Bismillâhi-r-
Rahmâni-r- Rahîm
Al-Hamdulillâ hi
Was-Salâtu Was-Salâmu
'Alâ Rasűlillâh,
Wa Ba'd:
As-Salâmu 'Alaikum
Wa Rahmatullâhi
Wa Barakâtuh
Developing
the Muslim
Character
Jealousy and its
Cures
"Beware of
jealousy,
for verily it
destroys good
deeds
the way fire
destroys wood."
H
asad
(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 (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam)
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 (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam)
was asked who
are the best of
people? He (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam)
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 (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam)
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)
Jamee at-Tirmidhee
(2434)]
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 (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam)
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 (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam)
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 favors 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
honored 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]
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 (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]
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 (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam)
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 (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam)
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 (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam)
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
Jealosy
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
(sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam)
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 (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:
"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
(sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam)
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 (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam)
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 (radhi
allahu anhu)
reported that he
and other
companions were
sitting with the
Messenger (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam),
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
(sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam)
said the same
thing and the
same man
entered.
On the third
day, the Prophet
(sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam)
again repeated
his statement
and the same man
entered with
water dripping
and holding his
sandals.
When the Prophet
(sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam)
left, Abdullah
Ibn Amr Ibn
al-As (radhi
allahu anhu)
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 (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam)
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]
From As-Sunnah
Bi-Monthly
Newsletter
(issue 19)
Compiled by
Shawana A. Aziz