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What is envy (hasad) and how does it differ from the evil eye?
Hasad is the disposition of wishing the loss of a blessing from another. Allah refers to it directly in Surah Al-Falaq 113:5 - 'and from the evil of an envier when he envies.' Ayn, by contrast, is the actual transmitted harm; hasad is the internal disposition that often precedes it. A person may carry envy without ever harming the envied (if Allah prevents it), or the envy may carry into transmitted ayn. The Sunnah addresses both: it commands the envier to invoke Allah's blessing on the envied (ma sha Allah, la quwwata illa bi-Allah) and commands the envied to seek refuge in Allah from the envier.
Does envy harm the envier?
Yes, more than it harms the envied. The envier resents what Allah has decreed; the resentment is directed at Allah's apportionment of blessings, even if it appears to be directed at the person who received them. The Prophet, peace be upon him, listed envy alongside suspicion, spying, severance and hatred as prohibited dispositions of the heart in Sahih al-Bukhari 6064: 'Do not envy one another... do not hate one another... be servants of Allah, brothers.' The Companions counselled three remedies: make du'a for the envied person, invoke Allah's blessing on them when admired (ma sha Allah, la quwwata illa bi-Allah), and remember that envy never moved a blessing from one person to another - the only thing it accomplished was burning the envier's own deeds. Treat the disease in yourself before it spreads.
How do I protect myself if I am envied?
Maintain Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas morning and evening per Sunan Abi Dawud 5082 - they are the prophetic shield specifically against envy. Recite the du'a of Sahih al-Bukhari 3371 over yourself and your children. Conceal blessings from those who do not need to know - the Sunnah encourages quiet success rather than public display. If a known envier is identified and willing, the prophetic remedy of Sahih Muslim 2188 and Sunan Abi Dawud 3880 (Sahih) is available: the suspected eye-giver performs wudu and the water is then poured over the affected person. Above all, do not become hostile in return; the believer's response to envy is more recitation and quieter blessings, not retaliation, and not an obsessive search for who the envier is.
?Is admiring something always envy?
No. Admiration becomes envy only when it carries the wish that the blessing be removed from the other. Plain admiration paired with 'ma sha Allah' is the Sunnah expression of healthy appreciation - the formula itself prevents the slide into envy.
?Should I unfollow people on social media to avoid envying them?
Yes, if a particular feed reliably produces resentment in your heart. The believer is responsible for what enters his perception; the right to a healthy heart outranks the social cost of unfollowing. Curate your inputs; the heart's clarity is the long-term gain.