Dua Against Envy
3 Shields Against the Envious Eye
Envy is a sickness of the heart that can harm both the one who carries it and the one it is aimed at, and Islam gives the believer protection from it on both sides. The dua against envy draws on the words Allah taught in the Quran, declaring that whatever is enjoyed is by the will of Allah, and that there is no power except with Him. Said when admiring a blessing, it removes the harm of envy and reminds the heart that every good thing comes from Allah alone.
This guide explains the dua against envy, the meaning of saying what Allah wills with no power but His, and three shields against the envious eye, so that the believer may be protected from the envy of others, and guarded against letting envy take root in their own heart.
The Meaning of the Dua Against Envy
The dua against envy is taken from Surah Al-Kahf, where a believer advised his friend that when entering his garden he should have said, what Allah wills, there is no power except with Allah. These words acknowledge that every blessing one enjoys, wealth, family, beauty or success, is granted and sustained by Allah alone, and that no creature has any power over it without Him. Said when admiring a blessing, whether one’s own or another’s, the words remove the harm of envy and the evil eye, attributing all good to Allah.
The evil eye and envy are real, as the Prophet (pbuh) affirmed, and they can bring harm by the permission of Allah. Yet the believer is not left defenceless. By saying what Allah wills with no power but His, one both protects a blessing from the harm of an envious glance and guards one’s own heart from becoming envious, remembering that what others have is a gift from Allah, who gives as He wills.
مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Ma sha’allahu la quwwata illa billah
What Allah wills there is no power except with Allah the Most High
Three Shields Against the Envious Eye
The believer is shielded from envy on every side by turning to Allah and guarding the heart. These three shields protect against the envious eye.
- Say what Allah wills with no power but His when admiring any blessing, removing the eye.
- Seek refuge in Allah from the envier, reciting the Quranic verses of protection.
- Guard your own heart from envy, remembering that all good is a gift from Allah.
وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
Wa min sharri hasidin idha hasad
And from the evil of an envier when he envies seek refuge in Allah
Protecting the Heart on Both Sides
Envy is unusual among sicknesses in that it can harm both the one who feels it and the one it targets. The dua against envy protects on both sides, warding off the harm of an envious eye while reminding the believer to attribute every blessing to Allah. A heart that says what Allah wills with no power but His is content with the gifts of Allah, neither harmed by the envy of others nor poisoned by envy of its own.
This supplication pairs naturally with the dua for protection from the evil eye and the dua for protection from harm. Together they shield the believer from the unseen harms of envy and the eye, placing every blessing under the protection of Allah, who gives and guards as He wills.
Saying what Allah wills with no power but His removes the harm of envy and keeps the heart content. Learn the protection duas with us on YouTube, where the supplications are recited aloud, on TikTok for a reminder to guard against the envious eye, and on Facebook where readers share how they keep their hearts free of envy.
Frequently Asked Questions
The dua against envy is the Quranic phrase Ma sha Allahu la quwwata illa billah, what Allah wills, there is no power except with Allah. It is said when admiring a blessing to ward off envy and the evil eye.
Say it when you admire any blessing, whether your own or another’s, attributing it to Allah and removing the harm of the eye. Saying it protects the blessing and guards the heart from envy.
Yes, the Prophet (pbuh) affirmed that the evil eye is real and that envy can bring harm by the permission of Allah. Islam gives the believer protection from it through the remembrance and refuge of Allah.
Say what Allah wills with no power but His when you admire something, ask Allah to bless it for its owner, and keep your heart content with what Allah has given you. Attributing blessings to Allah removes envy from the heart.
Saying the dua against envy, reciting the Quranic verses of protection such as Surah Al-Falaq, and seeking refuge in Allah from the envier all protect against envy. The believer places every blessing under the protection of Allah.
Remember that all blessings are gifts from Allah given as He wills, be grateful for your own, and ask Allah for good for those you envy. Contentment with the decree of Allah is the cure for envy.