What did al-Ghazali say about envy (ḥasad)?
Al-Ghazali dedicated an entire book of the Iḥyāʾ to envy and rancor. He dissected it the way a physician dissects a disease — its causes, its symptoms, its cures.
5 passages from 2 books in the library
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 2 books by Imam al-Ghazali — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"This is the sin of envy itself, not to mention how envy leads to discord, denial of truth, and letting loose the tongue and hand in vile acts in satisfaction from enemies."
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"If you wish for blessings to vanish from others due to envy, it is as though you wish for the blessing of faith to be taken away due to the envy of disbelievers."
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"If you desire blessings to remain with you despite others' envy, this is foolishness, as every envious person desires this special privilege."
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"In terms of religion, when you envy someone, you wrong them, especially if your envy leads you to backbite, defame, or expose their faults."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"If she lacks religious commitment in safeguarding herself and her chastity, she may bring disgrace to her husband and tarnish his reputation, causing turmoil in his heart with jealousy, thus making his life bitter."
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