Jealousy is a disliked characteristic in Islam. The word for jealousy in Arabic is hasad. Hasad means to be jealous of somebody's good position and to wish for its elimination. In english the definition for jealousy is displeasing feeling towards somebody that reaches success, and a desire for their elimination for that position and the cause of destruction directed towards that person that has reached that position of success. A mental uneasiness when fearing a rival (in terms of relationship) and increase in suspicion.
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) told the believer "Do not be jealous amongst yourselves." And therefore if you are a muslim and have a feeling of jealousy it is part of the tradition of islam to rid yourself of that feeling.
Jealousy has three stages. The first is a natural human quality with a degree of jealousy where the man is excused and is not his fault. The second is acting according to the demands of jealousy and this makes the man a sinner and the third is opposing the demands of jealousy and for this the person will be rewarded. Jealousy is usually caused by pride and falsehood where without any valid reason the individual seeks to withhold all of the bounties of Allah (swt). It is a disease of the heart and is harmful to this life and the after life. The prophet (saws) said "Jealousy devours good deeds like fire devours wood." In this life ther person is overwhelmed with worry and frustration and is always desiring the other person to be disgraced or awaiting his failure. This destroys the individual's after life and destroys the peace of his mind in this life.
Being aware of the dangers of jealousy, we need to look towards what the person can do to destroy jealousy. One thing the person may do is that instead of being angry for the bounties Allah (swt) has given to somebody else, rather they should complement the person for those things.
The best way to cure jealousy however, from my experience is being content with the gifts that Allah (swt) has given you. Preoccupy yourself with things you already have and the things that make you happy rather than focusing on the things that you dont have and you want to have. The bounties of Allah (swt) are distributed, everything, everyone, by not having one thing have another, people have so many things to make them happy so they should never want or look towards something that is not theirs.
The need for meditation in also important. The best way to meditate when the feeling of jealousy is taking over the person is to remember Allah (swt) and learn to be thankful. Try to overcome that feeling by looking towards the things that you do have and when the feeling once again comes, and the feeling starts to take over you than leave that place and find another place to calm down immedietly before you can take action and once again ask yourself why you are jealous and how you should be thankful and look at the things you do have and the other person doesnt have or look towards those less fortunate than yourself.
Also, read these interesting facts to know how fortunate you are in comparison to the rest of the world right now so that you can count your blessings;
If you have food in the refrigerator clothes on your back, a roof over head and a place to sleep . . .
you are richer than 70% of this world.
in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace . . . If you have money in the bank,
you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.
If you woke up this morning
you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation . . .
you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death . . .
you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.
If your parents are still alive and still married…
you are very rare, even in Canada.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful . . .
you are blessed because although the majority can, most do not.
If you can hold someone’s hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder . . .
you are blessed because you can offer healing touch.
If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore,
you are more blessed that over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.
with more health than illness . . .
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