Envy

Q 4: Is envy considered a fact in Islam? If it is a fact that some people are envious, how should a person deal with them?

A: Envy is to wish another person (the envied person) to lose a blessing which Allah has granted him. Allah (Exalted be He) orders His Prophet (peace be upon him) in the Qur'an to seek refuge with Him from the evil of the envious person. Allah (Exalted be He) says, Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh), the Lord of the daybreak, "From the evil of what He has created, "And from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness; (or the moon as it sets or goes away), "And from the evil of those who practise witchcraft when they blow in the knots, "And from the evil of the envier when he envies." The meaning of "when he envies" is if he manifests his envy and acts accordingly and his envy makes him cause harm to the envied person.Envy is of different kinds:The first kind is when an envier desires that a Muslim loses a blessing which he enjoys without even wishing to have it for himself. The envious person here hates to see other people enjoy Allah's blessings.The second kind is when an envious person desires that others lose a blessing they enjoy because he wishes to have it.The third kind is when a person wishes to have a similar blessing to that which someone enjoys without wishing them or her to lose it. (Part No. 26; Page No. 30) The third kind of envy is permissible and not prohibited. In fact it is mere Ghibtah (envy that is free from malice).An envious person harms himself in three ways:First, he commits a sin because envy is unlawful.Second, he shows lack of politeness toward Allah (Exalted be He) because the reality of envy is to hate what Allah has granted to others. So it is more of a refusal of Allah's Will.Third, the heart of an envious person aches with grudge and distress.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.