1. Accept Allah’s Decree
Allah reminds us:
نَحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ مَعِيشَتَهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا
“It is We who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the worldly life.” [Qur’an 43:32]Comparison fades when you understand that provision is distributed by Allah’s wisdom, not human effort alone. Every blessing you or others hold is part of a divine plan that is perfectly measured.
2. Look to Those Below You in Dunya
The Prophet ﷺ said:
انْظُرُوا إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ وَلَا تَنْظُرُوا إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ فَوْقَكُمْ
“Look at those who are below you and do not look at those who are above you, for this will make you appreciate the favors of Allah upon you.” [Sahih Muslim, 2963]Shifting your perspective to those with less cultivates gratitude and protects the heart from envy.
3. Focus on the Hereafter
The Prophet ﷺ said:
مَنْ كَانَتِ الدُّنْيَا هَمَّهُ فَرَّقَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرَهُ... وَمَنْ كَانَتِ الْآخِرَةُ نِيَّتَهُ جَمَعَ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَمْرَهُ
“Whoever makes the world his concern, Allah will scatter his affairs… But whoever makes the Hereafter his concern, Allah will gather his affairs and the world will come to him reluctantly.” [Sunan Ibn Majah, 4105 | Hasan]When your heart is tied to the Hereafter, worldly comparisons lose their grip.
4. Practice Gratitude Daily
Allah promises:
لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ
“If you are grateful, I will surely increase you.” [Qur’an 14:7]Gratitude shifts attention from what you lack to the blessings already present, increasing both inner peace and divine favor.
5. Realize Blessings Are Tests
Allah warns:
ثُمَّ لَتُسْأَلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعِيمِ
“Then you will surely be asked that Day about pleasure.” [Qur’an 102:8]Every blessing others hold is also a responsibility they will answer for, not just a privilege to admire.
6. Make Duʿā’ for Others’ Blessings
The Prophet ﷺ said:
إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمْ مِنْ أَخِيهِ... فَلْيَدْعُ لَهُ بِالْبَرَكَةِ
“If one of you sees something in his brother that pleases him, let him pray for blessing for him.” [Musnad Ahmad, 15550 | Sahih]Replacing envy with sincere duʿā’ purifies the heart and turns comparison into compassion.
7. Recognize True Richness
The Prophet ﷺ said:
لَيْسَ الْغِنَى عَنْ كَثْرَةِ الْعَرَضِ وَلَكِنَّ الْغِنَى غِنَى النَّفْسِ
“Richness is not having many possessions. Rather, true richness is the richness of the soul.” [Sahih al-Bukhari, 6446 | Sahih Muslim, 1051]Real wealth is inner contentment, not external accumulation.
8. Compare Only in Good Deeds
The Prophet ﷺ said:
لاَ حَسَدَ إِلاَّ فِي اثْنَتَيْنِ رَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ مَالاً فَسَلَّطَهُ عَلَى هَلَكَتِهِ فِي الْحَقِّ وَرَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ حِكْمَةً فَهُوَ يَقْضِي بِهَا وَيُعَلِّمُهَا
“There is no envy except in two: a man whom Allah has given knowledge of the Qur’an and he recites it, and a man whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it in the way of Allah.” [Sahih al-Bukhari, 73 | Sahih Muslim, 816]Comparison is redirected to what benefits the soul and society.
9. Reflect on Temporary Dunya
Allah says:
اعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ...
“Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting among you and competition in wealth and children…” [Qur’an 57:20]Worldly beauty and wealth are fleeting; eternal reward is lasting.
10. Remember Accountability
The Prophet ﷺ said:
لاَ تَزُولُ قَدَمَا عَبْدٍ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حَتَّى يُسْأَلَ عَنْ عُمْرِهِ فِيمَا أَفْنَاهُ وَعَنْ عِلْمِهِ فِيمَا فَعَلَ وَعَنْ مَالِهِ مِنْ أَيْنَ اكْتَسَبَهُ وَفِيمَا أَنْفَقَهُ وَعَنْ جِسْمِهِ فِيمَا أَبْلاَهُ
“The feet of the servant will not move on the Day of Judgment until he is asked about his life, how he spent it; his knowledge, how he acted upon it; his wealth, how he earned it and how he spent it; and his body, how he used it.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 2417 | Hasan]More blessings mean more questions, not necessarily more happiness.
11. Strengthen Your Tawakkul
Allah says:
قُل لَّن يُصِيبَنَا إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَنَا
“Say, nothing will befall us except what Allah has decreed for us.” [Qur’an 9:51]Trusting Allah removes fear of missing out on what others have.
12. Remember Everyone Has Trials
Allah says:
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
“We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.” [Qur’an 2:155]
What appears as blessing may conceal hardship you do not see.
13. Spend Time in Dhikr
Allah says:
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
“Those who believe and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” [Qur’an 13:28]Remembrance anchors the heart against comparison and restlessness.
14. Avoid Excessive Social Media
The Qur’an warns:
لَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَى مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِّنْهُمْ
“Do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to some of them.” [Qur’an 15:88]Protecting the gaze prevents the heart from longing for what others display.
15. Practice Duʿā’ for Contentment
The Prophet ﷺ would say:
اللَّهُمَّ اقْنِعْنِي بِمَا رَزَقْتَنِي، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ
“O Allah, make me content with what You have provided for me, and bless me in it.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 3502 | Hasan]This duʿā’ nurtures peace with what you already have.
