thariq2005
Praise be to Allah!
Defenition
Hasad (destructive envy) means wishing that a blessing that Allah has bestowed on the envied person be taken away.
Types of Envy
Hasad has degrees which vary. They are:
1 – When a person wants a blessing to be taken away from his Muslim brother or sister thus will try their best to remove the blessing by using forbidden means. This is the worst type of envy. It is mostly common amongst people who work in the same field. The envier will fabricate lies and will then attribute it to the one whom he envies, as well as attributing shortcomings and faults to him in order for this person to be removed from that position, hence allowing the envier to take over that position.
2- When a person wants a blessing to be taken away from his Muslim brother or sister, even though the envier does not seek this blessing nor does he desire it rather he wishes for it to be removed out of hatred for his brother.
3 – When a person wants the blessing to be taken away from his Muslim brother or sister, even if it does not come to him; rather he does not like Allah to bless anyone else and if they are blessed that upsets him. However, in this case the Envier does not do anything to try for it to be removed rather he is in a constant struggle trying his best not to envy his brother. So this person has pushed away the punishment in the next life. It is pertinent for the envier to try his best to remove this disease (which is hatred for this blessing and wanting it to be removed from his brother).
4 – Where he wants the blessing to be taken away from someone for a shar’i reason, i.e., due to this person (the one being envied) being an oppressor and he uses this position or wealth or status to assist him in his oppression, so they wish for this blessing to be removed in order for the people to be relieved from his oppression. Such as a Faasiq who uses his wealth or position in order to do unjust and criminal actions. Thus wishing for this (blessing) to be removed from him is no sin, rather one maybe rewarded if he works for this blessing to be removed from him in order for the people to be safe from the evil actions of that individual.
5 – Where he wishes for himself a blessing like that which someone else has without wanting it to be taken away from the other person, regardless if this is in relation to a worldly blessing such as wealth or a position or a religious blessing like Islamic knowledge. This is permissible and is not called hasad rather it is called ghibtah and competing in good.
The Envier harms himself
The envier harms himself in three ways:
1 – He earns sin because hasad is haraam.
2 – It is a bad etiquette to have before Allah, as what hasad really means is hating Allah’s blessing upon His slaves, and objecting to what Allah does.
3 – He suffers because of too much worry and distress.
Evidence concerning the seriousness and reality of envy
Evidence from the Qur’aan
‘And from the evil of the envier when he envies.’[al-Falaq 113]
What is meant by “when he envies” is when he manifests what he feels envy in his heart and acts on it, his envy makes him do something bad to the one whom he envies.
We have to think long and hard about the words of Allah:
“That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He wills" [al-Maa’idah 5:54]
and also the words of Allah:
“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"[al-Zukhruf 43:32]
Evidence from the Sunnah
Hasad (destructive jealousy) causes a great deal of harm in this world and in the Hereafter. Al-Tirmidhi narrated from al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awaam that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 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. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, you will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you of that which will strengthen love between you? Spread (the greeting of) salaam amongst yourselves.” (A hasan hadeeth. Jaami’ al-Tirmidhi, 2434).
Concerning the meaning of the phrase “it shaves (destroys) faith”, al-Tayyibi said: “i.e., hatred takes away faith like a razor takes away hair.” (Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi bi Sharh Jaami’ al-Tirmidhi)
The chain of this narration was classified to be authentic by Al-Munthiri, Al-Haithami, Muhammed ibn Muhammed Al Gazzi and Sheikh Al Baani
Hasad (destructive envy) means wishing that a blessing that Allah has bestowed on the envied person be taken away.
Types of Envy
Hasad has degrees which vary. They are:
1 – When a person wants a blessing to be taken away from his Muslim brother or sister thus will try their best to remove the blessing by using forbidden means. This is the worst type of envy. It is mostly common amongst people who work in the same field. The envier will fabricate lies and will then attribute it to the one whom he envies, as well as attributing shortcomings and faults to him in order for this person to be removed from that position, hence allowing the envier to take over that position.
2- When a person wants a blessing to be taken away from his Muslim brother or sister, even though the envier does not seek this blessing nor does he desire it rather he wishes for it to be removed out of hatred for his brother.
3 – When a person wants the blessing to be taken away from his Muslim brother or sister, even if it does not come to him; rather he does not like Allah to bless anyone else and if they are blessed that upsets him. However, in this case the Envier does not do anything to try for it to be removed rather he is in a constant struggle trying his best not to envy his brother. So this person has pushed away the punishment in the next life. It is pertinent for the envier to try his best to remove this disease (which is hatred for this blessing and wanting it to be removed from his brother).
4 – Where he wants the blessing to be taken away from someone for a shar’i reason, i.e., due to this person (the one being envied) being an oppressor and he uses this position or wealth or status to assist him in his oppression, so they wish for this blessing to be removed in order for the people to be relieved from his oppression. Such as a Faasiq who uses his wealth or position in order to do unjust and criminal actions. Thus wishing for this (blessing) to be removed from him is no sin, rather one maybe rewarded if he works for this blessing to be removed from him in order for the people to be safe from the evil actions of that individual.
5 – Where he wishes for himself a blessing like that which someone else has without wanting it to be taken away from the other person, regardless if this is in relation to a worldly blessing such as wealth or a position or a religious blessing like Islamic knowledge. This is permissible and is not called hasad rather it is called ghibtah and competing in good.
The Envier harms himself
The envier harms himself in three ways:
1 – He earns sin because hasad is haraam.
2 – It is a bad etiquette to have before Allah, as what hasad really means is hating Allah’s blessing upon His slaves, and objecting to what Allah does.
3 – He suffers because of too much worry and distress.
Evidence concerning the seriousness and reality of envy
Evidence from the Qur’aan
‘And from the evil of the envier when he envies.’[al-Falaq 113]
What is meant by “when he envies” is when he manifests what he feels envy in his heart and acts on it, his envy makes him do something bad to the one whom he envies.
We have to think long and hard about the words of Allah:
“That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He wills" [al-Maa’idah 5:54]
and also the words of Allah:
“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"[al-Zukhruf 43:32]
Evidence from the Sunnah
Hasad (destructive jealousy) causes a great deal of harm in this world and in the Hereafter. Al-Tirmidhi narrated from al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awaam that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 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. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, you will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you of that which will strengthen love between you? Spread (the greeting of) salaam amongst yourselves.” (A hasan hadeeth. Jaami’ al-Tirmidhi, 2434).
Concerning the meaning of the phrase “it shaves (destroys) faith”, al-Tayyibi said: “i.e., hatred takes away faith like a razor takes away hair.” (Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi bi Sharh Jaami’ al-Tirmidhi)
The chain of this narration was classified to be authentic by Al-Munthiri, Al-Haithami, Muhammed ibn Muhammed Al Gazzi and Sheikh Al Baani
for sharing.
