My sister will be engaged within days, and we fear envy. What should we do?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The following are 10 ways to protect one’s self against envy, as quoted in summary form from Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim .

First, seek refuge in Allaah, resort to Him, and seek His protection. A Muslim can never achieve self-protection except by reciting the two Chapters of Al-Falaq and An-Naas from the Quran.

Second, fear Allaah, follow His orders, and abstain from actions He prohibits. Allaah will protect anyone who does so. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And if you are patient and fear Allaah, their plot will not harm you at all. Indeed, Allaah is encompassing of what they do.} [Quran 3:120]

It is also narrated on the authority of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, that he said that anyone who obeys Allaah, Allaah will protect him. [At-Tirmithi]

Third, be patient with the envier.

Fourth, rely upon Allaah - this is the strongest method to ward off people's harm.

Fifth, do not be occupied with envy. If it does strike a person, he should not be concerned by it nor fear it. This is one of the strongest cures.

Sixth, be religiously observant, have sincerity with Allaah, and occupy yourself totally with loving Him and seeking His satisfaction.

Seventh, repent from sins as they cause a person’s enemies to dominate and overpower him. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And whatever strikes you of disaster - it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much.} [Quran 42:30]

Eighth, give charity and be kind, and this has a wonderful effect in warding off troubles, evil eye and envy.

Ninth, obviate envy by showing kindness to those who envy. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And not equal are the fair deed and the odious deed. Repel with that which is fairest; then, only then, he between whom and you there is enmity will be as if he were an intimate constant patron.} [Quran 41:34]

Tenth, all these points revolve around perfection of Tawheed (monotheism), believing that causes originally are from Allaah, the Exalted in Might, the Wise, and knowledge that all matters are managed by Him alone. Nothing yields benefit except by the permission of Allaah, who Says (what means): {And if Allaah touches you with harm, none can remove it but He, and if He touches you with good, then He is Able to do all things.} [Quran 6:17]

This is also supported by the Hadeeth where the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that even if the whole nation (i.e., world) gathers to benefit a person, they will be unable to do anything except with what Allaah has already destined for him, and if they unite to harm him, they cannot do so except with something that Allaah The Almighty has destined for him.

Once a servant has perfect Tawheed, he will never fear anyone except Allaah. His enemy will not be worth the fear, because he is under Allaah’s protection. Rather, a person will dedicate his fear to Allaah, who has already secured him against his enemies.

Allaah Knows best.