Hawzah News Agency – God Almighty states in the Noble Qur’an:
«أَمْ یَحْسُدُونَ النَّاسَ عَلَیٰ مَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ.»
“Do they envy those people for what Allah has given them out of His bounty?” (Surah Nisa'/ 4:54)
Explanation:
In denouncing the despicable trait of envy, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, states:
«ثَمَرَةُ اَلْحَسَدِ شَقَاءُ اَلدُّنْیَا وَ اَلْآخِرَةِ.»
“The fruit of envy is misery in this world and the Hereafter.” (Oyun al-Hikam, v. 1, p. 208)
To cure the disease of envy, two spiritual methods may be employed:
If a person truly believes that God Almighty is Wise (Hakim) and Sustainer (Razzāq), then he will naturally acknowledge that all blessings originate from Divine wisdom and grace. Consequently, he will never be envious of God’s bounty upon others.
What gives rise to envy is precisely forgetfulness or negligence of this truth, for the envious person is, in reality, opposing the Divine will and decree.
Hence, God Almighty addressed Prophet Moses, peace be upon him, saying:
«یَا اِبْنَ عِمْرَانَ لاَ تَحْسُدَنَّ اَلنَّاسَ عَلَی مَا آتَیْتُهُمْ مِنْ فَضْلِی وَ لاَ تَمُدَّنَّ عَیْنَیْکَ إِلَی ذَلِکَ وَ لاَ تُتْبِعْهُ نَفْسَکَ فَإِنَّ اَلْحَاسِدَ سَاخِطٌ لِنِعَمِی صَادٌّ لِقَسْمِیَ اَلَّذِی قَسَمْتُ بَیْنَ عِبَادِی وَ مَنْ یَکُ کَذَلِکَ فَلَسْتُ مِنْهُ وَ لَیْسَ مِنِّی.»
“O son of ‘Imran! Do not envy people for what I have granted them from My grace; do not let your eyes or your heart incline toward that. Indeed, the envious one shows discontent with My blessings and rejects My apportionment among My servants. Whoever acts thus, I am not of him and he is not of Me.” (Al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 307)
This teaching demonstrates that envy essentially represents resentment toward Divine division and distribution, which distances one from the mercy and intimacy of God.
Another method—complementary to the previous one—is to manage the feeling when it arises within ourselves; namely, to transform envy into ghibṭah (= a commendable form of spiritual longing).
Imam al‑Ṣādiq, peace be upon him, states:
«إِنَّ اَلْمُؤْمِنَ یَغْبِطُ وَ لاَ یَحْسُدُ وَ اَلْمُنَافِقُ یَحْسُدُ وَ لاَ یَغْبِطُ.»
“A believer feels ghibṭah but does not envy; whereas a hypocrite envies but never feels ghibṭah.” (Al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 307)
The envious person cannot perceive the one being envied as merely possessing a blessing; instead, he constantly wishes for that blessing to perish.
However, when envy is replaced by ghibṭah, one recognizes the blessing bestowed upon others as a manifestation of Divine grace, and thus prays to God to grant similar favor unto himself.
(Nevertheless, one must not forget Divine wisdom. True, God is the Sustainer, yet sometimes what He has granted to others out of His grace may not be beneficial for us. Hence, we must consider all dimensions of the matter and entrust everything to God Almighty.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The International Service of "Hawzah News Agency"
Your Comment