16: Envy (Hasad)- A Destructive Disease of the Heart
"Do not be envious of one another."
(Prophet Muhammad)
The English word "envy" is derived from the Latin word "invidere" which means: to look / see
with malice.
Envy / Hasad is an emotion that can be blinding, is mean-spirited, unkind, frustrating, malicious,
and leads to hatred.
Envy & Jealousy
Though both jealousy and envy are considered negative feelings:
- Jealousy is desire for another's traits, abilities, status, success.
- Competing for Good
The Prophet has made reference to the Qur'anic injunction compete in excellence as the only possible positive aspect of jealousy by saying: there is no jealousy allowed on anyone except for the charitableness of the wealthy and the dispensing of knowledge by the knowledgeable.
- Competing for Good
- Envy is resentment of other's success and a desire to tear it down or wishing them ill in their success ...
- Malevolence of Envy
The Prophet encouraged positive attitude towards one another and said that
Good attitude/ positive consideration is part of obedience to Allah.
He further advised
Do not be envious of one another, do not despise one another, do not undermine one another; rather be in servitude to Allah as one brotherhood.
Where envy exists, instead of loving others we have malevolent feeling towards them due to their possessions and positions.
Theologian Thomas Aquinas wrote: " Envy, according to the aspect of its object, is contrary to charity; charity rejoices in our neighbor's good, envy grieves over it."
While generosity is a manifestation of the spirit of goodness, envy indicates meanness of character. Jealousy could thus be a motivator in competing for good. But envy is always destructive.
- Malevolence of Envy
Be conscious of the fact that jealousy could lead to envy.
Causes of Envy
When a person perceives others to be better than himself, a feeling of inferiority seizes him, which, with the help
of external factors and inner propensities, generates the feeling of envy.
We understand that hasad / envy is a psychic state that has a negative mental and physical effect on the
haasid / envier who wishes for the deprivation of a merit, talent, position or possession of the
mahsud / envied.
Envy is a state of abjectness
- that arises from low self-esteem (the lower the self-esteem, the greater the scope for envy)
- is fuelled by a feeling of inferiority
- together with a vengeful desire for the destruction or deprival of merits or advantages of others.
Kinds of Envy
- According to the social/political/economic/moral status of the envied
- According to the emotional condition of pride, humiliation, fear of the envier. So destructive and
detrimental is this emotional disease that we are taught by Allah in the Qur'an to seek protection from it...
I seek refuge in Allah ... from the evil of the envy of the envious one. (Quran 113)
Signs of Envy
It is reported that Luqman The Wise said:
"There are three signs of the haasid (envier); He ...
Deadly Spiritual Disease
Envy is one of the deadliest diseases of the heart, which produces additional vices (backbiting, lying,
spreading rumors, hatred), all of which are independently fatal. A wise scholar said:
envy and vainglory are nuisance to faith
That is why the Prophet (pbuh) warned us to avoid envy for surely envy devours good deeds just as fire devours dry wood.
Best of People
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said that the best of people are the truthful and the good hearted. He was asked to
explain what good hearted means. The Prophet replied: The good hearted are the pious, the pure; harboring no evil,
no injustice and no envy."