Quran Verses about Envy
Allah forbids coveting the bounty He has given to others and commands seeking refuge in Him from the evil of the envier. The verses show envy as a reason people reject the truth and fall into dispute, give examples of it in the stories of Cain and the brothers of Joseph, and praise hearts free of envy, such as the Ansar and the people of Paradise.
The prohibition of coveting others' bounty
وَلَا تَتَمَنَّوۡاْ مَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ بَعۡضَكُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖۚ لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٞ مِّمَّا ٱكۡتَسَبُواْۖ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيبٞ مِّمَّا ٱكۡتَسَبۡنَۚ وَسۡـَٔلُواْ ٱللَّهَ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦٓۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمٗا ٣٢
Wa lā tatamannaw mā faḍḍalallāhu bihī baʿḍakum ʿalā baʿḍ, lir-rijāli naṣībum mimmaktasabū, walin-nisāʾi naṣībum mimmaktasabn, wasʾalullāha min faḍlih, innallāha kāna bikulli shayʾin ʿalīmā.
And do not wish for that by which Allāh has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of1 what they have earned. And ask Allāh of His bounty. Indeed Allāh is ever, of all things, Knowing.
Footnotes (1)
- This may refer to shares of inheritance, wages and reward in the Hereafter.
Seeking refuge from the evil of the envier
قُلۡ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلۡفَلَقِ ١
Qul aʿūdhu birabbil-falaq.
Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak
مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ٢
Min sharri mā khalaq.
From the evil of that which He created
وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ٣
Wa min sharri ghāsiqin idhā waqab.
And from the evil of darkness when it settles
وَمِن شَرِّ ٱلنَّفَّٰثَٰتِ فِي ٱلۡعُقَدِ ٤
Wa min sharrin-naffāthāti fil-ʿuqad.
And from the evil of the blowers in knots1
Footnotes (1)
- i.e., those who practice magic.
وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ ٥
Wa min sharri ḥāsidin idhā ḥasad.
And from the evil of an envier when he envies."
Envy as a cause of rejecting the truth and of dispute
بِئۡسَمَا ٱشۡتَرَوۡاْ بِهِۦٓ أَنفُسَهُمۡ أَن يَكۡفُرُواْ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بَغۡيًا أَن يُنَزِّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦۖ فَبَآءُو بِغَضَبٍ عَلَىٰ غَضَبٖۚ وَلِلۡكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٞ مُّهِينٞ ٩٠
Biʾsamashtaraw bihī anfusahum ay yakfurū bimā anzalallāhu baghyan ay yunazzilallāhu min faḍlihī ʿalā may yashāʾu min ʿibādih, fabāʾū bighaḍabin ʿalā ghaḍab, walil-kāfirīna ʿadhābum muhīn.
How wretched is that for which they sold themselves - that they would disbelieve in what Allāh has revealed through [their] outrage that Allāh would send down His favor upon whom He wills from among His servants. So they returned having [earned] wrath upon wrath. And for the disbelievers is a humiliating punishment.
وَدَّ كَثِيرٞ مِّنۡ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ لَوۡ يَرُدُّونَكُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ إِيمَٰنِكُمۡ كُفَّارًا حَسَدٗا مِّنۡ عِندِ أَنفُسِهِم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلۡحَقُّۖ فَٱعۡفُواْ وَٱصۡفَحُواْ حَتَّىٰ يَأۡتِيَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَمۡرِهِۦٓۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٞ ١٠٩
Wadda kathīrum min ahlil-kitābi law yaruddūnakum mim baʿdi īmānikum kuffāran ḥasadam min ʿindi anfusihim mim baʿdi mā tabayyana lahumul-ḥaqq, faʿfū waṣfaḥū ḥattā yaʾtiyallāhu biʾamrih, innallāha ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr.
Many of the People of the Scripture wish they could turn you back to disbelief after you have believed, out of envy from themselves [even] after the truth has become clear to them. So pardon and overlook until Allāh delivers His command. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
كَانَ ٱلنَّاسُ أُمَّةٗ وَٰحِدَةٗ فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَأَنزَلَ مَعَهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لِيَحۡكُمَ بَيۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فِيمَا ٱخۡتَلَفُواْ فِيهِۚ وَمَا ٱخۡتَلَفَ فِيهِ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوهُ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَتۡهُمُ ٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتُ بَغۡيَۢا بَيۡنَهُمۡۖ فَهَدَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لِمَا ٱخۡتَلَفُواْ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ بِإِذۡنِهِۦۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَهۡدِي مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ ٢١٣
Kānan-nāsu ummataw wāḥidatan fabaʿathallāhun-nabiyyīna mubashshirīna wa mundhirīna wa anzala maʿahumul-kitāba bil-ḥaqqi liyaḥkuma baynan-nāsi fīmakhtalafū fīh, wa makhtalafa fīhi illal-ladhīna ūtūhu mim baʿdi mā jāʾathumul-bayyinātu baghyam baynahum, fahadallāhul-ladhīna āmanū limakhtalafū fīhi minal-ḥaqqi biʾidhnih, wallāhu yahdī may yashāʾu ilā ṣirāṭim mustaqīm.
Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allāh sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over it [i.e., the Scripture] except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allāh guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allāh guides whom He wills to a straight path.
إِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡإِسۡلَٰمُۗ وَمَا ٱخۡتَلَفَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡعِلۡمُ بَغۡيَۢا بَيۡنَهُمۡۗ وَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلۡحِسَابِ ١٩
Innad-dīna ʿindallāhil-islām, wa makhtalafal-ladhīna ūtul-kitāba illā mim baʿdi mā jāʾahumul-ʿilmu baghyam baynahum, wa may yakfur biʾāyātillāhi fa innallāha sarīʿul-ḥisāb.
Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allāh is Islām. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allāh, then indeed, Allāh is swift in [taking] account.
أَمۡ يَحۡسُدُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ عَلَىٰ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦۖ فَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَآ ءَالَ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَءَاتَيۡنَٰهُم مُّلۡكًا عَظِيمٗا ٥٤
Am yaḥsudūnan-nāsa ʿalā mā ātāhumullāhu min faḍlih, faqad ātaynā āla ibrāhīmal-kitāba wal-ḥikmata wa ātaynāhum mulkan ʿaẓīmā.
Or do they envy people for what Allāh has given them of His bounty? But We had already given the family of Abraham the Scripture and wisdom1 and conferred upon them a great kingdom.
Footnotes (1)
- Prophetic teachings.
وَمَا تَفَرَّقُوٓاْ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡعِلۡمُ بَغۡيَۢا بَيۡنَهُمۡۚ وَلَوۡلَا كَلِمَةٞ سَبَقَتۡ مِن رَّبِّكَ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٖ مُّسَمّٗى لَّقُضِيَ بَيۡنَهُمۡۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُورِثُواْ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ لَفِي شَكّٖ مِّنۡهُ مُرِيبٖ ١٤
Wa mā tafarraqū illā mim baʿdi mā jāʾahumul-ʿilmu baghyam baynahum, wa lawlā kalimatun sabaqat mir rabbika ilā ajalim musammal laquḍiya baynahum, wa innal-ladhīna ūrithul-kitāba mim baʿdihim lafī shakkim minhu murīb.
And they did not become divided until after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And if not for a word1 that preceded from your Lord [postponing the penalty] until a specified time, it would have been concluded between them. And indeed, those who were granted inheritance of the Scripture after them are, concerning it, in disquieting doubt.
Footnotes (1)
- Decree. See footnote to 10:19.
وَءَاتَيۡنَٰهُم بَيِّنَٰتٖ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡرِۖ فَمَا ٱخۡتَلَفُوٓاْ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡعِلۡمُ بَغۡيَۢا بَيۡنَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقۡضِي بَيۡنَهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُواْ فِيهِ يَخۡتَلِفُونَ ١٧
Wa ātaynāhum bayyinātim minal-amr, famakhtalafū illā mim baʿdi mā jāʾahumul-ʿilmu baghyam baynahum, inna rabbaka yaqḍī baynahum yawmal-qiyāmati fīmā kānū fīhi yakhtalifūn.
And We gave them clear proofs of the matter [of religion]. And they did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. Indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.
Examples of envy in the stories
۞ وَٱتۡلُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ نَبَأَ ٱبۡنَيۡ ءَادَمَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ إِذۡ قَرَّبَا قُرۡبَانٗا فَتُقُبِّلَ مِنۡ أَحَدِهِمَا وَلَمۡ يُتَقَبَّلۡ مِنَ ٱلۡأٓخَرِ قَالَ لَأَقۡتُلَنَّكَۖ قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ ٢٧
Watlu ʿalayhim nabaʾabnay ādama bil-ḥaqqi idh qarrabā qurbānan fatuqubbila min aḥadihimā wa lam yutaqabbal minal-ākhari qāla laʾaqtulannak, qāla innamā yataqabbalullāhu minal-muttaqīn.
And recite to them the story of Adam's two sons, in truth, when they both made an offering [to Allāh], and it was accepted from one of them but was not accepted from the other. Said [the latter], "I will surely kill you." Said [the former], "Indeed, Allāh only accepts from the righteous [who fear Him].
