Signs and Punishments of the Envious
Dialogues
“And do not wish for that by which Allah has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah of His bounty. Indeed, Allah is ever, of all things, Knowing.” (Surah An-Nisa, 32).
There are prominent signs and specific worldly penalties that reveal the character of the envious person, which are noticed by those who do not suffer from the disease of envy. Among the things that expose the envious to sound-minded people are the following:
- Rejoicing in the misfortunes and blunders of others: The envious person rejoices in the blunders and misfortunes of others because he believes they have become weaker than him and are suffering more intensely. His joy may be openly expressed through words and bodily gestures, or it may be secret, manifesting as intense inner happiness when he sees those he envies suffering from the calamities and disasters of worldly life. Rarely do such individuals conceal their joy at people’s misfortunes, as they are sometimes unable to control what issues from their envious tongues and bodies.
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- Frequent contraction of rare diseases: Not every envious person necessarily contracts rare diseases, but based on lessons learned from life, particularly after careful observation over the years of those known for severe envy, I have noticed that many of them suffer from illnesses that are rare in their surrounding environment. I believe that one reason for their contracting certain rare diseases may be that these serve as cosmic signs urging them to cease their criminal behavior toward the innocent. Aktham ibn Suffi is reported to have said, “Envy is a disease with no cure,” and Allah knows best.
- Disobedience to children and family breakdown: I am almost certain that the more intense the envy of the envious toward successful, psychologically sound, and morally upright people, the more they begin to suffer from various forms of disobedience, ingratitude, and alienation from their closest loved ones. Conversely, whenever they repent, reflect, and seek forgiveness from their Lord for their envy, the disease of disobedience gradually leaves them.
- Failure to pursue lawful sustenance: The more a person envies others, the harder it becomes for him to strive to secure lawful sustenance. This is because excessive indulgence in envy empowers the soul that commands evil, making the envious person prone to violating accepted moral laws in order to overcome those he perceives as his bitter enemies (ordinary, sound-minded, and successful individuals). It is rare for an envious person not to engage in theft, and Allah, the Exalted, knows best.
A Kuwaiti writer
