Jealousy/Envy.. of material to spiritual success. The prophet (pbuh) says “Jealousy devours good deeds like fire devours wood ”
Why?! Is it because lack of understanding of deen? Lack of imaan? Love for this world?
**Jealousy does feel like an internal fire, CP. It might have something to do with lack of deen and iman. Because I think the Prophet SAWS said that we shouldn’t be jealous of those who have some materialistic thing that we are lacking. Instead we should have jealousy towards those who do righteous deeds and are try to get closer to Allah. This is to place emphasis on the principal that your beauty, wealth, and fame will not help you in the hereafter. Rather it’s your naikiyan. As to why jealousy devours good deeds like fire devours wood…it could be because jealousy (if it’s not controlled) can make a person bitter. You might start gossiping and backbiting about the person you’re jealous of. And there’s a hadith that when you backbite about someone…your good deeds end up going to the person you’re gossiping about. So, your good deeds are being “devoured” in a sense…cuz you’re losing them. If your jealousy is not controlled, it’s possible that you may try to harm the person. Example: People who get involved in black magic. People who try to employ cunning methods to jeopardize someone’s job. People who engage in fitnah and try to manipulate one person against another…thereby breeding hatred and destroying relationships. That’s another example of jealousy “devouring good deeds.” If your’e sooooooooooo consumed with doing evil deeds…you’re gonna spend little time doing good things. So all the time that could be spent doing good…is now used for negative energy and actions. Thereby, possibly leading to an increase in bad deeds and a deficit in good deeds.
**** If the jealousy is not checked, then the person might even resort to “quick-fix” and “haram” methods of achieving their goals. Such as stealing, gambling, etc. If your earnings are haraam…your food/clothes/everything is haraam. Your duas (making a dua is a good deed in itself) are not accepted. Another example of increase in bad deeds…and a possible deficit in good deeds.
Final question, don’t get me wrong here. Why is it prevalent in women?
Women, by nature, are more emotional and vent more…and dwell on issues more. We tend to overanalyze things more than men and this can lead to jealousy and gossiping. BUT I ASSURE YOU…that MEN are not immune to jealousy. I’ve SEEN and HEARD…MEN…get jealous because some other guy has a better car, or a bigger house, or a better job. I’ve seen and heard men make comments that reflect their insecurity. I’ve even heard stories of how men trying to screw over another person at work to get ahead. It happens. Both genders can be jealous and manipulative…but their approach to these negative qualities may be different.
Your thoughts? Examples you’d like to share from which we can draw some benefit?
Examples can be many. But it would make us all hypocrites to quote examples of “other” people’s jealous attitudes and actions…when we ALL have been jealous ourselves at various points throughout life. We’re human…we’re not perfect. Allah has created us with negative qualities like anger and jealousy and greed. But at the same time He has also blessed us with aql and a CONSCEINCE to help us realize when we’re veering off the right path and the potential to make amends and correct ourselves.