Attraction for good things and disgust for bad things are inherent in human nature. However, sometimes man goes to the opposite direction and feels attraction for bad things, while it is neither his nature, nor his path to success. Allah has encouraged His servants in many ways to turn away from going against their nature. Allah says:

قَدْ اَفْلَحَ مَنْ زَكّٰىهَا، وَ قَدْ خَابَ مَنْ دَسّٰىهَا.

Surely, he has succeeded, who has purified the soul. And he has failed, who destroyed it. - Surah ash-Shams (91): 9-10

قَدْ اَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكّٰي.

Surely, he is successful who is purified. - Surah A'la (87): 14

One of the bad qualities, from which one must protect himself, is jealousy. Let us cleanse our hearts of this bad quality and know its causes, negative effects and remedy.

Jealousy is caused due to the narrowness of the thought and vision. A little explanation can make the matter clearer.

Allah Ta'ala is Razzaq, the Great Sustainer. He is Hakim, all-wise. He makes someone rich, someone poor. This distinction is part of his wisdom. In this way, the worldly life is running. The servant's task is to be content with Allah's distribution through patience and thanksgiving. We should not be ungrateful and impatient. The Prophet, peace be upon him, taught us to look at those people who are lower than ourselves in worldly matters. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

انْظُرُوا إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ، وَلاَ تَنْظُرُوا إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ فَوْقَكُمْ، فَإِنَّهُ أَجْدَرُ أَنْ لاَ تَزْدَرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللهِ عَلَيْكُمْ.

Instead of looking at those who are above you, look at those who are below you. It will be helpful for you not to consider the blessings of Allah insignificant. - Jame Tirmidhi, Hadith 2513

Negative impacts of jealousy

Jealousy does not increase the wealth of the jealous, nor does it decrease the wealth of the one of whom he is jealous. Moreover, there are many negative impacts in it for the jealous. For example:

1. Jealousy is the nature of the Jews

Jealousy is the nature of the Jews. It is mentioned in many verses of the Quran.  For example, see Surah Baqarah 90, 109 and Surah Al e Imran 19. One of the reasons why the Jews are cursed in the Quran is jealousy.

2. Jealousy creates unrest in mind

The heart of the jealous suffers from anxiety and restlessness. Jealousy is fire. When the jealous does not like others' success, he burns in the fire of his own jealousy.

3. Jealousy destroys good deeds

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إياكُم والحَسَدَ، فإنَّ الحَسَدَ يأكُلُ الحَسَناتِ كما تأكُلُ النَارُ الحَطَبَ.

Beware of jealusy! It destroys virtues as fire destroys wood. -Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith 4903

4. Jealousy opens the door to many haram acts

When the heart of someone becomes the victim of jealousy, other organs of the body are not spared from its evils. His head always thinks of harming others. His eyes always find the faults of others. Harming others in their life, wealth and honor with hands, feet and mouth becomes the usual habit of the jealous person.

Thus, jealousy opens the door to many forbidden deeds!

5. Jealousy cannot go with Iman

The greatest harm of Jealousy is that it destroys your faith, because, the demand of faith is to acknowledge Allah as Lord and to be satisfied with His judgment. The essence of jealousy is to express displeasure with Allah's judgment and distribution. It is needless to say that this condition damages one’s faith. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

... وَلَا يَجتَمِعُ فِي جَوفِ عَبْدٍ الإِيْمَانُ وَالحَسَدُ.

... Faith and hatred cannot coexist in one's heart. - Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadith 4606

Remedy for Jealousy

1. As soon as you feel jealous of someone, think about two things:

a. This jealousy will neither increase my sustenance, nor decrease the sustenance of the person I am jealous of. In addition, my Iman will be harmed; I will be unfortunate in this world and hereafter.

b. Allah knows better what is good and what is bad for me. So, what He has given me is suitable for me. I should be satisfied with it. Allah says:

عَسٰۤی اَنْ تَكْرَهُوْا شَیْـًٔا وَّ هُوَ خَیْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَ عَسٰۤی اَنْ تُحِبُّوْا شَیْـًٔا وَّ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ وَ اللهُ یَعْلَمُ وَ اَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُوْنَ

Maybe you dislike a thing which is good for you; maybe you love a thing which is harmful for you. Allah knows while you do not know. - Surah Baqarah (2): 216

2. Recite this verse and pay attention to its meaning-

وَ لَا تَتَمَنَّوْا مَا فَضَّلَ اللهُ بِهٖ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلٰی بَعْضٍ، لِلرِّجَالِ نَصِیْبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبُوْا وَ لِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِیْبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبْنَ، وَ سْـَٔلُوا اللهَ مِنْ فَضْلِهٖ، اِنَّ اللهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَیْءٍ عَلِیْمًا.

Do not wish for that by which Allah has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have eared and for women is a share of what have earned. And ask Allah for His mercy. Surely Allah is well-aware of all matters. - Surah Nisa (4): 32

3. Ask Allah Ta'ala for the welfare of the person you feel envious of and also make dua so that Allah will cure you from this disease.

4. Act against the demands of jealousy. For example, praising instead of condemning, doing well for him instead of harming, looking for merits without finding fault.

So, let us cleanse our hearts of jealousy and save ourselves from the fire of Hell.