Chapter on the Prohibition of Envy: Allah the Exalted said: “Or do they envy people for what Allah has given them of His bounty?”

The Reciter: And upon his family and all his Companions.
He (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Chapter on the Prohibition of Envy.
Allah the Exalted said:

Or do they envy people for what Allah has given them of His bounty?

أم يحسدون على ما آتاهم الله من فضله

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

Avoid envy, for envy devours good deeds just as fire devours fuel

إياكم والحسد فإن الحسد يأكل الحسنات كما تأكل النار الحطب

Sunan Abi Dawud 4903Da'if (Al-Albani)

or he said:

Grass.

العشب

. Narrated by Abu Dawud."

The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his book *Riyad al-Salihin*: "Chapter on the Prohibition of Envy"
Envy is when a person dislikes what Allah has bestowed upon another, whether it be knowledge, wealth, family, status, or anything else.
Envy is among the major sins and is a characteristic of the Jews, may Allah protect us from that, as Allah the Exalted said about them: And He the Exalted said: meaning what He has given them of His bounty. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) warned against envy and explained that it consumes good deeds just as fire consumes grass, or he said: firewood.
Furthermore, envy involves objecting to the divine decree and destiny, because the envious person is not satisfied with Allah's decree and destiny. That is, he is not satisfied that Allah gave this man wealth, or gave him family, or gave him knowledge. Thus, it contains an objection to the divine decree and destiny.
Furthermore, envy is a burning coal in the heart, may Allah protect us from that. Whenever Allah bestows a blessing upon His servant, this heart burns, may Allah protect us from that, wherever Allah the Exalted has bestowed blessings upon His servants. You will find him always in distress and always in anxiety.
Envy may lead to transgression and aggression against others whom Allah has given of His bounty. One may tarnish his reputation among people, saying about him such and such, and such and such, whether lying or telling the truth, but intending to envy this man for the blessing. Thus, this aggression may occur against his Muslim brother. Furthermore, envy does not turn back Allah's blessing from His servant. No matter how much you envy and no matter how much you transgress, you will not prevent Allah's bounty from His servants. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Abdullah ibn Abbas: Otherwise, they will not harm you. It is obligatory for a person, if he sees envy in himself toward someone, to fear Allah and to rebuke himself, saying to it: How do you envy people for what Allah has given them of His bounty? How do you dislike Allah's blessing upon His servants? He says: Have you seen if this blessing were with you, would you like someone to envy you for it? And he rebukes it, rebuking the self. And he also says to it: If you envy and dislike what Allah has given of His bounty, then that will not harm the one who is envied; rather, it is harm to the person himself. That is, it will not harm the one who is envied, but it is harm to the envious person. And he rebukes himself with such things until the envy within him disappears. And when that happens, he will be at peace and at rest, and he will not be distressed or troubled. O Allah, guide us to the best of character and deeds; none guides to the best of them except You. And turn away from us the worst of character and deeds; none turns away the worst of them from us except You.