Hasadic behavior must be completely eliminated from our daily lives. This is because hasad is the desire that arises in the heart to lose the favors possessed by others. This can certainly damage relationships between people, as well as other wider negative impacts. Therefore, we need to make a sincere effort to avoid hasadic behavior, in order to maintain the purity of our hearts and strengthen our faith.

Hasadic Behavior

The adverse effects of hasad and its prohibition have been widely explained in the Holy Qur’an, as well as the hadith. One of them is stated in a hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim:

“Do not envy one another (hasad). Do not break ties with each other. Do not hate one another. Do not deceive one another, and be servants of Allah who are brothers.”

Resentment towards others, whether it is because of their success or their possessions, can make us deny the blessings of Allah Swt. Why is that? Because, the feeling of displeasure will make us tend to compare ourselves with others. In fact, everything we have is a precious gift from Allah. His measure is the best, not wrong, and never confused.

Have you ever had that spiteful feeling? If so, let’s multiply istigfar. Remember what Allah has given us. Increase that gratitude, as has been said in the Qur’an:

“And (remember also) when your Lord declared: ‘If you give thanks (for My favors), We will surely increase them to you; and if you deny My favors, then surely My punishment will be severe.‘” (QS. Ibrahim: 7)

Read also: Sustenance Opening Practice and Blessings in Daily Life

The Concept of Hasad in Islam

In Islam, hasad is defined as a feeling of displeasure over the favors received by others and hoping that these favors will disappear from that person. Allah SWT has mentioned the dangers of hasad in the Qur’an, one of which is in Surah Al-Falaq verse 5 which reads, “And from the evil of the envious when he is envious”.

Hasad is different from gossip, which is permissible envy in which a person wishes for the same favors without wanting them to be taken away from others. Ghibah is considered positive, as it can encourage one to do good and try harder.

Envy can creep into the hearts of people who feel they have lost prestige, popularity, influence or followers. Hasad or envy is usually felt by someone to another person who is in a better position, so that someone cannot accept this fact. An Arabic proverb says “Kullu dzi ni’matin mahsuudun” which means “everyone who gets pleasure must be envied”.

Every human being is not devoid of envy. It’s just that there are those who can manage it well, so that they can ward it off, and there are also those who are unable to stem it. Who will be harmed if we maintain the trait of hasad? Of course ourselves. This is because hasad can be a bulldozer that can destroy our deeds.

The Story of the Prophet’s Companion’s Envy

At the time of the Prophet, there was a friend, Abdullah bin Ubay bin Salul, who had envy towards the Prophet. He was known as a hypocrite in Medina. He resented the Prophet because of the position and honor obtained by the Prophet.

Initially, Abdullah bin Ubay was planned to be appointed as the leader and ruler of Medina, but when the Prophet arrived in Medina, Abdullah’s influence faded. Finally, it was the Prophet who became the leader of Medina. It was the beginning of Abdullah bin Ubay’s spite towards the Prophet.

Launching the book 49 Examples in the Qur’an by Ririn Rahayu Astutiningrum, when Abdullah bin Ubay was with the Prophet, he claimed to believe and worship like Muslims. However, when he was not with the Prophet, Abdullah returned to his old religion and demonized Muslims and the Prophet. In addition, Abdullah bin Ubay also often pitted and became a provocateur in riots.

Once, Abdullah bin Ubay fell ill until he finally died. Then his son named Abdillah bin Abdullah bin Ubay came to the Prophet by asking for a shroud for his father and asking the Prophet to pray for his father. With the nature of the Prophet who was not vindictive, the Prophet went to Abdullah’s residence. However, when Umar saw the Prophet’s actions, he said:

“O Rasulullah, why do you want to pray for Abdullah bin Ubay? Even though he is a hypocrite. Didn’t Allah forbid to pray for hypocrites?”

The Prophet replied that if he had a choice from Allah between praying or not, then his choice was to pray for Abdullah bin Ubay. After the Messenger of Allah prayed for the body of Abdullah bin Ubay, the verse was revealed:

“And do not worship the dead among them, nor stand at their graves. Verily, they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and they died unjustly.” (QS. At-Taubah:84)

The Messenger of Allah (saw) often advised his people to avoid envy. In a hadith, he said:

“Faith and envy will not come together in the heart of a servant.” (HR.Nasa’i)

This advice shows how important it is for a Muslim to cleanse his heart from envy in order to maintain faith.

Read also: Giving Alms Selflessly: A Lesson for Every Muslim

Dangers of Hasad

Among the dangers of the act of jealousy are:

• Loss of good things
  “Man is always in a good state, as long as he does not envy.” (narrated by Thabrani No. 8079, authenticated by al-Albani).
• Including the nature of the Jews
  “Or do they envy the man (Muhammad) for the bounty that Allah has given him.” (QS. An-Nisa: 54)
• Hurting Muslims
  “And those who harm believers and believers without any wrongdoing on their part, then indeed they have borne a lie and a manifest sin.” (QS. Al-Ahzab: 58)
• Hasad resembles the polytheists
  “If you attain good, they will grieve, but if you attain evil, they will rejoice.” (QS. Al-Imran: 120)
• Disobedience to the decree of Allah’s destiny
  “Are they those who divide the mercy of your Lord? We have determined between them their livelihood in the life of the world, and We have elevated some of them above others by some degrees, that some of them may make use of others. And the mercy of your Lord is better than what they have gathered.” (QS. Az-Zukhruf: 32)

Friends, let us strive to become better individuals by avoiding hasad behavior and improving ourselves. As the Prophet’s prayer, “O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the evil of my lust and from the evil of the one who hasad if he is spiteful”. May we all be kept away from the nature of hasad and given a clean heart and full of gratitude. Aameen. (RQA/Wakaf)