5 Signs Jealousy & Envy Are Draining You: Secrets from Psychology & Sahih Hadith

Dear Readers,

Do you ever feel as if something inside you is slipping away, like your mind is overwhelmed, disconnected, or quietly dimming for reasons you can’t name?

Food sits in front of you, but the appetite doesn’t. You run the tests, the scans, the check-ups. Everything comes back “normal.”Yet your intuition whispers: “Something still isn’t right.”

Maybe you’ve also felt that uneasy tug when someone else succeeds, that subtle sting of jealousy or envy you don’t want to admit.

Or perhaps you sense someone else’s envy directed toward you, and it’s affecting your peace more than you realize.

Are you losing yourself mentally because of envy of your own or someone else’s?

Most of us assume jealousy & envy happen to other people, not us.

But emotional imbalance often starts quietly, in the places we don’t want to look.

This guide blends Science, Psychology, and Spiritual insights to help you:

• Understand the real difference between jealousy & envy,

• Recognize when you might be feeling them,

• Spot when someone else is projecting envy on you,

• Protect your energy, reset your mindset, and begin actual emotional healing.

  
  

With awareness comes clarity. With clarity comes control. And with control, you can finally start to feel like yourself again: Read Hania's journey.

Hania’s Story: Soul behind the face

Hania seemed to have everything: success, family, respect, and comfort, but somehow her heart always felt empty and heavy. Every time she saw someone else happy, a sharp sting of jealousy pierced her heart. She constantly compared herself with others, and her inner burden never seemed to ease.

The shocking truth was that all of this was self-inflicted. She could not even bear another person’s smile or peace. Whenever she witnessed someone’s talent, happiness, or blessings, a wave of ingratitude would instantly overwhelm her. Outwardly, she laughed and smiled, sweet words flowing from her lips, but when alone, she was burning inside, consumed by an invisible fire of envy and restlessness.

One day, while watching a TV program, Hania heard a psychologist explain: We can treat physical and mental illnesses by visiting doctors, but there is a disease of the soul mentioned repeatedly in the Qur’an that attacks the heart and spirit: envy.

For the first time, Hania realized why she had always felt sad: she was trapped between jealousy & envy, a state that was silently consuming her faith, trust in Allah, and inner peace.

By Allah’s mercy, Hania sought spiritual and psychological healing, and her inner disease, the one that had been quietly destroying her character, happiness, and faith, was treated. Once healed, she could finally experience true peace, gratitude, and emotional freedom.

Feeling insecure about someone else’s success? Read how jealousy tore sisters Tina & Aniya apart, a cautionary story of envy that destroys the soul

Understanding Jealousy and Envy: Psychological Research and Prophetic Warnings

Jealousy is a natural human emotion. It arises from feelings of social comparison. We often find ourselves shifting between being the envier and the envied. (Parrott & Smith, 1993; Festinger, 1954).

In essence, jealousy arises when a person feels threatened or insecure, often triggering emotional tension and mental unease. Research shows that jealousy is closely tied to anxiety, communication breakdowns, and relational conflicts, factors that frequently surface when people struggle to navigate the fine line between jealousy & envy. (Guerrero et al, 2005).

When envy strikes, it can lead to experiences of decreased social value. This often manifests as social undermining behaviors, such as rejection or sabotage from those who harbor malicious envy. (Exline & Lobel, 1999).

Understanding our role in these dynamics is crucial. We have the power to respond productively, managing our envy and setting boundaries against hostility.

The last Noble Prophet ﷺ said:

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī (2518)

That’s why I’m sharing these five key signs today. They will help you identify envy through the lens of the Quran, Hadith, and modern science.

Let’s Quickly Check Where We Stand

5 Signs You Might Be Harboring Jealousy & Envy Inside Out

1. Resentment at Others’ Success

   Feeling uneasy or bitter when someone else succeeds? This subtle resentment can quietly affect your mindset and relationships, signaling that jealousy might be taking root in your heart.

2. Wishing Harm Upon Them

   Do you secretly hope for someone’s misfortune or downfall? Even fleeting thoughts like this can indicate hidden envy and emotional imbalance that needs attention.

3. Joy in Their Failures

   Notice a sense of satisfaction when others face struggles or setbacks? This quiet feeling of happiness often reveals that envy is secretly affecting your emotional well-being.”

4. Avoidance & Distance

   Do you find yourself avoiding certain people or reducing contact without a clear reason? This instinctive distancing is a common sign of internal jealousy or discomfort triggered by envy.

5. Focusing on Their Flaws

   Constantly noticing and criticizing others’ mistakes or shortcomings can signal that envy is coloring your perception, affecting your interactions and emotional balance.

   
   

Signs Someone May Be Envious of You

1. Sudden Anxiety or Unease Around Them: You feel tense or stressed when this person is near, even if they seem polite or friendly.

