162. Evil Eye - Protection And Treatment

By Asma bint Shameem

The evil is real and it really does affect people. 

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“The evil eye is real and if anything were to overtake the divine decree, it would be the evil eye." (Muslim)

Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala told the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam and us to seek refuge with Him from the evil eye and envy. 

He said:

“And from the evil of the envier when he envies.” 

(Surah al-Falaq:5)

Evil eye usually comes from someone who's jealous. But that's not necessarily true. 

It can also come from someone who's admiring something even though he's not jealous. 

Proof:

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“Whoever among you sees something in himself or in his possessions or in his brother that he likes, let him pray for blessing for it, because the evil eye is real.” (Ibn al-Sunni, al-Haakim--saheeh by al-Albaani)

That means a person can put evil eye on himself or his loved ones even though he didn't mean to. 

That's why ibn al-Qayyim said:

"And a man may put the evil eye on himself." (Zaa’d al-Ma’aad, 4/167).

Signs:

There are not any SPECIFIC symptoms or signs where someone can say that this person has been afflicted with the evil eye for sure. 

But a person may get headaches, or unspecific aches and pains in his body or there's a sudden change in his health, or behavior, sleeplessness or nightmares, etc. 

Sometimes they may even faint... the symptoms depending on the severity of the evil eye. 

The people who're experts in the field of its treatment (called 'raaqi' and the treatment is called 'ruqyah') can usually recognize its signs. 

There was a sahaabi called Sahl ibn Hunayf. He was very handsome and was traveling with the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam and some other Sahaabah. One of the Sahaabah looked at him and commented on his handsomeness. As soon as he said that, Sahl radhi Allaahu anhu had a seizure and fell to the ground and he wouldn't wake up. They took him to the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam and said:

“O Messenger of Allaah, do you know what has happened to Sahl? By Allaah, he cannot raise his head and he will not wake up.” 

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam 

said, 

“Do you accuse anyone with regard to him?” They said, “‘Aamir ibn Rabee’ah looked at him.” So the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) called ‘Aamir and spoke angrily with him, saying, “Would any of you like to kill his brother? If you see something that you like, why do you not pray for blessing for it?” 

Then he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam told the sahaabi who gave him the evil eye to wash himself and make wudhu. This water was then poured on Sahl radhi Allaahu anhu and he woke up as if nothing had happened to him. 

"...then that water was poured over him (Sahl) – a man poured it over his head and back from behind, tilting the vessel. This was done to him, then Sahl went on with the people and there was nothing wrong with him. (Ahmad and others. Saheeh by al-Albaani)

Protection against it:

1. Have strong faith and tawakkul in Allaah. 

2. Be vigilant about your five daily prayers 

3. Read the morning and evening adhkaar regularly

4. Read the Qur'aan regularly especially Surah al-Baqarah

5. Read Ayatul Kursi, and the last three Surahs of the Qur'aan after every salah and at bedtime 

6. Read the bedtime adhkaar regularly 

7. WEAR HIJAAB: because the more you 'expose' your beauty to others, the more the chance of them looking at you enviously or admiringly. 

And that includes Jinns!

8. Stay away from all sins especially music. 

Some duaas from the authentic Sunnah:

 أعوذ بكلمات الله التامات من شر ما خلق 

A’oodhu bi kalimat-illah il-tammati min sharri ma khalaqa 

(I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of that which He has created). 

أعوذ بكلمات الله التامة من غضبه وعقابه ، ومن شر عباده ومن همزات الشياطين وأن يحضرون 

A’oodhu bi kalimat-illah il-tammati min ghadabihi wa ‘iqabihi, wa min sharri ‘ibadihi wa min hamazat al-shayateeni wa an yahduroon 

(I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from His wrath and punishment, from the evil of His slaves and from the evil promptings of the devils and from their presence). 

- “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to seek refuge with Allaah for al-Hasan and al-Husayn. 
He said: 
‘Your father [i.e., Ibraaheem] used to seek refuge with Allaah for Ismaa’eel and Ishaaq with these words: 

أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لامَّةٍ 

A’oodhu bi kalimaat Allaah al-taammah min kulli shaytaanin wa haammah wa min kulli ‘aynin laammah 

(I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allaah, from every devil and every poisonous reptile, and from every bad eye).’”(al-Bukhaari)

Treatment:

Above are some of the ways one can protect against the evil eye. 

What if someone is already afflicted with the evil eye?

We should treat the evil eye with ruqyah which is reading the Qur'aan and the duaas proven from the authentic Sunnah over the afflicted person. 

Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said: 

“The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded me, or he commanded (the people) to use ruqyah to deal with the evil eye.”

(al-Bukhaari)

If you suspect that someone has put the evil eye on someone and if you know who the giver of the 'eye' is, he should be asked to make wudhu and the water should be poured over the affected person. 

Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said: 

“The man who cast the evil eye would be commanded to do wudoo’, and then the man who was affected would wash himself with (the water).”

(Abu Dawood --saheeh by al-Albaani)

If we don't know who it is , then just continue to read the ruqyah over him. 

You can read Surah al-Faatihah, Ayatul Kursi, surah al-Baqarah esp the last two ayaat, the last two surahs of the Qur'aan, etc 

And you can read duaas proven from the authentic Sunnah. 

For example:

Abu Sa’eed radhi Allaahu anhu said:

"Jibreel came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said: “O Muhammad, are you ill?” He said, “Yes.” He said, 

بِاسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ مِنْ كُلِّ 

شَيْءٍ يُؤْذِيكَ مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ أَوْ عَيْنِ حَاسِدٍ اللَّهُ يَشْفِيكَ بِاسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ 

“Bismillaahi arqeeka min kulli shay’in yu’dheeka, min sharri kulli nafsin aw ‘aynin haasid Allaahu yashfeek, bismillaahi arqeek 

(In the name of Allaah I perform ruqyah for you, from everything that is harming you, from the evil of every soul or envious eye may Allaah heal you, in the name of Allaah I perform ruqyah for you).” (Muslim)

For more authentic duaas please refer to Hisnul Muslim and other authentic sources for ruqyah. 

May Allaah protect us from all evil. Ameen. 

And Allaah knows best.