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Meaning of Hasad

20-10-2023

Question 105471

Does hasad (destructive envy) exist in Islam or not?

Summary of answer:

Hasad (destructive envy) means wishing that a blessing that Allah has bestowed on the envied person be taken away.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

Meaning of hasad

Hasad (destructive envy) means wishing that a blessing that Allah has bestowed on the envied person be taken away. Allah enjoined His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to seek refuge with Him from the evil of the envier when he envies. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Say: ‘I seek refuge with (Allah), 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.’” [al-Falaq 113]

What is meant by “when he envies” is when he manifests what he feels of envy in his heart and acts on it, and his envy makes him do something bad to the one whom he envies. 

Degrees of hasad

Hasad is of varying degrees: 

How the envier harms himself

The envier harms himself in three ways: 

And Allah is the Source of strength. May Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and Companions.” (Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas)

For more, please see these answers: 11359 , 20954 , and 125543 .

And Allah knows best. 

Bad behaviour
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