You don't like a person because he/she possesses something you imagine to be good that you don't have? You feel 'sick' whenever you see him/her, hear people talking about him/her or even when you think of him/her while you are alone.
This is because he/she is smarter or wealthier or more knowledgeable or intelligent or virtuous than you are. And you are not able to appreciate his/her unique talent or possession or popularity. And by your behavior you try to downgrade, avoid, or defame him/her, feel happy when he/she suffers a loss or is in a difficulty. But you hide this feeling inside yourself. Do you know that this condition which is a sickness of soul and heart and it also harms your physical health is called Envy, Destructive Jealousy (Hasad)?
...This is because he/she is smarter or wealthier or more knowledgeable or intelligent or virtuous than you are. And you are not able to appreciate his/her unique talent or possession or popularity. And by your behavior you try to downgrade, avoid, or defame him/her, feel happy when he/she suffers a loss or is in a difficulty. But you hide this feeling inside yourself. Do you know that this condition which is a sickness of soul and heart and it also harms your physical health is called Envy, Destructive Jealousy (Hasad)?
Hasad (destructive jealousy) is among the most destructive emotions or feelings which a man may have towards his fellow human beings. It causes him to wish evil for others and to be happy when misfortune befalls them. On the other hand, what Islam permits in contrast to Hasad is Ghibtah (envy that is free from malice), which means neither loving the loss of the blessing nor hating its remaining with the person, but desiring the same for oneself without the removal of the blessing from others.
The Prophet of Allah (SWT) said:
"Beware of envy because indeed envy destroys good deeds in the same manner as fire destroys wood."
Imam al-Baqir (AS) said:
"Verily, envy destroys faith as fire destroys wood."
The Prophet of Allah (SWT) also said:
Allah (SWT) the Almighty said to Musa bin Imran (AS), "Oh son of Imran, don't be envious of what I have given to people from My grace and don't enchant your eyes with the blessings and don't put your soul in search of them, because the envious person is unhappy at My blessings that I have distributed among My servants."
The Prophet of Allah (SWT) also said:
"Beware! Don't be enemy of blessings of Allah (SWT). He was asked: Oh Prophet of Allah (SWT) "who are those who keep enmity with the blessings of Allah (SWT)?" The Prophet of Allah (SWT) replied: "Those who are envious."
The Prophet of Allah (SWT) also said:
"Beware! Indeed a disease that afflicted past nations before you has reached you like an ant and that is envy because it doesn't eat hair but eats away (your) religion."
He also said:
"Don't be desirous of achieving blessings except from two: A person whom Allah (SWT) has bestowed wealth and he spends it (in the way of Allah (SWT)) day and night and the other person is the one whom Allah (SWT) has given knowledge of the Noble Qur'an and he keeps it up with him day and night."
Hasad (destructive jealousy) is among the most destructive emotions or feelings which a man may have towards his fellow human beings. It causes him to wish evil for others and to be happy when misfortune befalls them. On the other hand, what Islam permits in contrast to Hasad is Ghibtah (envy that is free from malice), which means neither loving the loss of the blessing nor hating its remaining with the person, but desiring the same for oneself without the removal of the blessing from others.
Imam Ali (AS) said:
"Envy is a disease without remedy."
Imam Ali (AS) also said:
"The health of body is in the absence of envy."
He also said:
"Envy is a prison for spirit."
Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) said:
"There is no tranquility for the envious."
Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) also said:
"There is no prosperity for the envious."
He also said:
"Calamities for one's religion are envy, self-admiration and pride."
Hazrat Luqman (AS) said to his son:
"The envious person has three signs: backbiting behind them (whom he envies), flattering them in front and being happy when they are in trouble."
Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) said:
A believer desires (to achieve) a blessing and avoids envy while a hypocrite envies and is not desirous of (achieving) the blessing.
Comments
Please share your comments with us.