إِذۡ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّي رَأَيۡتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوۡكَبٗا وَٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَ رَأَيۡتُهُمۡ لِي سَٰجِدِينَ ٤
Idh qāla yūsufu liʾabīhi yāʾabati innī raʾaytu aḥada ʿashara kawkabaw wash-shamsa wal-qamara raʾaytuhum lī sājidīn.
[Of these stories mention] when Joseph said to his father,1 "O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me."
Footnotes (1)
- The prophet Jacob (upon whom be peace).
قَالَ يَٰبُنَيَّ لَا تَقۡصُصۡ رُءۡيَاكَ عَلَىٰٓ إِخۡوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُواْ لَكَ كَيۡدًاۖ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ عَدُوّٞ مُّبِينٞ ٥
Qāla yābunayya lā taqṣuṣ ruʾyāka ʿalā ikhwatika fayakīdū laka kaydā, innash-shayṭāna lil-insāni ʿaduwwum mubīn.
He said, "O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan. Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy.
Hearts free of envy
وَنَزَعۡنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِم مِّنۡ غِلّٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهِمُ ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُۖ وَقَالُواْ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِي هَدَىٰنَا لِهَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهۡتَدِيَ لَوۡلَآ أَنۡ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُۖ لَقَدۡ جَآءَتۡ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ وَنُودُوٓاْ أَن تِلۡكُمُ ٱلۡجَنَّةُ أُورِثۡتُمُوهَا بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ ٤٣
Wa nazaʿnā mā fī ṣudūrihim min ghillin tajrī min taḥtihimul-anhār, wa qālul-ḥamdu lillāhil-ladhī hadānā lihādhā wa mā kunnā linahtadiya lawlā an hadānallāh, laqad jāʾat rusulu rabbinā bil-ḥaqq, wa nūdū an tilkumul-jannatu ūrithtumūhā bimā kuntum taʿmalūn.
And We will have removed whatever is within their breasts of resentment,1 [while] flowing beneath them are rivers. And they will say, "Praise to Allāh, who has guided us to this; and we would never have been guided if Allāh had not guided us. Certainly the messengers of our Lord had come with the truth." And they will be called, "This is Paradise, which you have been made to inherit for what you used to do."
Footnotes (1)
- i.e., ill will or sense of injury for what was inflicted upon them during worldly life.
وَنَزَعۡنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِم مِّنۡ غِلٍّ إِخۡوَٰنًا عَلَىٰ سُرُرٖ مُّتَقَٰبِلِينَ ٤٧
Wa nazaʿnā mā fī ṣudūrihim min ghillin ikhwānan ʿalā sururim mutaqābilīn.
And We will remove whatever is in their breasts of resentment,1 [so they will be] brothers, on thrones facing each other.
Footnotes (1)
- See footnote to 7:43.
وَٱلَّذِينَ تَبَوَّءُو ٱلدَّارَ وَٱلۡإِيمَٰنَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ يُحِبُّونَ مَنۡ هَاجَرَ إِلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ فِي صُدُورِهِمۡ حَاجَةٗ مِّمَّآ أُوتُواْ وَيُؤۡثِرُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ وَلَوۡ كَانَ بِهِمۡ خَصَاصَةٞۚ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفۡسِهِۦ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ ٩
Wal-ladhīna tabawwaʾud-dāra wal-īmāna min qablihim yuḥibbūna man hājara ilayhim wa lā yajidūna fī ṣudūrihim ḥājatam mimmā ūtū wa yuʾthirūna ʿalā anfusihim wa law kāna bihim khaṣāṣah, wa may yūqa shuḥḥa nafsihī fa ulāʾika humul-mufliḥūn.
And [also for] those who were settled in the Home [i.e.,al-Madīnah] and [adopted] the faith before them.1 They love those who emigrated to them and find not any want in their breasts of what they [i.e., the emigrants] were given but give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful.
Footnotes (1)
- Before the settlement of the emigrants (Muhājireen) among the Anṣār, for whom a share is delegated as well.
وَٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَلِإِخۡوَٰنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلۡإِيمَٰنِ وَلَا تَجۡعَلۡ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلّٗا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٞ رَّحِيمٌ ١٠
Wal-ladhīna jāʾū mim baʿdihim yaqūlūna rabbanaghfir lanā waliʾikhwāninal-ladhīna sabaqūnā bil-īmāni wa lā tajʿal fī qulūbinā ghillal lil-ladhīna āmanū rabbanā innaka raʾūfur raḥīm.
And [there is a share for] those who come after them, saying, "Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful."