Hasad — Envy in Islam

Hasad (envy) is the desire that a blessing be removed from someone else, whether or not one wishes to have that blessing for themselves. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned: "Beware of hasad, for hasad devours good deeds just as fire devours wood" (Sunan Abu Dawud). The Quran identifies hasad as the motivation behind the first murder in human history, when one of Adam's sons killed the other out of jealousy (Quran 5:27-30). Allah even commands seeking refuge from the evil of the envier: "And from the evil of the envier when he envies" (Quran 113:5).

Hasad vs. Ghibtah

Islamic scholars distinguish between hasad (envy, which is prohibited) and ghibtah (emulation, which is permissible or even praiseworthy). Hasad is wishing that a person's blessing be taken away. Ghibtah is wishing to have the same blessing without wanting it removed from the other person. The Prophet said: "There is no hasad (meaning: ghibtah is only permissible) except in two cases: a man whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it righteously, and a man whom Allah has given wisdom and he acts according to it and teaches it" (Sahih al-Bukhari). Desiring knowledge or the ability to give charity, without resenting those who already have these, is healthy motivation.

The Spiritual Damage

Hasad damages primarily the envier, not the envied. It consumes the envier's peace of mind, turns blessings into sources of bitterness, strains relationships, and leads to other sins such as backbiting, plotting, and injustice. The Prophet said hasad "devours good deeds" because it leads the envier to sin against the person they envy, transferring their good deeds to the envied on the Day of Judgment. Hasad is also an implicit objection to Allah's distribution of blessings, since He gives to whomever He wills: "Or do they envy people for what Allah has given them of His bounty?" (Quran 4:54).

Causes of Hasad

Scholars identify several root causes: pride (kibr), which cannot bear others being elevated; a competitive spirit that measures one's worth by comparison; insecurity and a sense of inadequacy; love of dunya (worldly life), which creates a zero-sum mentality; and weakness of faith, which does not trust Allah's wisdom in distributing blessings. Understanding these root causes helps in addressing hasad at its source rather than merely suppressing its symptoms.

The Cure

The prophetic remedies for hasad include: recognizing it as a disease of the heart and seeking Allah's help to remove it; supplicating for the person one envies (this is the most effective antidote, as the heart cannot simultaneously pray for someone and wish them harm); reflecting on the blessings Allah has given you ("Look at those below you, not above you"); understanding that Allah's provision is infinite and another person's blessing does not diminish your own; increasing acts of charity and kindness toward the person envied; and reciting the mu'awwidhat (Surah al-Falaq and al-Nas) and the morning and evening adhkar for protection. The Prophet said: "Do not envy one another, do not hate one another, do not turn your backs on one another, but be servants of Allah as brothers" (Sahih Muslim).