Jealousy and its
Cures
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 (SAW) warned
against envy by comparing it to fire that completely burns the wood.
He (SAW) 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 (SAW) was asked who are the best of people?
He (SAW) 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'aan 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." [Soorah al-Falaq (113): 1]
At-Tirmidhee narrated from al-Zubayr Ibn al-Awam that the Prophet
(SAW) 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 [(Hasan)
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 (SAW) 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 favored some of you over others with wealth
and properties�Do they deny the favors of Allah?" [Soorah an-Nahl
(16): 71] And: "Do they envy men for what Allah has given them of
His Bounty?" [Soorah an-Nisa (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." [Soorah 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. True
superiority lies in Taqwa (righteousness, fear of Allah). He said:
"Surely, the most noble of you to Allah is the most God-fearing." [Soorah
al-Hujurat (49): 13] "And the Hereafter with Your Lord is (only) for
those who have Taqwa." [Soorah az-Zukhruf (43): 35]
What belongs to the transient world is of no significance before
Allah. The Prophet (SAW) said: "If this world were worth a
mosquito's wing before Allah, He would not give a disbeliever a
drink of water." [At-Tirmidhee]
The favours of Allah in the world are a test; the more the favors,
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 fulfil the duties which are his by virtue of his
wealth� [Ibn Hatim]
Allah, the Exalted, has therefore forbidden us from desiring what
other have, "Do not wish for what we have favored some of you over
others." [Soorah an-Nisa (4): 32]
In order to discourage envy, the Prophet (SAW) 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]
Islam permits Ghibtah
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 (SAW) said: "Envy is allowed in two cases, in
case of a man whom Allah has given the Qur'aan and who recites it
throughout night and day; and a man on whom Allah has bestowed
wealth who gives it away throughout night and day." [Saheeh al-Bukharee
and Saheeh Muslim] and he (SAW) also explained what may be said: "I
wish I were given what he was given and did with it what he did."
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) 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]
Some Reasons that cause a person to have Jealousy
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." [Soorah al-Imran (3): 134]
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 (SAW) 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, "It is
these that Allah as favored among us?" [Soorah al-Anam (6): 53] "And
they say: 'Why is not this Qur'aan sent down to some great man of
the two towns?" [Soorah az-Zukhruf (43): 31] and in Soorah al-Muminoon
(23): 34, "If you were to obey a human being life yourselves, then
verily, you indeed would be losers."
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.
Repentance and Getting Rid of Jealousy
Firstly, the believer should have sincerity in repenting from Hasad
as Allah's Messenger (SAW) 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 (rh) 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: "O mankind! There
has come to you a good advice from your Rabb and a healing for that
in your chests." [Soorah Yunus (10): 57]
Supplicate to Allah to purify your heart. Allah said in the Qur'aan:
"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." [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: "Take Sadaqah
from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with
it." [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 instill 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 (SAW) 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 (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAW) 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..."
Anas Ibn Malik (RA) reported that he and other companions were
sitting with the Messenger (SAW), 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 (SAW) said the same thing and the
same man entered.
On the third day, the Prophet (SAW) again repeated his statement and
the same man entered with water dripping and holding his sandals.
When the Prophet (SAW) left, Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn al-As (RA)
followed the man and said: 'I quarreled 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 (SAW) 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]
The righteous salaf were as fearful of their good deeds being
squandered, or not being accepted, as the present generation is
certain that their neglect would be forgiven. [Hasan Al-Basri] |
