Hadith #2251

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states, "لاراحَةَ لِحَسُود۔" which translates to

There is no comfort for the jealous.

This concise statement holds a beautiful message that is applicable to all Muslims, regardless of their sect.

To understand the significance of this Hadith, let us first delve into the meanings of the key words. "لا" means "no" or "not," "راحة" means "comfort" or "peace," and "حسود" refers to "the jealous" or "the envious."

Jealousy is a negative trait that stems from a lack of contentment with one's own blessings and a desire to possess what others have. It is a destructive emotion that can lead to resentment, bitterness, and even harm towards others. The Hadith emphasizes that those who harbor jealousy will never find true peace and tranquility in their hearts.

The Quran provides us with several verses that shed light on the destructive nature of jealousy and the importance of contentment. In Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says, (Quran 4:54)

Or do they envy people for what Allah has given them of His bounty? But We had already given the family of Abraham the Scripture and wisdom and conferred upon them a great kingdom.

This verse highlights the futility of jealousy by reminding us that all blessings come from Allah. Envy towards others for their possessions or achievements is essentially questioning the wisdom and fairness of Allah's distribution of His bounties. It is a lack of trust in His divine plan and a failure to appreciate the unique blessings that He has bestowed upon each individual.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Hadid, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) states, (Quran 57:26-27)

And We had already sent Noah and Abraham and placed in their descendants prophethood and scripture. And among them is he who is guided, but many of them are defiantly disobedient. Then We sent following their footsteps Our messengers and followed [them] with Jesus, the son of Mary, and gave him the Gospel. And We placed in the hearts of those who followed him compassion and mercy and monasticism, which they innovated; We did not prescribe it for them except [that they did so] seeking the approval of Allah. But they did not observe it with due observance. So We gave the ones who believed among them their reward, but many of them are defiantly disobedient.

This passage highlights the importance of following the footsteps of the Prophets and their righteous successors. It teaches us that envy and disobedience lead to a loss of guidance and blessings from Allah. Those who are jealous and defiantly disobedient will not find comfort or peace in their hearts, as they are distancing themselves from the path of righteousness and the mercy of Allah.

Reflecting on the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and the supporting Quranic verses, we can understand that jealousy is a destructive emotion that hinders our spiritual growth and inner peace. It is a trait that we must strive to eliminate from our hearts. Instead, we should focus on cultivating gratitude, contentment, and trust in Allah's divine plan. By doing so, we can attain true peace and tranquility in our lives.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) protect us from the destructive effects of jealousy and grant us the ability to appreciate and be content with the blessings He has bestowed upon us. Ameen.