Jealousy is a fatal illness that even the greatest doctor in the world can’t cure. When a person gets jealous, he becomes unhappy with whatever goodness come to other people, thinking that it should be his. Severe jealousy could even make someone wish other people to lose all of the good things and hold grudges toward them. We never know where jealousy might lead us, as the first murder on Earth happened because of jealousy. Allah says:

وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلْنَهُمْ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَتِ وَفَضَّلْنَهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍۢ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًۭ

“We have honoured the children of Adam and carried them by land and sea; We have provided good sustenance for them and favoured them specially above many of those We have created.” (Surah Al-Isra’ 17:70)

Among the first diseases to hit the children of Adam was the disease of Jealousy. The jealous person may even try to hurt the one he is jealous about but the one he hurts the most is his own self. Because he is preoccupied with what is in the hands of someone else, he is in a constant state of pain, anger and frustration. Jealousy ruins the heart and soul of the one who is jealous. It ruins our good deeds as well. Allah says:

لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا

“Certainly, is for you in (the) Messenger (of) Allah an excellent example for (one) who has hope (in) Allah and the Day the Last, and remembers Allah much.” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:21)

Jealousy can be so bad that Allah has taught us to seek protection from it on a regular basis. When you see rich people you are jealous of what they have, and yet other rich people say they’d like to give up everything just to buy more time with their family. It’s a test that not everyone knows and is aware of. No doctor can cure the jealousy for sure. Except for Allah, whom nothing is impossible to. Only by getting closer to Allah then your jealousy can be cured. Allah says:

إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ

“Indeed, in (the) creation (of) the heavens and the earth and (in the) alternation (of) the night and the day (are) surely Signs for men (of) understanding.” (Surah Al Imran 3:190)

Be happy for the success and happiness of others and remind yourself it does not take anything away from you.  You create your own path and you are responsible for your successes and failures.  There is more than enough to go around.  You do not need to trample over others to get what you deserve. You can emulate some of the positive traits and apply them to your life. Keep your focus on your goals.

Here are the ways how to get rid yourself from jealousy in Islam:

1. Jealousy cause damage to you instead of bringing good things
2. Jealousy is the most discouraged and destructive emotion
3. Jealousy destroys a person’s mental peace and happiness
4. Jealousy is one of the major illnesses to human health
5. Jealousy is a test to every human living in the world
6. Jealousy takes our focus away from the connection
7. Jealousy also gives birth to so many other sins
8. Jealousy is not a respected emotion in religion
9. Jealousy is one of the fatal illnesses of ethics
10. Jealousy is a negative trait in human beings
11. Jealousy does not detract from one’s own
12. Jealousy crumble your self-esteem
13. Jealousy spoils the peace of mind
14. Jealousy is such an illness of the soul
15. Jealousy causes a person to gather sins
16. Jealousy won’t help you reach your dreams
17. Jealousy can turn a good person into an evil
18. Jealousy person have impure and empty of faith
19. Jealousy can also be the root cause of suspicion
20. Jealousy person have weakened their faith in Allah
21. Jealousy can cross any limit to make people unhappy
22. Jealousy refers to the desire that removal of a blessing
23. Jealousy has deleterious effects on the nerves and heart
24. Jealousy is a non-productive and energy-zapping emotion
25. Jealousy never channel your energy towards making you better

Jealousy has been called a sickness of the heart and the soul as well as a blight on faith. Even though jealousy is an evil act that even Allah hates, Islam allows us to be jealous under certain conditions. Don’t be jealous of someone because of the worldly thing they have: possessions, positions, prosperity, and wealth. It is okay to be jealous or envious of people who are better than us in a religious term. That jealousy means we want to be as good as them. Allah says:

‏تِلْكَ ءَايَتُ ٱللَّهِ نَتْلُوهَا عَلَيْكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ فَبِأَىِّ حَدِيثٍۭ بَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ وَءَايَتِهِۦ يُؤْمِنُونَ

These are the signs of God that We recite unto thee in truth. So in what discourse after God and His signs do they believe.” (Surah Al-Jathiya 45:6)

Jealousy is an evil disease of the heart that can lead to foul manners. It leads to animosity, hatred, thinking evil of others, backbiting, tale-bearing and lying. Be aware that Jealousy is one of the deadliest diseases of the heart, and there is no medicine for the diseases of the heart except through knowledge and deeds. Jealousy is the result of hatred and hatred is the result of anger. Allah says:

‏وَبَدَا لَهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتُ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ

 “The evil consequences of what they did will become evident to them, and the very thing they used to ridicule will haunt them.” (Surah Al-Jathiyah 45:33)

If ever in our heart contains jealousy even it’s as big as a dot, it means you are doubting Allah’s decision. From here, we are unconsciously questioning our faith. It begins with the bounty that other people get, and we ask why should he get that and not us? We must not question Allah’s fate because Allah knows best. By acting jealous, we draw ourselves closer to Shaytaan.

