Jealousy and Envy

Jealousy and Envy

It is to dislike that which Allaah has blessed o�ne of his servants with. It is not just a desire for the cessation of that which Allaah has blessed other than him with, rather it is absolute dislike of the person for that which Allaah has blessed him with over and above someone else. And this is jealousy and envy, irrespective of whether it is a desire for its cessation or for it remaining whilst he dislikes him.

Just as has been affirmed by Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah who said: "Jealousy and envy is disliking a person for that which Allaah has blessed him with over and above others".

Often jealousy will not leave the inner soul, meaning that it becomes compulsive within the soul. However, it has been mentioned in a hadeeth:

"If you become jealous, then do not intend it; and if you become suspicious, then do not seek it out". [Fath al-Baaree of al-Haafiz ibn Hajar - Volume 10, Page 213; etc...]

Meaning, that is is obligatory upon a person, should he notice jealousy in his heart for another, that he does not offend him with any statement nor any action, for certainly that is from the practice of the Jews, about whom Allaah says:

Or do they envy men for what Allaah has given them of His Bounty ? Then We had already given the family of Ibraaheem the Book and al-Hikmah (as-Sunnah), and conferred upon them a great kingdom. [Soorah an-Nisaa:54]

Then the jealous o�ne falls into many prohibitions:

Firstly: His disliking that which Allaah has decreed, for certainly, disliking that which Allaah has blessed someone with is to dislike that which Allaah has decreed. This constitutes opposing the ruling of Allaah.

Secondly: Jealousy devours the good deeds, just as fire devours wood, for in most cases the jealous o�ne is prepared for his victim with mention of that which he dislikes by frightening the people away from the victim, and putting him down in that which he is able. And this is from amongst the major sins which could possibly outweigh o�ne's good deeds.

Thirdly: That which settles in the heart of the jealous o�ne, in the form of grief and the burning "fire" which devours him, such that each time Allaah bestows a blessing upon his victim, he becomes distressed and his chest tightens. He observes this person, and in all that Allaah has blessed him with, he is saddened and distressed and the world around him tightens.

Fourthly: Certainly in jealousy there is a likening to the Jews, and that which is known is that he who involves himself in a practice of the disbelievers becomes o�ne of them in this act, as the Prophet (sal Allaahu 'aleyhi wa salam) said:

"Whoever resembles a people (nation), then he is (considered) from amongst them". [Musnad of imaam Ahmad - Volume 5, Page 5; etc..]

Fifthly: Jealousy conflicts with the completeness of eemaan (faith), as the Prophet (sal Allaahu 'aleyhi wa salam) said:

"None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself". [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree - The Book of Eemaan]

....that you dislike for the cessation of a blessing of Allaah upon another, and if you do not dislike this then you do not love for your brother that which you love for yourself, and this conflicts with the completeness of eemaan.

Sixthly: Jealousy results in the turning away of the servants from asking Allaah of His Favours; so you find him always concerned with the blessing which Allaah has bestowed upon other than him, and subsequently, he fails to ask Allaah of His Favours, as He said:

And wish not for the things in which Allaah has made some of you to excel others. For men there is reward for what they have earned, for women there is reward for what they have earned, and ask Allaah of His Bounty. [Soorah an-Nisaa:32]

Seventhly: Jealousy leads to contempt of the blessing of Allaah upon him. Meaning, that the jealous o�ne sees he is not in any blessing, and the victim is in a blessing greater than him, and as a result, despises the blessing of Allaah upon himself and does not turn to express gratitude, but instead becomes neglectful.

Eighthly: Jealousy is an ugly characteristic. This jealous o�ne observes the blessings of Allaah upon someone from amongst his group, then he attempts, with all he is able to muster, to interfere amongst the people and the victim by putting him down in that which he is able. He does this by scorning at that which the victim attempts in doing good, besides other things.

Ninthly: That the jealous o�ne, when he becomes jealous of his victim, often resorts to attacking him; in this case, his victim will take of his good deeds o�n the Day of Judgement, and if there are no good deeds remaining, the jealous o�ne will take of the evil deeds of the victim, such that he will finally be hurled into the Hell Fire.

In Summary: Certainly jealousy is an ugly characteristic, and sadly it is more prevalent amongst the scholars and the student of knowledge, and amongst the merchants too. Indeed, anyone who has a trade, then his opponent is jealous of him. However, it is more predominant amongst the scholars and the students of knowledge. This is sad, particularly since it is more appropriate and befitting for the people of knowledge to be the furthest from jealousy and the nearest to the perfection of good morals and ethics.

My dear brother, if you see that Allaah has blessed o�ne of his servants with something, then strive hard to be like him. Do not dislike him whom Allaah has blessed with something, rather say:

O Allaah increase for him from your favours and grant me better than him.

And jealousy does not change a thing from the state of the victim; however, as we have just mentioned, in these causes of corruption and evil and the nine dangers listed, hopefully, he who reflects over them will find much, and Allaah is the o�ne from whom assistance is sought.

Book: The Book Of Knowledge

Page: 95-99

By: Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah)