---
title: "Selfishness, Envy, and the Divine Reckoning"
author: "adrian preece"
published_at: "2026-10-27"
canonical_url: "https://www.truthpromoters.com/reflections/selfishness-envy-and-the-divine-reckoning"
type: "reflection"
scripture_reference: "Sahifa Sajjadiyyah, Prayer 20: His Supplication on Noble Moral Traits and Acts Pleasing to God, Verse 5"
---

# Selfishness, Envy, and the Divine Reckoning

Selfishness erects barriers between people, fostering aggressive spirits that seek to suppress others and stir up conflict. While Islam permits self-love, it strictly distinguishes between envy (hasad) and gladness (ghibtah). Envy is wishing a brother’s blessing be removed to transfer to you, whereas gladness is rejoicing in their success while wishing for a similar blessing for yourself, allowing theirs to remain intact.

This is a profound moral imperative. Why wish for the removal of another’s blessing? Do you fear God lacks a second similar gift? God’s bounty suffices all, and nothing is diminished from it. As stated in the Qur'an (18:109), even if the sea were ink for His words, it would be spent before they are finished.

Ultimately, we must guard against selfishness. The Qur'an reminds us in Surah al-Nahl (16:111) that the day will come when every soul pleads for itself and is recompensed fully for what it has done, and they will not be wronged.

## Scripture

> اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ، وَلَا تَرْفَعْنِي فِي النَّاسِ دَرَجَةً إِلَّا حَطَطْتَنِي عِنْدَ نَفْسِي مِثْلَهَا، وَلَا تُحْدِثْ لِي عِزّاً ظَاهِراً إِلَّا أَحْدَثْتَ لِي ذِلَّةً بَاطِنَةً عِنْدَ نَفْسِي بِقَدَرِهَا .
>
> O God, bless Muhammad and his Household, raise me not a single degree before the people without lowering me its like in myself and bring about no outward exaltation for me without an inward abasement in myself to the same measure!

— *Sahifa Sajjadiyyah, Prayer 20: His Supplication on Noble Moral Traits and Acts Pleasing to God, Verse 5*

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