Ibn Daud - A Handbook of Spiritual Medicine

ENVY
CHAPTER 7
الحَسَد [*asad] Envy
Envy is when you identify a blessing (or perceived blessing)
bestowed on someone else, and then desire, through some trick or
deception, that the blessing be extinguished. It has 3 stages:
1. Envy as a human quality: in this degree of envy, man is
excused and is not at fault
2. Acting according to the demands of envy: in this degree, man
is a sinner
3. Opposing the demands of envy: in this degree, man deserves
praise and will be rewarded
The Qur’ān therefore teaches us to seek refuge in Allāh : “Say (O
Prophet), ‘I seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreak...and from the
evil of an envier when they envy.’” [Al-Falaq 113: 1&5]
The Prophet said, “Resort to secrecy for the fulfilment and
success of your needs for, verily, everyone who has a blessing is
envied” [Al-Mu’jam A]-%aghīr A{-^abrānī 1186, Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabīr A{-^abrānī 183, Al-Bayhaqī in Shu’ab
Al-Īmān 6228]; that is to say that someone of means will invariably have
someone who envies him for what he possesses.
Envy can be caused by a number of things: holding animosity
towards others (enmity or ‘adāwah, when someone is doing better
than oneself), arrogance, pride (takabbur), deceit (gharūr), poor
self-worth or low-esteem (ta’azzu), an inferiority complex, vanity,
love for leadership and status, extreme greed for wealth, material
gain, money or possessions.
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