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Does envy cause diseases, and what is its scientific explanation?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Envy is a grave and dangerous disease that afflicts the envious person with worry and grief, and it may lead him to madness or suicide, as Al-Hasan Al-Basri said: "I have not seen an oppressor more resembling an oppressed person than an envious one, with constant inner turmoil, persistent sorrow, and unending anguish." As for the envied person, he is not affected by envy unless it is accompanied by an evil eye, for the evil eye is real and can precede destiny. To avoid the harm of the evil eye on others when seeing something admirable, it is sunnah to say: "Masha'Allah, la quwwata illa billah (What Allah wills, there is no power except with Allah)" or "Barakt (May you be blessed)." In summary, the harm of envy falls upon the envious person himself, unless it is accompanied by the evil eye or sorcery.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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