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What is the detailed definition of envy (hasad)? Does it harm the envied or only the envier? And does harm occur only through planning and action, or does envy possess supernatural powers that harm the envied?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Envy (hasad) is wishing for the disappearance of a blessing from the envied person, whereas the evil eye ('ayn) is a psychic power that affects bodies and souls. Often, envy is a cause for the one with the evil eye to gain dominance. Every person with the evil eye is envious, but not every envious person has the evil eye; thus, the envious person is more general than the one with the evil eye. The envious person harms the envied by the nature of their malicious self and their encounter with them, which affects them through its unique property, just like a snake from which venom emanates when it encounters its enemy. No one denies the evil eye except an ignorant person, for all wise people do not dispute the matter of the evil eye. The effect of spirits on bodies is a witnessed and tangible matter, such as the reddening or yellowing of the face when encountering someone one fears. The cause of this is the effect of spirits, so the envious spirit is clearly harmful to the envied.

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

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