayza
wal’aafeena aninnaas;- waLLaahu yuhibbul-Muhsineen
Arrogance, Pride and Love for fame: When
a person achieves a high status and
position in the society or gains wealth, he
hates to see someone other than him
compete or go ahead of him or be praised
over him. So, he envies the former person.
An example of this can be taken of the
Jews and their Hasad towards Prophet
Muhammad (s a w) for the Prophet-hood
that Allah entrusted him with. Their envy
made them reject the divine message given
to him, because he was an Arab and not
from the Children of Israel.
It was their Hasad which caused them to
make statements as such, ‫ض‬ ٍ ْ‫ض ُه ْم ِب َبع‬ َ ِ‫َو َك َ ٰذل‬
َ ْ‫ك َف َت هنا َبع‬
َ ‫َّللا ُ ِبأَعْ لَ َم ِبال هشا ِك ِر‬
‫ٌن‬ ‫ْس ه‬َ ٌَ‫َّللا ُ َعلٌَ ِْه ْم ِمنْ َب ٌْ ِن َنا أَل‬
‫ " لِ ٌَقُولُوا أَ َه ٰـؤُ ََل ِء َمنه ه‬Thus
us did We try some of them by comparison with others that they
should say: "Is it these then that Allah hath favored from
amongst us?" Doth not Allah know best those who are
grateful?" Wa kazaalika fatannaa ba’zahum bi-ba’zil-li-yaqoulouu ahaaa-
ulaaa’i man-naLLaahu alay-him-mim-bayninaa? Alay-saLLaahu bi’a’lama
bish-shaa-kireen. [Soorah al-Anam (6): 53]

ِ ٌ‫َو َقالُوا لَ ْو ََل ُن ِّز َل َه ٰـ َذا ْالقُرْ آنُ َعلَ ٰى َر ُج ٍل ِم َن ْال َقرْ ٌَ َت‬
"And they say: ‫ْن َع ِظ ٌٍم‬
'Why is not this Qur'aan sent down to some great man of the
two towns?" Wa qaalou law laa nuzzila haazal-Qur’aanu alaa rajulim-
minal-qaryatayni azeem? [Soorah az-Zukhruf (43): 31]
‫ُون‬ ِ ‫" َولَ ِئنْ أَ َطعْ ُت ْم َب َشرً ا ِم ْث َل ُك ْم إِ هن ُك ْم إِ ًذا لَ َخ‬If you were to obey a
َ ‫اسر‬
human being life yourselves, then verily, you indeed
would be losers." Wa la’in ata’tum-basharam-mislakum innakum izal-
la-khaasiroun. [Soorah al-Muminoon (23): 34]

This also shows one of the grave dangers

of Hasad that Hasad hinders the person
from following the truth and accepting
advice from others just as the Hasad of the
disbelievers prevented them from accepting
Islam.
Evil Nature of the person: Some people,
even though they may not be harmed or
threatened by other people's success,
grieve when they hear about some good
happening to others, and enjoy in their
adversities. Neither do they seek progress
for themselves nor do they wish others to
progress!! Such kind of defect is difficult to
cure for the reason behind their evil attitude
is the evil nature of the person which does
not allow him to accept other people's
success.
Islam permits Ghibtah

"Beware of jealousy,
for verily it destroys good deeds
the way fire destroys wood."
What Islam permits in contrast to Hasad
(destructive jealousy) is Ghibtah (envy
that is free from malice), which means
neither loving the loss of the blessing
nor hating for it to remain with the
person, but desiring the same for
oneself without the removal of the
blessing from others.
The Messenger of Allah (s a w) said: "The similitude
of the people of this Ummah is like four individual.
One whom Allah has given wealth and knowledge, so
he handles his wealth with the 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 the others lose their wealth. Another
man, Allah has given him wealth but no knowledge
and he spends his wealth in disobedience to Allah.
And last, a man whom Allah has not given knowledge
nor wealth but he 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." [at-Tirmidhee and
Ibn Majah]
Repentance and Getting Rid of
Jealousy
"Beware of jealousy,
for verily it destroys good deeds
the way fire destroys wood."
Firstly, the believer should have sincerity in
repenting from Hasad as Allah's
Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam)
said: "Three things that every heart of a
believer should not hate to have is
sincerity in actions, rendering advise to
leaders and holding to Jama'ah
(community) of the Muslims, for their
supplication surrounds everyone with
them." [Ahmad and Ibn Majah]
Second requirement to get rid of Hasad is
to get rid of all those means which cause
one to have Hasad like anger, hatred,
love for the world and discontentment.

Discontentment comes from the slave's

ignorance of his Lord. If he recognizes his
Lord with the attributes of Perfection, All-
Knowledgeable and All-Just to his slaves,
he would not be discontent and as a
result would not develop Hasad.
Imam Ibn Qayyim (rahimahullah) said: "It
(contentment) opens the door of peace
and security for the slave." It makes his
heart pure from hatred, evil and malice.
The more contented the person is, the
purer his heart is. However, this does not
mean that the slave should not make
efforts to improve his situation.
A slave should work to gain success and
progress but he should not envy those
whom Allah has granted more wealth or
possession but he should be content with
the decisions of Allah.
Thirdly, the slave should turn towards the
Qur'aan which is a healing for the
diseases of the heart. Allah says:

