Fizilal Quran by Syed Qutb “And from the evil of the envious when he envies.” (Glorious Quran, surah al-Falaq (the Daybreak), Verse 5). Envy is the evil, begrudging reaction one feels towards another who has received some favour from Allah SWT. It is also accompanied by a very strong desire for the end to such favours. It is also possible that some harm to the envied may result from such a baseless grudge. This may either be the outcome of direct physical action by the envier, or from suppressed feelings alone. We should not be uneasy to learn that there are countless inexplicable mysteries in life. There are several phenomena for which no account has been offered up till now. Telepathy and hypnosis are two such examples. We should not try to deny the psychological effects of envy on the envied person just because we cannot ascertain how this takes place by scientific means and methods. Very little is known about the mysteries of envy and the little that is known has often been uncovered by chance and coincidence. In any case, there is in envy an evil from which the refuge and protection of Allah SWT must be sought. For He, the Most Generous, Most Merciful, who knows all things, has directed the Prophet Muhammad SAW and his followers to seek His refuge from such evil. It is unanimously agreed by all Islamic schools of thought that Allah SWT will always protect His servants from such evils, should they seek His protection as He has directed them to do. Al-Bukhārī relates that Ā’ishah said: “The Prophet would blow into both hands when getting into bed to sleep, and recite: ‘Say: He is Allah SWT, the One...’ and, ‘Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the Daybreak...’ and, ‘Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,’ and, starting with his head, he would run his palms over his face and the front part of his body, before running them over the rest of his body. He did this three times.” [Also related by Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī and al-Nasā’ī].