Jealousy and Envy

Beloved sisters and brothers, it is not at all true that the characteristic of envy or jealousy is intrinsic to the nature of women alone; envy and jealousy is no more than an instigation of the accursed enemy of man, the Shaytaan……and both men and women are equally prone to envy and jealousy. 

Sahih Muslim Hadith 6759     Narrated by Aisha

Aisha said: ‘One day Allah's Messenger (saws) went out of her (Aisha's apartment) during the night and she felt jealous.  Then he (saws) came and he saw me (in what agitated state of mind) I was.  He (saws) said: ‘Aisha, what has happened to you? Do you feel jealous?’  Thereupon she said: ‘How can it be (that a woman like me) should not feel jealous in regard to a husband like you?’  Thereupon Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘It was your Shaytaan who had come to you’, and she said: ‘ O Allah's Messenger (saws), is there along with me a Shaytaan?’   He (saws) said: ‘Yes!’  I said: ‘Is the Shaytaan attached to everyone?’  He (saws) said: ‘Yes’.  I (Aisha) again said: ‘O Allah's Messenger (saws), is it with you also?’  He (saws) said: ‘Yes, but my Lord has helped me against him as such that I am absolutely safe from his mischief.’

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.90 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, "Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales; and do not look for the others' faults and do not spy, and do not be jealous of one another, and do not desert (cut your relation with) one another, and do not hate one another; and O Allah's worshipers! Be brothers (as Allah has ordered you!")

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4885  Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘Avoid jealousy, for jealousy devours good deeds just as fire devours fire-wood."

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 5039        Narrated by Az-Zubayr

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "The disease of the people before you, namely, jealousy and hatred, has crept to you, and it is the unhappy thing. I do not say that it shaves off the hair, but it shaves off the religion."

Beloved sister in Islam, jealousy and envy are the instigations of the Shaytaan, which he whispers into the hearts of man!  Allah and His Messenger (saws) have guided the believers to control their ‘nafs’ when the Shaytaan incites them to jealousy towards the favors which Allah Subhanah has Chosen to bestow upon one amongst His creation from His Infinite and Limitless Bounty.

A believer, who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day, should know that Allah Subhanah Alone is the Creator of everything and He Alone Bestows and Distributes His Bounties and His Favors on whomever He Wills and Pleases.   Jealousy is a state of the heart whereby one implies that he is displeased with the distribution of Allah Subhanah; and it does not behove a true believer to be displeased or dis-satisfied with any aspect of the Majestic Lord’s Will.

Jealousy is an instigation and a whispering of the Shaytaan, whereby he incites the person towards a ‘limited supply’ mentality whereby if one has something, there is not enough resources for another!  But Islam guides the believers towards the belief of ‘abundant and limitless supply’ with the Bounteous Lord, Who bestows His Mercy and Grace on whomever He Wills and Pleases. 

Jealousy is nothing more than a wish that a bounty or a favor of another should go away from them, and be given to himself!  But when one realizes that every bounty and success is from none other than Allah Subhanah, and that His Treasures are Absolutely Limitless and Unending; one would never despair of the Mercy of the Majestic Lord.  It would be more righteous for one to say that Allah Subhanah bless the person who has received the bounty or favor from The Lord Most Gracious,  and put his trust in Allah Subhanah that He is more than Able to provide for all amongst His creation.

Thus whenever one is incited by the Shaytaan towards jealousy, one should seek the refuge of Allah from the accursed enemy of man, the Shaytaan; and be constant in their recitation of the 113th and 114th Surahs of the Quran (Surah Falaq and Surah Naas); it is expected that Allah Subhanah will protect them from the whisperings of the Shaytaan.

Conversely, if ever one fears the evil effects of the envy or jealousy of another, one should immediately seek refuge in their Lord Most High against any mischief which their envy or jealousy may inspire them to cause and remain constant in the supplication of the Surah 113 Al-Falaq….it is expected that their Lord Will protect them from every harm.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chatper 113 Surah Al-Falaq verses 1-5:

1        Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the Dawn

2        From the mischief of created things;

3        From the mischief of Darkness as it overspreads;

4        From the mischief of those who practice Secret Arts;

5        And from the mischief of the envious one as he practices envy.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.