‫ٌَا أَ ٌُّ َها ال هناسُ َق ْد َجا َء ْت ُك ْم َم ْو ِع َظة ِمنْ َر ِّب ُك ْم َو ِش َفاء لِ َما‬
‫ٌن‬َ ‫ور َو ُه ًدى َو َرحْ َمة لِ ْلم ُْؤ ِم ِن‬
ِ ‫ص ُد‬ ُّ ‫" ِفً ال‬O mankind!
There has come to you a good advice from your
Rabb and a healing for that in your chests."
Yaaa’ayyu-hannaasu qad jaaa’at-kum-maw-izatum-mir-Rabbikum wa
shifaaa’ul-limaa fissu-douri wa Hu-danw-wa Rahmatul-lil-Mu’mineen.
[Soorah Yunus (10): 57]
Supplicate to Allah to purify your heart.
Allah said in the Qur'aan: ‫ٌن َجاءُوا ِمنْ َبعْ ِد ِه ْم‬ َ ‫َواله ِذ‬
ِ ‫ٌن َس َبقُو َنا ِب ْاِلٌِ َم‬
‫ان َو ََل‬ َ ‫اغ ِفرْ لَ َنا َو ِِلِ ْخ َوا ِن َنا اله ِذ‬ َ ُ ‫ٌَقُول‬
ْ ‫ون َر هب َنا‬
‫حٌم‬ ِ ‫ك َرءُوف َر‬ َ ‫ٌن آ َم ُنوا َر هب َنا إِ هن‬ َ ‫وب َنا ِغ ًّّل ِلله ِذ‬
ِ ُ‫َتجْ َع ْل ِفً قُل‬
"And those who came after them say: 'Our Lord!
Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in
Faith and put not in our hearts any hatred against
those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed
full of kindness, Most Merciful." Wallazeena jaaa’ou mim-
ba’dihim yaqoulouna Rabbanag-fir lanaa wa li’ikhwaaninal-lazeena
sabaqouna bil-limaani wa laa taj’al fee qulou-binaa gillal-lillazeena
aamanou Rabbanaaa innaka Ra’oufur-Raheem.
[Soorah al-Hashr (59): 10]
Give Sadaqah (charity) for it purifies the
heart and sanctifies the soul. It is for this
reason Allah said to His Prophet: ْ‫ُخ ْذ ِمن‬
‫ص ِّل َعلٌَ ِْه ْم ِۖۚ إِنه‬
َ ‫ٌه ْم ِب َها َو‬ َ ‫أَمْ َوالِ ِه ْم‬
ِ ‫صدَ َق ًة ُت َط ِّه ُر ُه ْم َو ُت َز ِّك‬
‫َّللا ُ َس ِمٌع َعلٌِم‬‫ص َّل َت َك َس َكن لَ ُه ْم ۚ َو ه‬ َ "Take Sadaqah
from their wealth in order to purify them and
sanctify them with it." Khuz min amwaalihim sadaqatan-
tutahhiru-hum wa tuzakkee-him-bihaa wa salli alayhim. Inna salaataka
sakanul-lahum; waLLaahu Samee-un Aleem. [Soorah at-Tawbah (9):

103]
If thoughts of Hasad cross one's mind, he should
seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan
and busy himself with something that will dispel
these insinuating whispers and thoughts.

But if the Shaytan manages to instil Hasad in the

hearts, then beware lest you say or do anything
which will show Hasad. A person will not be
brought to account for whatever crosses his
mind, but he will be brought to account for what
he says and does.

Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said: "Nobody is

free from Hasad, but the noble person hides it
whilst the base person shows it." [Amraad al-Quloob]
If you feel that you are jealous of a specific person,
then buy him a gift, shake hands with him and
give him salaams for Hasad is the result of
hatred and the Prophet (s a w) said: "Shake
hands, for this will dispel rancour, and exchange
gifts and love one another, for this will dispel
hatred." [Narrated by Maalik in al-Muwatta (1413)]

Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu) narrated that the

Prophet (s a w) said: "By Allah, in Whose Hand is
my soul, you will never enter Paradise until you
believe. And you will not believe unless you love
one another. May I tell you something that if you
do, you may love one another? Spread Salaam
amongst yourselves." Ibn Abdul-Barr said: "This
proves that Salaam can lift hatred and produce
love." [Saheeh Muslim]
"A Man from the People of
Paradise will enter now...“

A story………..
Anas Ibn Malik (r a a) reported that he and other
companions were sitting with the Messenger (s a
w), who said: "A man from the people of Paradise
will enter now." And a man from al-Ansar entered,
with his beard dripping with water from Wudhu
(ablution), and holding his sandals in his left hand.
The following day, the Prophet (s a w) said the
same thing and the same man entered.
On the third day, the Prophet (s a w) again
repeated his statement and the same man entered
with water dripping and holding his sandals.
When the Prophet (s a w) left, Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn
al-As (r a a) followed the man and said: 'I quarrelled
with my father and I swore I would not go to him for
three days and night. Would you shelter me for
these days?' the man replied: 'Yes.'
Anas said: 'Abdullah said that he stayed with this man for three
nights and he did not see him praying at night, but every time
he moved and changed position in bed he would remember
Allah saying, 'Allahu Akbar' Until Salat-ul-Fajr."
Abdullah said: 'I didn't hear anything from him but good.
When the three nights had passed… I said: 'O slave of Allah!
I really didn't abandon my father nor was I angry with him.
But, I heard the Messenger of Allah speaking of you on three
separate occasions, the Prophet had said that a man from
the people of Paradise would enter, and you were the one to
enter on all the three times. So, I wanted to stay with you to
see what you do so that I could follow you. But I have not
seen you doing much. So what is that you do for Allah's
Messenger (s a w)to say what he had said?'
The man replied: 'It is nothing more than what you saw.'
When it was time to leave, he called me back and said: 'Yes,
it is nothing more than what you saw, except that I have
no place in myself for ill-intentions or Hasad towards
any Muslim and what Allah has given them.' Abdullah
said: 'This is what has made you deserving of the praise
and this is what we cannot do." [Musnad Ahmad]