1290 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Beware of envy, for envy consumes good deeds just as fire consumes firewood.” Recorded by Abu Dawud (1); Ibn Majah also transmits a similar report from Anas (2).

Hadith classification
The hadith is weak.
Abu Dawud collected it and remained silent about its soundness. Al-Mundhiri noted that Ibrahim’s grandfather is unnamed. Al-Bukhari mentioned this Ibrahim in al-Tarikh al-Kabir, cited this very report, and declared, “It is not authentic.” Al-Suyuti likewise graded it weak in al-Jamiʿ al-Saghir. Some hadith specialists pointed out that the chain contains ʿIsa ibn Abi ʿIsa al-Hannāṭ; al-Taqrib labels him matruk (“abandoned”). Allah knows best.

Vocabulary
• ḥasad (envy): a person’s wishing that Allah would transfer someone else’s blessing or virtue to himself and strip the other of it—this is the blameworthy form. If he merely wishes for the same blessing without it leaving its owner, it is called ghibṭa (admirable jealousy). In worldly matters this is permitted; in matters of the Hereafter it is praiseworthy, for it represents competition in goodness.

Points derived from the hadith

1. The hadith warns against envy and obliges the believer to struggle against it. Envy erases good deeds and nullifies their reward, just as fire devours firewood and turns it to ashes.
2. The forbidden envy is when a person observes Allah’s favor upon another and wishes for its removal.