“And do not crave what Allah has given some of you over others. Men will be rewarded according to their deeds and women equally according to theirs. Rather, ask Allah for His bounties. Surely Allah has perfect knowledge of all things” (Quran, 4:32).
“And do not crave what Allah has given some of you over others. Men will be rewarded according to their deeds and women equally according to theirs. Rather, ask Allah for His bounties. Surely Allah has perfect knowledge of all things” (Quran, 4:32).
Hasad, or nazar, also known as the evil eye, is a psychological state in which a person wishes for the deprivation of a blessing, talent, or merit, real or imagined, possessed by another person.
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is even reported to have stated:
Beware of envy, for it devours good deeds just as fire devours wood or grass.”
Sunan Abi Dawud, 4903
Envy extinguishes good-natured light and deadens the human heart – the stronger it grows, the more it diminishes faith. We must all ensure that no matter how frustrated or down-trodden we may feel, we must not let this disease of envy consume our hearts.
Here are 7 sources of the evil eye, in the hopes that we all can understand and prevent it from manifesting in ourselves and others:
1. Fear
This feeling is brought upon by a perceived loss of cherished aspirations at the hands of other people, and is essentially brought on by a feeling of inadequacy and insecurity. If the feeling of fear is starting to affect the way you or someone else is behaving towards others with the blessing of Allah, it’s important to remember that the Quran taught us that steadfastness is integral in becoming a better Muslim – and it can help combat fear as well.
“And we will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and life and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient. Those who when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return'” (Quran, 2:155-156).
2. Pride
Harboring a sense of superiority and behaving high-handedly towards others, otherwise known as pride, can be incredibly damaging to not only yourself but to others as well. As Muslims, we must humble ourselves in the knowledge that all blessings and trials come from Allah alone, and we cannot assume that we are above any other human being on earth. The Quran reminds us:
“And when it is said to him, guard against (the punishment of) Allah; pride carries him off to sin; therefore hell is sufficient for him; and certainly it is an evil resting place” (Quran, 2:206).
3. Wonder
It is natural for us all to wonder in bewilderment at people and events that we cannot comprehend, however envy as a consequence of puzzlement at seeing someone else enjoy a great blessing is a dangerous road towards inflicting the evil eye on others. We can appreciate and marvel, however we must ensure that we are doing so in a manner where we are remembering that everything is a creation of Allah and a blessing of Allah, and we must not harbor thoughts of envy. The Quran teaches us:
“And do not crave what Allah has given some of you over others. Men will be rewarded according to their deeds and women equally according to theirs. Rather, ask Allah for His bounties. Surely Allah has perfect knowledge of all things” (Quran, 4:32).
4. Enmity
This emotion includes hostile feelings that may drive someone to act hatefully towards another, and stems from a feeling of resentment and unnecessary competition towards another. We are not enemies simply because someone may seem to have something that the other does not, and we must remember that to truly work towards a collectively faithful ummah that worships Allah alone, we must encourage every member of society to better themselves as brothers and sisters. The Quran states:
“Allah knows best who your enemies are! And Allah is sufficient as a Guardian, and He is sufficient as a Helper” (Quran, 4:45).
5. Self-Supremacy
The practice of centering ones-self makes it difficult to recognize and empathize with others, which in turn can manifest into a deep sense of envy towards those around us. Many of us may use this feeling of self-supremacy as a coping mechanism when it seems like the world may be against us, however we must realize that the world and other people’s lives do not revolve around ours – we need to remember that we are all equal creations of Allah and no one is above anyone else. The Quran teaches us:
“And do not turn your face away from people in contempt, nor go about in the land exulting overmuch; surely Allah does not love any self-conceited boaster” (Quran, 31:18).
6. Love of Authority
The need to exercise power over others without sharing its advantages or merits is another source of envy – and it can lead to damaging effects of superiority and control. As Muslims, we must remember that however much we may want power over our own lives and the world around us, the ultimate authority over everything is Allah and Allah alone.
“And your Lord says, Call upon Me, I will answer you, surely those who are too proud for My service shall soon enter hell abased” (Quran, 40:60).
7. Viciousness of Nature
It is human nature to be selfish, and unfortunately, many of us fall prey to this strain of envy. This particular type of viciousness, in where one is aggressively hostile towards another’s blessings or happiness, manifests because of one’s selfish needs to want everything for oneself. To help remind ourselves that generosity and selflessness are deeply important in bettering oneself as a Muslim, the Quran states:
“Indeed: everyone who surrenders his whole being unto Allah, and is a doer of good, shall have his reward with his Sustainer; and all such need have no fear, and neither shall they grieve” (Quran, 2:112).
