A man who fasts and prays but loves good for himself and hates it for others, and has a kind of envy in him: how should one deal with him if he is a neighbor or a work friend?
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The questioner : What is the ruling of the Shari'ah, in your view, regarding a person who prays and fasts but loves good for himself and hates it for others, and has a kind of envy in him? How should I deal with someone like this if he is my neighbor or a colleague at work, both of us being wage earners?
The Shaykh : Deal with him as you would deal with anyone else, but you must advise him and make it clear to him that envy is among the major sins and is one of the characteristics of the Jews, as Allah the Exalted said about them:[An-Nisa 4:54] And He the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah 2:109].
So envy is one of the characteristics of the Jews and is among the major sins. It does not change anything of the divine decree of Allah (Mighty and Majestic); rather, it is regret for the envious person and elevation for the one envied. This is especially so if the envious person transgresses against him, for Allah the Exalted takes revenge on the wrongdoer. Furthermore, envy involves a kind of objection to the divine decree of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), His destiny, and His wisdom.
It also entails that whenever a person sees the blessing of Allah renewed upon this envied person, his sorrow increases. Envy is evidence that the envious person is weak in faith, for if he were truly a believer, he would love for his brother what he loves for himself.
And if a person wants to cure this vile disease, let him think carefully and know that favor is the favor of Allah, which He grants to whom He wills, and that the One who granted this favor to him is able to grant the envious person the same. For this reason, He the Exalted said:[An-Nisa 4:32].
So if he tries to restrain himself with sincerity, devotion, reflection, and contemplation, then Allah the Exalted will help him in this, and he will find relief from the fire of envy.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Deal with him as you would deal with anyone else, but you must advise him and make it clear to him that envy is among the major sins and is one of the characteristics of the Jews, as Allah the Exalted said about them:
Or do they envy people for what Allah has given them of His bounty?
أَمْ يَحْسُدُونَ النَّاسَ عَلَى مَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِMany of the People of the Scripture wish they could turn you back to disbelief after you have believed, out of envy from themselves [even] after the truth has become clear to them
وَدَّ كَثِيرٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَوْ يَرُدُّونَكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ إِيمَانِكُمْ كُفَّارًا حَسَدًا مِنْ عِنْدِ أَنفُسِهِمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الْحَقُّSo envy is one of the characteristics of the Jews and is among the major sins. It does not change anything of the divine decree of Allah (Mighty and Majestic); rather, it is regret for the envious person and elevation for the one envied. This is especially so if the envious person transgresses against him, for Allah the Exalted takes revenge on the wrongdoer. Furthermore, envy involves a kind of objection to the divine decree of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), His destiny, and His wisdom.
It also entails that whenever a person sees the blessing of Allah renewed upon this envied person, his sorrow increases. Envy is evidence that the envious person is weak in faith, for if he were truly a believer, he would love for his brother what he loves for himself.
And if a person wants to cure this vile disease, let him think carefully and know that favor is the favor of Allah, which He grants to whom He wills, and that the One who granted this favor to him is able to grant the envious person the same. For this reason, He the Exalted said:
And do not wish for that by which Allah has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah of his bounty
وَلا تَتَمَنَّوْا مَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ لِلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبُوا وَلِلنِّسَاءِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبْنَ وَاسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ فَضْلِهِSo if he tries to restrain himself with sincerity, devotion, reflection, and contemplation, then Allah the Exalted will help him in this, and he will find relief from the fire of envy.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.