Warning Against Envy
IslamhaspaidagreatattentiontoprotectMuslimsagainsttheinsalu-
brious disease of envy because it causes social disunion and spreads
enmity. It has also criticized and rebuked the envious.
Several Verses deny and malign the envious. God says:
ManyofthefollowersoftheBookwishthattheycouldturnyouback
into unbelievers after your faith, out ofenvy from themselves.
Ordo theyenvythepeopleforwhatAllah hasgivento themof His
grace?
God also exposes the nature of envy. He says:
Ifgoodbefallsyou,itgrievesthem,andifanevilafflictsyou,theyre-
joice at it.
TheProphetictextsarealsofilledupwithmany indicationstotheill
mannerofenvy.TheProphet(s) said,“Envyconsumesthegooddeeds
likefire whenconsumes wood.”.“Povertyisabout to be atheism, and
envyisabouttoovercomeGod’sact.”.“Themaladyofthepastnations
hascrepttoyou.Itismaliceandenvy,whichisshaving.Itshavesofreli-
gion,not hair. Bythe Prevailingof Mohammed’ssoul,youwillnot be
believersbeforeyouloveeachother.MayIleadtoamatterafterwhich
you will certainly love each other? Propagate salutation among you.”
Imam al-Baqir(a)said, “Manmay converttoatheismwhenhe com-
mitsanillmannerin caseofrage.Envysurely consumesfaith likefire
when consume the wood.”.
Imamas-Sadiq (a)said,“The plague ofthereligion areenvy,self-es-
teem, and arrogance.”.
Besides,therearemanytexts warningagainstenvy,whichisan epi-
demic that corrodes the entity and change the envious into victim of
pains and infliction.