. Li (cont.)

3 A true believer who is free of has ad likes it when good things are said about others and when the good deeds of others are appreciated and spoken about. He, himself, when he speaks about others always speaks about their good aspects and the wonderful bounties that Allah has bestowed on them. He has no envy in his heart for what Allah has bestowed upon the others and, therefore, he spreads that good news to others.4 This sign that ibn Uthaimeen has explicitly mentioned should be considered a type of subtle sign that people may not notice in themselves. They must take note of this sign and repel it as quickly as possible as it is a stepping stone to the greater forms of hasad. The Different Categories of People with Respect to Hasad With respect to that feeling of hasad, people can be divided into the following categories: (1) There are some people who actively work to remove that bounty from the other person, without necessarily destroying the bounty itself. By their speech and their actions they will wrongly do whatever they can to bring an end to the other person's blessing from Allah. 1 Cf., ibn Uthaimeen, Sharh Riyaadh, vol. 4, p. 704. 2 Recorded by al-Nasaai. According to al-Albaani, it is sahih. See al-Albaani, sahih al-Jaami, vol. 2, p. 1262. 3 Al-Duhaami points out that hasad is one of the greatest causes of backbiting. Not only does the person remain silent as to the other's good points, out of envy and hatred, he tries to put down the other person. See al-Duhaami, p. 39. 4 Ibn Uthaimeen, Sharh Riyaadh, vol. 4, p. 707. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi (2) There are others who do not just seek to remove that bounty from the other person, but they also work to get the bounty for themselves. (3) The worst are those who simply wish to destroy the bounty, regardless of whether they themselves get it or if it is simply destroyed. They only want to destroy that blessing because it was not given to them in the first place. ( 4) There are those who cannot remove the feeling of envy from their souls. They cannot control it but they do not like it and wish they could remove it. Those people, Allah willing, are not sinful for their state that they cannot control. According to ibn al-Qayyim, the evil of hasad comes about when the person acts upon his hasad, even if just in his heart. This is why Allah guides the Muslims not to simply seek refuge of the envious one, but to seek refuge of the envious one when he is being envious. Allah says, ৻ ISi ..L...G- ? ) ; -:- ,... ,,. ,.. "From the evil of the envious one when he envies" (al-Falaq 5).1 ( 5) There are also those who, although they do not act upon their hasad, willingly have thoughts of envy, are pleased with them and continue to think in such a manner while putting up no resistance to such evil thoughts as removing blessings from one's brother. This person is like a person who is dead set upon committing a sin. There is a difference of opinion among the scholars concerning whether this kind of person is a sinner or not.2 Al-Haitami says that such a person is definitely a sinner. 3 lbn Raj ab, furthermore, points out that such a person is rarely safe from doing some wrong act against his brother out of spite and envy. Therefore, in the end, he may definitely become sinful in action, without question.4 (6) Another group of people recognize the hasad that exists within them. They do their best to remove that hasad from themselves and to treat the one they are envious of in the best possible fashion. They pray for the person; they tell others of his goodness and of the bounties that Allah has bestowed upon him. They remove that hasad to the extent that they love their Muslim brother and they love that Allah has blessed him and bestowed His bounties upon him. This category of people are among the people of the highest level of faith, they love for their brothers what they love for themselves.5 1 Quoted in al-Saalihi, vol. 6, p. 529. 2 The discussion concerning that nature of the act will be taken up in greater detail in the commentary to Hadith Number 37. 3 Al-Haitami, Fath, p. 249. 4 Ibn Rajab, Jaami, vol. 2, p. 262. 5 lbn Rajab, Jaami, vol. 2, p. 263. Hadith #35: "Do not be envious of one another. . . " Allah's Pleasure with One Who Frees Himself from Hasad The following hadith demonstrates Allah's great pleasure with the one who frees himself from the disease of hasad. Imam Ahmad records in his Musnad that on three consecutive occasions the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated that the Companions were about to see a man from the inhabitants of Paradise. On each occasion, the same man entered upon them.