Envy: The Inferno Within Part 3

Envy: The Inferno Within Part 3
Delivered by Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq on Friday 6th March 2020 at Al Kawthar Academy, Leicester

This three-part series details the causes, effects and how an individual can safeguard themselves from falling into the sin of envy.

The third part of this series first focuses on the ill effects envy has on the envious person and his victim, as well as the incompatibility between envy and īman. A remedy for envy is then identified to be dropping it like burning coal. The brain is likened to a car and modern science is quoted on how controlling one’s thoughts can have a physical effect on the brain.

A second remedy identified is praying for the person envied. It is emphasized that the dunyā cannot make us happy and examples are given of people having wealth and leadership but still committing atrocities due to their inner turmoil. It is also emphasized that Allah’s distribution in the dunyā was never meant to be equal but that it is the Hereafter that counts.

A third remedy identified is to direct one’s energy from having envy to instead making du’ā’ and striving towards one’s goal. The importance of striving for the right things with the right intention is highlighted here. Scholars are mentioned not to be free from envy and the ill treatment of Imam Bukhārī is taken as an example.

The talk then ends with a positive example of a Ṣaḥabī foretold to be of the people of Jannah; on virtue of him being free from malice and envy. This beautiful example concludes the series regarding envy.

Below are some of the timecodes and topics for this talk:

0:00 – Intro
3:20 – Wise Sayings Regarding Envy
12:57 – Connection Between Envy & Iman
19:36 – Being Happy with the Distribution of Allah
27:05 – Remedy 1: Drop Hasad Like a Burning Coal
35:30 – Remedy 2: Pray for the Other Person
49:58 – Remedy 3: Striving for the Bounties of Allah
54:49 – The Value of the Dunya in the Eyes of Allah
1:05:35 – Envy Only in Two Things
1:20:27 – Envy Common Among the Ulama (Academic Rivalry)
1:31:13 – The Example of the Sahabah and Envy

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