2. Unexpected Fatigue or Minor Illness: Being around them leaves you drained or unusually tired.

3. Sleep Disturbances: Restless nights, nightmares, or trouble falling asleep might signal emotional energy from envy.

4. Loss of Blessings (Barakah): Projects, plans, or personal achievements seem blocked or delayed without a clear reason.

5. Unexplained Problems: Conflicts, misunderstandings, or obstacles appear repeatedly in your work or personal life.

Envy vs jealousy: difference between jealousy and envy

Jealousy and envy may seem alike, but recognizing the difference can completely transform how you understand your emotions and your relationships.

Jealousy definition

Jealousy is felt when you believe someone can take your place, your relationship, your attention, your love, or your position.

It’s the emotion that says:

Example

Some wives become over-careful and insecure because they see their husbands as “theirs,” and live in constant fear that another woman might take him away.

This creates fear, mistrust, and instability in the relationship.

The wife reacts, argues, and questions everything, while the husband becomes exhausted from constantly explaining himself.

This can also happen the other way around; husbands feel the same jealousy when they fear losing their wives.

Jealousy is a heart’s restlessness rooted in insecurity.

Meaning of envy: Deep soul sickness symptoms

Envy is a spiritual disease also known as a deep soul sickness.

Its core message is:

“It may start as harmless longing, yet it turns into real envy when a person cannot tolerate someone else's success, beauty, love, blessings, even their smile and sense of peace.”

Example

In every family, there’s someone who looks at another person’s happiness, wealth, looks, talent, status, or success and secretly wishes:

Even if this envious person eventually gets the same blessings, they remain unsatisfied.

Envy keeps the heart restless, slowly consuming your faith, gratitude, and emotional contentment.

Envy is a deep emptiness inside the heart that whispers, “Why don’t I have this?”

The Core Difference (Simple & Powerful)

Emotional Meaning Heart Condition

• Jealousy, fear of losing what you already have, Heart anxiety

• (Envy)Desire to have what someone else has Heart emptiness

• Jealousy = Fear of replacement

• Envy = Hunger for what others possess

  
  

In both of these emotional diseases, a person eventually loses their trust (tawakkul) in Allah, because the heart becomes focused on people instead of being anchored in faith.

Scientific Insight: Research shows envy and jealousy increase cortisol, the stress hormone, fatigue, poor sleep, anxiety, and difficulty making decisions.

Click to read: How jealousy & envy taught a lesson through the Prophets(Musa and Harun), the fate of Qarun, the billionaire who refused zakat and was swallowed by the earth

The Cure: Healing Through Prophetic Medicines

Whenever you feel jealousy or envy in your heart, recite this prayer.

Protection in the Quran: Wazifa to get rid of Jealousy

1. Morning and Evening Adhkar:

   
   

2. Ruqyah Dua For Protection

a. Ayatul Kursi (Quran 2:255)

Recite after every Prayer to block evil.

b. Blow on your hands after reciting the following Surahs (3x times):

• Surah Al-Ikhlas

• Surah Al-Falaq

• Surah An-Nas

Then wipe over your body. (practice reported in Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5017).

3. Maintain Gratitude & Contentment

4.  (Charity)

   Giving charity wards off the effects of envy.

   Give charity without delay, for it shields from misfortune.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Hadith 618)

Scientific Remedy for Soul Diseases

Studies show that mindfulness meditation effectively reduces stress caused by envy by lowering cortisol levels and enhancing emotional regulation. Boosting self-awareness helps you manage jealousy & envy calmly and maintain healthier relationships.

Dong, X., Li, X., & Xiang, Y. (2022). How does mindfulness relate to benign/malicious envy? The mediating role of resilience, internal locus of control, and self‑esteem. Frontiers in Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.878690

Conclusion

Recognizing the signs of jealousy and envy early is key to protecting your mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. By reflecting on your own feelings and observing subtle patterns in others, you can prevent these emotions from draining your energy and distorting your perspective.

Combining psychological insights with spiritual guidance, including prophetic wisdom and practices like Ruqyah, helps you build resilience, restore balance, and maintain inner peace. Self-awareness is the first step: when you understand these emotions, you regain control over your heart, strengthen your faith, and create healthier connections with people.

 Q1: How can I tell if I’m feeling jealousy or envy?

Notice subtle signs like feeling negative about others’ success, comparing yourself, or even wishing things didn’t go well for them. These quiet feelings are often early signs that your heart may be holding envy.

Q2: What are the spiritual ways to protect myself from envy?

Shield your heart spiritually: Recite Quranic verses, practice morning and evening Adhkar, and seek Ruqyah to guard your energy and peace.

Q3: How does jealousy affect mental health and relationships?

Jealousy quietly drains your mind and soul, raising stress, anxiety, and fatigue, while straining trust and connections with others.

Take a moment today to reflect on whether jealousy or envy is quietly influencing your thoughts or actions. Awareness is the doorway to emotional freedom and spiritual healing.

جَزَاكُمُ ٱللّٰهُ خَيْرًا