Answer
Short Answer:
- Ask Allah to bless them more. And when you make this dua, (supplication) angels also pray for you that Allah blesses you more—so you get blessings without even knowing!
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Salam alaykum,
Thank you and jazak Allahu khairan (may Allah reward you with goodness) for this question; it is indeed a very important one.
How to Stop Being Envious?
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) by the Will of Allah has already given us the answer to this.
He (peace be upon him) taught us to pray for blessings (saying “Allahuma Barek”) for the one we admire or the one we have envious feelings towards.
We do that so our feelings won’t harm others, and we subsequently turn negative feelings into positive worship.
It was narrated that Abu Umamah bin Sahl bin Hunaif said:
‘Amir bin Rabi’ah passed by Sahl bin Hunaif when he was having a bath, and said: ‘I have never seen such beautiful skin.’
Straightaway, he (Sahl) fell to the ground. He was brought to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and it was said: ‘Sahl has had a fit.’
He said: ‘Whom do you accuse with regard to him?’
They said: “‘Amir bin Rabi’ah.’
He said: ‘Why would anyone of you kill his brother? If he sees something that he likes, then let him pray for blessing for him.’
Then he called for water, and he told ‘Amir to perform ablution, then he washed his face and his arms up to the elbows, his knees and inside his lower garment, then he told him to pour the water over him. (Sunan Ibn Majah- emphasis added)
In this hadith, we see how one companion’s admiration of another companion’s beautiful skin, without praying for blessings for him, has led to harming that person. The Prophet then advised that we pray for blessings for one another.
A Win-Win Supplication
Basically, when you see something you like and you say “Allahuma Barek” (May Allah bless and increase what he/she has), it means that you don’t wish for harm to afflict that person or that they lose what they have.
Instead, you ask Allah to bless them more. And when you make this dua, (supplication) angels also pray for you that Allah blesses you more—so you get blessings without even knowing!
This ends up leading to preserving what you like about someone, as well as blessings coming your way. It’s a win-win situation and no harm there.
Remember the Kingdom of Allah Almighty the King and Creator of the Heavens and the earth and everything therein is so vast, it has no end.
Allah can give you what you liked about others, and more. So, there is no need and no time to waste looking at others and wanting what they have. That’s a waste for you.
Powerful Hadith Qudsi
Instead, simply ask the King and He will give you and increase you. Remember this powerful Hadith Qudsi where the Messenger of Allah was reported to have said that Allah Almighty said:
O My servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and the whole human race of yours and that of jinns also all stand in one plain ground and you ask Me and I confer upon every person what he asks for, it would not- in any way- cause any loss to Me (even less) than that which is caused to the ocean by dipping the needle in it. (Sahih Muslim. Read full hadith here)
If Allah gives each and every single created being what he or she asks for, it will not decrease Allah’s Kingdom in the slightest. So, remember that and ask of Him regularly, instead of passively looking at others.
Envy is evil and it is from the Shaitan (Satan).
It is one of the diseases of the heart that we need to purify and seek refuge in Allah from. It is a form of darkness and nothing good comes out of it. That’s why Allah taught us in the Qur’an to say:
{Say, “I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak
From the evil of that which He created
And from the evil of darkness when it settles
And from the evil of the blowers in knots
And from the evil of an envier when he envies.}
(Qur’an: Chapter 113)
I hope this helps answer your question.
Please keep in touch.
Salam.
(From Ask About Islam archives)
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