Envy (Hasad) | Practical Steps to Cultivate Contentment (Part 2/2)

Conquering Envy: Practical Steps to Cultivate Contentment.

Envy, a destructive emotion known as hasad in Arabic, can poison our hearts and relationships. Here, we explore practical solutions offered by Imam Mawlud to combat envy and cultivate contentment.


Opposing Your Caprice (Hawa):
The first step involves consciously opposing your hawa (caprice). This term, derived from words meaning "to fall" and "wind," represents fleeting desires and emotions. Like the wind, they come and go, often leading us astray.
Imam Mawlud emphasizes that truth is constant and recognizable, while caprice lacks foundation. The Quran warns against following one's whims (5:70), reminding us of past communities who rejected truth due to their desires. Conversely, those who resist their whims are promised Paradise (79:40). The Quran even uses the word "hawiya" (derived from hawa) for Hell, suggesting how surrendering to whims leads to destruction (101:9).


Combating Envy with Kindness:
Imam Mawlud offers a unique remedy for the type of envy that compels you to harm the envied person. He suggests contradicting this temptation by doing something kind for them. This could be a gift, a favour, or even praising them – essentially starving envy of the negativity it thrives on.
Often, acts of kindness foster positive relationships. People naturally gravitate towards those who show them good. This approach is not hypocritical; it simply cuts off the fuel supply of envy.


Understanding the Self-Harm of Envy:
Another key aspect is recognising that envy ultimately harms yourself. Our primal instinct is to avoid harm. Realising envy hurts your soul, mind, and body makes it easier to combat it.
Envy can even affect mental health. Resentment hinders achievement, while those who shun envy find motivation to excel without succumbing to depression and resentment.


Beyond Ourselves: Envy in the Muslim World:
Imam Mawlud highlights the prevalence of envy within the Muslim world. Muslims sometimes criticize Americans and Europeans, seemingly out of moral outrage, but often rooted in envy of their possessions.
Similarly, when comparing themselves to oil-rich Gulf nations, some Muslims resort to judgmental rhetoric. This dialogue of envy, comparing oneself to others, fosters negativity and has no constructive outcome. Criticism, when offered, should be aimed at building, not destroying.


Historical Examples:
The Communist revolution is another example where envy played a significant role. Karl Marx's writings reveal resentment towards the wealthy, and much of his theory stems from the desire to see them lose their possessions.


Sacred Law and the Balance of Wealth:
While the wealthy should be held accountable for injustice towards the poor, Islamic principles establish obligations for both parties. The poor are not to harbour envy towards the rich, and the affluent are expected to avoid arrogance, hoarding wealth, or neglecting those in need.


The Power of Reflection and Taqwa:
Imam Mawlud emphasizes solemn reflection on the futility of envy. Recognising that God, in His infinite wisdom, bestows blessings, helps dismantle the perception of someone else having something that rightfully belongs to you.
A hadith states, "If you have envy, do not wrong [others]." Envy that does not lead to harming others, while still negative, doesn't necessarily consume good deeds. It's the envy that fuels wrongdoing that becomes destructive.


Distinguishing Degrees of Envy:
Imam al-Ghazali differentiates between various types of envy. He suggests that if someone hates their envy and feels ashamed, it doesn't necessarily make them an envious person.


Self-Awareness as the First Step:
Developing self-awareness is key to identifying and uprooting envy. By understanding what resides within our hearts, we can undertake on a journey of purification.


Conclusion:
Envy is a universal challenge. By adopting Imam Mawlud's practical methods – opposing our whims, countering envy with kindness, understanding its self-harming nature, and cultivating taqwa (God-consciousness) – we can overcome envy and cultivate a more content and peaceful life.