Definition
To dislike a blessing that someone else has and wish that it be taken away from them — whether you want it for yourself or not. It is when your heart feels uneasy or upset seeing someone else’s نعمت (blessing), and you desire that they lose it.
Wanting the blessing to disappear
or Feeling disturbed by others’ success.
Common Practices
1- Resentment of Others’ Happiness
- Feeling a pang of discomfort or annoyance when seeing someone else happy or hearing about their achievements, instead of feeling genuine happiness for them.
- Speaking negatively about someone because of their blessings, Highlighting their faults to feel better
- Doing it after watching or recalling something inappropriate
- Staying silent when someone deserves appreciation, Feeling heavy or uncomfortable saying “MashaAllah”
2- Constantly Comparing and Counting
Habitually comparing one's own blessings with others, focusing entirely on what one lacks, and keeping a mental record of everyone else's successes.
3- Sabotage by Neglect
Intentionally neglecting to help or support someone, or withholding information that could assist them in their success, hoping they fail or struggle.
4- Schadenfreude (Rejoicing at Misfortune)
Secretly feeling relieved, pleased, or happy when a person who is deemed more successful or fortunate faces a setback, loss, or hardship.
5- Justifying the "Deserving" Aspect
Telling oneself that the person with the blessing does not deserve it, or that they attained it through unfair means, to justify the envy.
Why Is It Dangerous?
Spiritual harm: Hasad consumes a person's hasanat (good deeds) just as fire consumes dry wood or grass. The envier fundamentally objects to how Allah has divided His blessings, essentially questioning divine justice.
Societal and Behavioral Dangers:It creates a toxic environment that leads to animosity, backbiting, slandering, lying, and abandonment of other Muslims. Hasad is the root of many sins, including oppression, injustice, and even physical harm or murder, as seen in the story of Qabil and Habil
Personal harm:The envier lives in perpetual sadness and unrest because they are constantly focused on the blessings of others rather than their own, resulting in severe psychological torture. Hasad blinds the person to the virtues of the envied person and makes them see only faults. The jealous person does not progress, as they are focused on dragging others down rather than raising themselves up.
How to leave this sin?
- Gratitude & Humility – Hasad often stems from forgetting one's own blessings. Actively focus on what Allah has given you—health, faith, family—rather than looking at what others have. Envy comes from pride, thinking you deserve better than others. Humbly accept Allah's decree and focus on self-improvement.
- Du‘ā & Praise – Make Du‘ā for the Person. Ask Allah to increase their blessing instead of wishing it away. This directly breaks the feeling of envy.Train your tongue to praise. Allah when you see someone’s blessing. It protects your heart from jealousy.
- Avoid Comparison – Avoid Comparison. Stop constantly looking at others’ lives (especially on social media). Clean the Heart. Remove hatred, arrogance, and حبّ الدنيا (love of worldly things)
- Fear & Awareness – Fear Allah and beware of sin. Remember: حسد destroys your good deeds and corrupts your heart first—recognize its filth and how degrading it is. Envy is a punishment in itself, so keep the āyāt and sayings of the Prophet ﷺ in mind that condemn it (Given below). When the urge arises, recall them with understanding—this disciplines your mind, awakens your heart, and strengthens your fear of sin.
Qur’an
وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ (5)
and from the evil of an envier when they envy.
ووَلَا تَتَمَنَّوْا۟ مَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ ۚ لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌۭ مِّمَّا ٱكْتَسَبُوا۟ ۖ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيبٌۭ مِّمَّا ٱكْتَسَبْنَ ۚ وَسْـَٔلُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مِن فَضْلِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًۭاٍ (32)
And do not crave what Allah has given some of you over others. Men will be rewarded according to their deeds and women ˹equally˺ according to theirs. Rather, ask Allah for His bounties. Surely Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all things.
Hadith
" إِيَّاكُمْ وَالْحَسَدَ فَإِنَّ الْحَسَدَ يَأْكُلُ الْحَسَنَاتِ كَمَا تَأْكُلُ النَّارُ الْحَطَبَ " . أَوْ قَالَ " الْعُشْبَ
Avoid envy, for envy devours good deeds just as fire devours fuel or (he said) "grass."
إِيَّاكُمْ وَالظَّنَّ، فَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ أَكْذَبُ الْحَدِيثِ، وَلاَ تَحَسَّسُوا، وَلاَ تَجَسَّسُوا، وَلاَ تَحَاسَدُوا، وَلاَ تَدَابَرُوا، وَلاَ تَبَاغَضُوا، وَكُونُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِخْوَانًا
Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales; and do not look for the others' faults and do not spy, and do not be jealous of one another, and do not desert (cut your relation with) one another, and do not hate one another; and O Allah's worshipers! Be brothers (as Allah has ordered you!")
وَلاَ يَجْتَمِعَانِ فِي قَلْبِ عَبْدٍ الإِيمَانُ وَالْحَسَدُ
And two will never be gathered in the heart of a salve: Faith and envy.
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ قِيلَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ " كُلُّ مَخْمُومِ الْقَلْبِ صَدُوقِ اللِّسَانِ " . قَالُوا صَدُوقُ اللِّسَانِ نَعْرِفُهُ فَمَا مَخْمُومُ الْقَلْبِ قَالَ " هُوَ التَّقِيُّ النَّقِيُّ لاَ إِثْمَ فِيهِ وَلاَ بَغْىَ وَلاَ غِلَّ وَلاَ حَسَدَ "
It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr said:
“It was said to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): ‘Which of the people is best?’ He said: ‘Everyone who is pure of heart and sincere in speech.’ They said: ‘Sincere in speech, we know what this is, but what is pure of heart?’ He said: ‘It is (the heart) that is pious and pure, with no sin, injustice, rancor or envy in it.’”
ودَبَّ إِلَيْكُمْ دَاءُ الأُمَمِ قَبْلَكُمُ الْحَسَدُ وَالْبَغْضَاءُ هِيَ الْحَالِقَةُ لاَ أَقُولُ تَحْلِقُ الشَّعْرَ وَلَكِنْ تَحْلِقُ الدِّينَ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لاَ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى تُؤْمِنُوا وَلاَ تُؤْمِنُوا حَتَّى تَحَابُّوا أَفَلاَ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا يُثَبِّتُ ذَاكُمْ لَكُمْ أَفْشُوا السَّلاَمَ بَيْنَكُمْ
The disease of the nations before you is creeping towards you: Envy and hatred, it is the Haliqah. I do not speak of what cuts the hair, but what severs the religion. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love each other. Shall I tell you about what will strengthen that for you? Spread the Salam among each other.
لا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لأَخِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ
None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself.