"Log jalte hain" — it is one of the most common worries in our families. Islam takes hasad seriously, but it answers it with dua, dhikr and a clean heart, not with fear or suspicion. And it looks at hasad from both sides: protecting yourself from other people's envy, and protecting your own heart from envying others.
What is hasad?
Hasad is wishing that a blessing be taken away from someone else. It is different from ghibtah — wishing to have something good like someone else, without wanting it removed from them. The Prophet ﷺ allowed that healthy kind of wish in good deeds:
"There is no envy except in two cases: a man whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it in the way of truth, and a man whom Allah has given wisdom and he judges by it and teaches it."
Sahih al-Bukhari 73
Hasad is also related to, but not the same as, nazar (the evil eye). Nazar can come even from someone who loves you and simply admires without saying Ma sha Allah. For nazar specifically, see our guide to nazar ki dua.
1. Surah al-Falaq — revealed for protection from envy
Allah Himself taught us to seek refuge from the envier. Surah al-Falaq ends with exactly that:
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ وَمِنْ شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ وَمِنْ شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
Qul a'ūdhu bi-rabbil-falaq. Min sharri mā khalaq. Wa min sharri ghāsiqin idhā waqab. Wa min sharrin-naffāthāti fil-'uqad. Wa min sharri ḥāsidin idhā ḥasad.
Meaning: "Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreak, from the evil of what He created, from the evil of darkness when it settles, from the evil of those who blow on knots, and from the evil of an envier when he envies."
Qur'an 113:1–5
2. The three Quls, morning and evening
The Prophet ﷺ told Abdullah ibn Khubayb to recite Surah al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Nas three times in the morning and in the evening, and said they would suffice him against everything.
Sunan Abi Dawud 5082, Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3575
This is the single most important daily habit against hasad — after Fajr and after Maghrib.
3. The ruqyah Jibreel (as) recited over the Prophet ﷺ
When the Prophet ﷺ was unwell, Jibreel (as) came to him and recited these words — naming the envious eye directly:
بِاسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ، مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ يُؤْذِيكَ، مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ أَوْ عَيْنِ حَاسِدٍ، اللَّهُ يَشْفِيكَ، بِاسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ
Bismillāhi arqīk, min kulli shay'in yu'dhīk, min sharri kulli nafsin aw 'ayni ḥāsid, Allāhu yashfīk, bismillāhi arqīk.
Meaning: "In the name of Allah I recite over you, from everything that harms you, from the evil of every soul or envious eye. May Allah cure you. In the name of Allah I recite over you."
Sahih Muslim 2186
This is recited over someone else — a parent over a child, a spouse over a spouse. For a girl or woman, say arqīki, yu'dhīki, yashfīki.
4. Keep some blessings private
When Yusuf (as) told his father about his dream, Ya'qub (as) told him not to share it with his brothers, knowing their jealousy (Qur'an 12:5). Being grateful to Allah does not mean announcing every new car, rishta or promotion to everyone. A little privacy is wisdom, not ingratitude.
The other side: hasad in your own heart
We usually ask "who is jealous of me?" The Prophet ﷺ also taught us to ask "am I jealous of anyone?" He said:
"Do not hate one another, do not envy one another, do not turn your backs on one another — and be, O servants of Allah, brothers."
Sahih al-Bukhari 6065, Sahih Muslim 2558
"None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself."
Sahih al-Bukhari 13
When you feel that burn inside, make the dua Allah praises the believers for in the Qur'an:
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ
Rabbanaghfir lanā wa li-ikhwāninalladhīna sabaqūnā bil-īmān, wa lā taj'al fī qulūbinā ghillan lilladhīna āmanū, rabbanā innaka ra'ūfun raḥīm.
Meaning: "Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who came before us in faith, and do not put in our hearts any resentment towards those who believe. Our Lord, You are Most Kind, Most Merciful."
Qur'an 59:10
Then do the opposite of what hasad wants: say Bārakallāhu lahu ("may Allah bless him") for the very person you felt jealous of. It is hard — and that is why it cures.
A simple daily routine
- After Fajr and Maghrib: Surah al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Nas, 3 times each.
- Over your children or a family member who is unwell: Bismillāhi arqīk…
- Whenever you admire someone's blessing: Mā shā' Allāh, bārakallāhu lahu.
- When you feel envy yourself: Rabbanaghfir lanā wa li-ikhwāninā…
Be careful about blaming relatives or neighbours for every difficulty — suspicion without proof is itself a sin, and it breaks families. Protection comes only from Allah: duas, the Qur'an and — for those who use one — a taweez of Qur'anic verses are means; the effect is from Allah alone. If someone is unwell, see a doctor too; seeking treatment is part of the Sunnah.
