It is incumbent on a sensible person to avoid envy in all circumstances, for indeed the most despicable trait of envy is harbouring displeased against Allaah’s decree and wishing to oppose what Allaah (The Exalted) has decided for His slaves. Then the inner self of person is wrapped up in the (desire) to see a Muslim being deprived of a blessing. The soul of the envious person is never at ease nor does his body relax except when he sees his brother being deprived of a blessing.
Say: “I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the daybreak,
مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
“From the evil of what He has created;
وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ
And from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness; (or the moon as it sets or goes away).
وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ
“And from the evil of the witchcrafts when they blow in the knots,
وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
“And from the evil of the envier when he envies.
Envy is the most despicable trait. The first deed of disobedience through which Allaah was disobeyed in the heavens was Iblees’s envy towards Aadam and the (first deed of disobedience through which Allaah was disobeyed) in the earth was Qaabil’s envy toward Haabil. [1]
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[1] [Source: Zaadul Maseer’ by Ibn Jawzi (rahimahullaah)]
Allah has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the earth, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practise their religion, that which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islam). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whoever disbelieved after this, they are the Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).
“Our Lord! Make us not a trial for those who have disbelieved, and forgive us, Our Lord! Verily, You, only You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” [60:5]
Mujaahid (rahimahullaah) said: The meaning of it is: Neither punish us at their hands nor through a punishment from yourself, so they say: ‘’Had these (Muslims) been upon the truth they would not have been afflicted with this (punishment).
Az-Zujaaj (rahimahullaah) said: The meaning of it is: Do not give them victory over us, so they think that they are upon truth and we are put to trial by way of that.
And upon Allah is the responsibility to explain the Straight Path but there are ways that turn aside.’’ [16:9]
[وَعَلَى اللَّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ- And upon Allah is the responsibility to explain the Straight Path]: Az-Zujaaj (rahimahullaah) said: It is Allaah who will clarify the straight path and call to it with Hujaj (i.e. clear and overwhelming proofs that defeats all the obstinate and stubborn ones) and Burhaan (i.e. proofs that clarify and distinguish between truth and falsehood in everything).
[وَمِنْهَا جَائِر -but there are ways that turn aside]: Ibn Abbaas (radiyallaahu-anhu) said, ‘’They are the different types of desires (i.e. evil desires). Ibnul Mubaarak (rahimahullaah) said, ‘’They are the (evil) desires and the innovations in religion.’’
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[Source: Zaadul Maseer’ by Imaam Ibnul Jawzi (rahimahullaah)]
And from among His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate not to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate to Allah Who created them, if you (really) worship Him. [41:37]
That home of the Hereafter We assign to those who do not desire exaltedness in the earth or corruption. And the good end is for the Muttaqoon (pious ones) [28:83]
[تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ- That home of the hereafter]: Meaning Paradise.
[ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِي الْأَرْضِ –We shall assign to those who do not desire exaltedness upon the earth]: Saeed Ibn Jubair said, ‘’It is (those who do not desire) transgression.’’ Ad-dahhaak said, ‘’It is (those who do not desire) oppression.’’ Yahyah Ibn Sallaam said, ‘’It is (those who do not desire) shirk’’ and Muqaatil said, ‘’It is (those who do not desire to show) haughtiness by rejecting Eemaan.’’
[وَلَا فَسَادًا – or corruption]: Ikrimah said, ‘’It is (those who do not desire) disobedience (to Allaah and His Messenger).’’ Ibn Saa’ib said, ‘’It is (those who do not) call to the worship of other besides Allaah.
[وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِين-And the good end is for the Muttaqoon (pious ones)]. They will have a praiseworthy end.
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[Source: Zaadul Maseer of Imaam Ibnul Jawzi (rahimahullaah); abridged and slightly paraphrased]
I have created all My slaves Hunafâ’ (with the inclination to worship Allah alone), but the devils come to them and turn them away from their religion (true path). They forbid to them that which I have permitted to them, and they tell them to associate others with Me for which I have not sent down any authority.’ [1]
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[1] Reported by Imaam Muslim (rahimahullaah); Saheeh Muslim Chapter 16; Hadeeth Number: 2865]
”If Allaah wishes to deprive a slave the blessings of knowledge [i.e. due his (or her) own fault], Allaah places [الأغاليط] upon the tongue of that person.”(1)
[الأغاليط–they are those obscure and difficult affairs related to the religion, which a person pursues through asking questions in order to pick a quarrel, burdening oneself and harbouring an evil intention through asking questions, which leads to doubts; so quarrel becomes rife and (blameworthy) debate increases. The one whose desire is limited to the ‘Al-Aghaaleet’ and he has no desire to seek the understanding intended by Allaah and His Messenger, and knowledge of the boundaries of the Sharee’ah that leads to fruitful deeds, then indeed he has wasted his time and has been deprived of the blessings (contained) in knowledge. (2)
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[1] [Source: Jaami Bayaanil Ilm Wa-Fadlihi of Ibn Abdul Barr (rahimahullaah) 1087]
[2] http://al-badr.net/muqolat/2693. Abridged and slightly paraphrased
