Why do some people get angry at the good deeds of others?

Anger at the good deeds of others is a perplexing phenomenon at first glance, but it has deep roots in human inner struggles and spiritual diseases of the heart, which the Holy Quran clearly addresses. As a book of guidance and a healing for the hearts, the Quran provides a precise and profound psychological analysis of human beings, clarifying the factors behind such negative reactions. This anger typically stems from ailments like envy, arrogance, hypocrisy, and weakness of faith, each of which, in its own way, prevents a correct understanding, acceptance, and joy for the good and blessings bestowed upon others. One of the primary and most apparent reasons for this negative reaction is **envy (hasad)**. Envy, which means wishing for the disappearance of a blessing from another and its transfer to oneself, or simply wishing for the destruction of that blessing, is one of the most destructive spiritual ailments that consumes a person from within. The Quran repeatedly condemns envy and identifies it as a great evil. In Surah Al-Falaq, verse 5, Allah instructs the Prophet and believers to seek refuge in Him from the evil of the envier when he envies: "And from the evil of an envier when he envies." This verse explicitly shows that envy can be a source of evil and harm. Envy, instead of leading a person to be grateful for divine blessings and strive for good, plunges them into resentment and anger towards the successes and good deeds of others. Such an individual cannot bear to see another person enjoying a blessing, and this fuels the fire of anger within them. The envious person often compares themselves to others, and instead of focusing on their own progress, they fixate on what others possess. They suffer and become angry over why they do not have that blessing, or why someone else is ahead of them. This resentment ultimately leads to hostility, slander, and even attempts to harm the other party, as mentioned in the Quran regarding the envy of the People of the Scripture towards Muslims. In Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 109, we read: "Many of the People of the Scripture wish they could turn you back to disbelief after your belief, out of envy from themselves, [even] after the truth has become clear to them..." This verse clearly indicates that envy can go so far as to make a person wish for the misguidance and misfortune of others, and this is rooted in deep-seated malice and inner anger. A second significant factor is **arrogance (kibr) and pride**. An arrogant person sees themselves as superior to others and cannot tolerate another individual, especially someone they perceive as being in a lower status, achieving goodness or success. Arrogance blinds a person to the truth and prevents them from seeing divine grace and wisdom in the distribution of blessings. The story of Iblis, who refused to prostrate to Adam due to his arrogance and sense of superiority based on his creation, is one of the most important Quranic lessons in this regard. Because he was "created from fire and Adam from clay," he considered himself superior and disobeyed this divine command, which highlighted Adam's nobility, thus initiating his enmity. Arrogance prevents a person from being humble in the face of a blessing given by Allah to another; instead of joy, they look upon it with anger and animosity. In Surah Al-A'raf, verse 12, it states: "[Allah] said, 'What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?' He said, 'I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay.'" This verse illustrates how arrogance is rooted in a false sense of superiority, leading to antagonism towards truth and goodness. Thirdly, **hypocrisy (nifaq) and weakness of faith**. Individuals who outwardly profess belief but lack strong inner conviction or harbor hidden enmity towards the truth and its adherents become angry at the good deeds and successes of believers. They perceive good and righteousness as a threat to their own position or false beliefs. In Surah Al-Imran, verse 120, Allah explicitly addresses this condition: "If good befalls you, it grieves them; but if misfortune befalls you, they rejoice at it. But if you are patient and fear Allah, their plot will not harm you at all. Indeed, Allah is encompassing of what they do." This verse precisely shows that the anger of such individuals at the good of others stems from a spiritual illness of the heart and a lack of sincerity in their intentions. Instead of praying for the happiness and well-being of others, they wish for the loss of blessings and the misfortune of believers, which reveals the peak of malice and hidden animosity. Furthermore, **excessive attachment to worldly life and lack of contentment** can also lead to this anger. When a person considers worldly wealth, power, and status as the sole criteria for success and is never satisfied with these matters, whenever they see someone else enjoying more blessings, they become discontent and envious. This internal dissatisfaction manifests as external anger and hostility. The Quran repeatedly warns people against excessive attachment to the adornments of this world and emphasizes the importance of contentment and submission to divine decree. Ultimately, this anger and resentment towards the good deeds of others not only harms the envied person minimally (unless by Allah's will and permission through material conspiracies) but, more importantly, it harms the envious person themselves. This spiritual state deprives the individual of inner peace and tranquility, keeps them in constant internal torment, and hinders their spiritual growth and well-being. The cure for these heart diseases lies in reverting to Quranic principles: cultivating gratitude, contentment, humility, purifying intentions, praying for the good of others, and remembering that all blessings come from Allah and His wisdom is manifest in their distribution. Only by changing one's perspective and disciplining the self can these destructive illnesses be uprooted, leading one to praise and celebrate divine grace wherever it is found, instead of being consumed by anger.