Trust Allah and resist the poison of envy
“Show gratitude for even the smallest of gifts that you have.”
Envy arises from arrogance and distrust of Allah's wisdom, but it can be resisted by remembering life's temporary nature, trusting qadr, practicing gratitude, and sharing in the good of fellow Muslims.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Iblis's envy and arrogance led to disobedience, while Cain's envy led to murder.
- Hasad is defined as wanting another person deprived of a blessing, and it damages families, communities, and faith.
- Worldly possessions are temporary and insignificant compared with the hereafter.
- Trusting Allah's qadr prevents grief over losses and boastfulness over gains.
- Gratitude, tawakkul, and shukr help defeat jealousy and increase contentment.
- Muslims should regard one believer's good as good for the entire ummah.
In the khateeb's words
“It is your soul saying that you deserve that thing more than that person.”
“What we attain in this world will not come with us into our graves.”
“Show gratitude for even the smallest of gifts that you have.”
“a good for one Muslim is a good for all Muslims. And an evil for one Muslim is an evil for all Muslims.”
For the dinner table
The khutbah teaches that envy, or hasad, is wanting another person to lose a blessing simply because we do not have it. It can grow from arrogance, damage our relationship with Allah, and tear apart families and communities, as shown through Iblis and Cain. We can resist it by remembering that worldly possessions are temporary, trusting Allah's qadr, and being grateful for the blessings already given to us. As Muslims, we should see another Muslim's good as good for the whole ummah and ask Allah to purify our hearts.
- What blessing do you sometimes overlook, and how could you show gratitude for it this week?
- How can we respond when someone else receives something we wanted?
- What does it mean for one Muslim's good to be good for all Muslims?
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