Eventually, this disease reduces the hasid into a helpless wretch.
Eventually, this disease reduces the hasid into a helpless wretch. • The (s) said: “Beware! Do not bear enmity with the blessings of Allah.” When asked about the people who bear enmity with the blessings of Allah, he (s) replied: “Those who are envious.”(3) • Imam Ali (a) said: “Envy is a great trap of Satan.”(4) • Imam Ali (a) said: “A hasid is a sick person though he (may) physically appear to be healthy.”(5) • Muhammad ibn Muslim reports that al-Imam al‑Baqir (a) said: “A man may be forgiven for something done in a fit of anger, but hasad devours faith as fire consumes wood.”(6) • Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq (a) is reported to have said: “Satan says to his soldiers: “Instil hasad and disobedience of Allah among them (bani Adam) as these are equal to shirk (polytheism) in the eyes of Allah.”(7) • Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq (a) said that Luqman (a) said to his son: “There are three signs of a Hasid: (1) He is a backbiter at the back (2) He is a flatterer in front and (3) He is happy when a misfortune befalls (the envied).(8) The Cure for this Disease If you suffer from this deadly disease, seriously contemplate the enormity of its devastating effects on your faith.
Consider taking the following steps to purge it from your heart: • Know that your envy doesn’t harm your mahsud, nor does it make him lose any of his favours and merits. You shall ever suffer in grief, pain, and anguish while the mahsud is in a state of bliss and joy. In the Hereafter as well your envy will benefit your mahsud, especially if it results in backbiting or slandering as your good deeds will be assigned to the mahsud. • Force yourself to be affectionate with the mahsud.
The aim of your kindness should be to cure yourself of envy. Your inner self will ask you to ill-treat or hurt him, but you must act against these inclinations and be friendly to him. You must respect him and gradually convince your heart to respect him. • Try to see his virtues yourself and think that these are favours of Allah on him. Force yourself to speak in his praise and make his good qualities known to others.
Though your behaviour will be unnatural in the beginning, since your aim is self-rectification, it will gradually become less artificial. Insha’Allah, day by day this will become a reality and your heart will follow your tongue to appreciate his virtues and good qualities.