The Worst Form of Jealousy, Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:

• “How terrible it is to every sinful liar.” (Quran 45:7)
• “And from the evil of the envious when he envies.” (Quran 113:5)
• “So it was. And We truly had full knowledge of him.” (Quran 18:91 )
• “In the heavens and earth are Signs for the believers.” (Quran 45:3)
• “Do they envy people for what Allah has given them of His bounty?” (Quran 4:54)
• “Or do they envy mankind for what God hath given them of His bounty?” (an-Nisa, 4:54)
• “Avoid much suspicion; indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not…” (Quran 49:12)
• “Surely We established him in the land and gave him the means to all things.” (Quran 18:84 )
• “Give good news to the believers that they will have a great bounty from Allah.” (Quran 33:47 )

Focus on an area of your life that needs improving, whether it’s to become a better person, gossip less, give more, take more time for yourself, get a makeover, get a massage, or learn a new skill.  When you feel good about yourself, it’s easier to be good to those around you.  Confidence and self-esteem are at the core of success and happiness.  Work on improving and increasing your self-esteem and self-confidence. Allah says:

‏إِنَّ فِى ٱلسَّمَوَتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ لَءَايَتٍۢ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

“In the heavens and earth are Signs for the believers.” (Surat Al-Jathiyah 45:3)

Therefore, jealousy not only destroys a victim but also harms the attacker up to a greater extent. We as Muslims should seek help from Allah to keep us away from this dangerous illness-jealousy. To keep ourselves protected from jealousy, we should recite the Quran.

Steps To Overcoming Jealousy:

• Be Grateful to Allah: Say “Alhamdulillah” all the time even when nothing particular happens. It’s a form of gratitude to Allah SWT that will keep you away from jealousy.
• Remember That Allah Would Not Give it All: Always try to smile on the outside while feeling miserable on the inside. Allah will never give it all to one person.
• Seek Protection from Allah: Take Allah into consideration in everything. For the illness that has no cure, jealousy, nothing can protect you better than Allah.
• Hold Yourself from Anger: Always behave calmly and hold your anger. Jealousy comes from hatred as the result of anger.
• Do Your Best to Suppress Your Ego: Jealousy is affected by the ego. We think that we are higher than somebody else, thus we feel that we deserve better. Don’t let your ego win and control you.
• Jealousy Kills the Good Deeds: Act of jealousy wipes away the good deeds you have done and the thawabs you have earned from those.
• Jealousy Damages You More: Jealousy won’t do good for you. Only because you wish other people to lose everything, it won’t happen that way. Jealousy would never make Allah change His decision.

‏وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَتِ بِغَيْرِ مَا ٱكْتَسَبُوا۟ فَقَدِ ٱحْتَمَلُوا۟ بُهْتَنًۭا وَإِثْمًۭا مُّبِينًۭا 

“As for those who abuse believing men and women unjustifiably, they will definitely bear the guilt of slander and blatant sin.” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:58)

People who get jealous will never get what they want. It won’t help you to reach your dreams at all. Moreover, jealousy shortens your lifespan and causes you to live in despair. The one who is envied will never be harmed by it, instead, they will gain benefits. Rather than busy chasing your dreams, you spend the whole time being jealous of other people who you think. To get rid of jealousy, come to the people you are jealous of, shake his hands and be his friends. Allah says:

 ‏ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَاۜ

“All praise is for Allah Who has revealed the Book to His servant, allowing no crookedness in it.” (Surah Al-Kahf 18:1)

Therefore walk away, ignore the haters, the complainers, and the negative people. Be more righteous, be more generous, and worship and love God more. Serve others, follow God’s commandments, supplicate often and reach for your goal. Allah says:

‏وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُۥ فِئَةٌۭ يَنصُرُونَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مُنتَصِرًا

“And he had no manpower to help him against Allah, nor could he ˹even˺ help himself.” (Surah Al-Kahf 18:43)

We need to learn to appreciate our differences, within ourselves and with others. Embrace what makes you unique and what’s different about you.  What you consider a flaw in you might actually be what makes you unique and special. It is much more difficult to judge oneself than to judge others. If you succeed in judging yourself rightly then you are indeed a man of true wisdom. Focusing on your positives will make you notice the positives in others. Allah says:

 ‏يَٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًۭا سَدِيدًۭا

“O, believers! Be mindful of Allah, and say what is right.” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:70)

Giving thanks to Allah for all that has been bestowed upon you takes your focus on what you don’t have and brings it back to all that you do have.  Make gratitude a regular part of your day. Keep in mind that jealousy is an illness that no one can cure. Get close to Allah by increasing our Imaan. May all of us be protected from the things that could damage our hearts and soul.