The Evil Eye and EnvyThe Evil Eye and Envy in Islam: Reality, Treatment, and Protection
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.
A child may fall ill after a visit, or a matter may encounter difficulties after someone speaks about it, and people immediately say, "This is the evil eye." But illness occurring after a visit or praise is not enough to establish its cause or accuse anyone. The reality of the evil eye is established in the Sunnah, and treating it is permissible. Believing in it does not require a Muslim to live watching people's glances or fearing every blessing that becomes visible in their life.
العَيْنُ حَقٌّ، وَلَوْ كَانَ شَيْءٌ سَابَقَ الْقَدَرَ سَبَقَتْهُ الْعَيْنُ، وَإِذَا اسْتُغْسِلْتُمْ فَاغْسِلُوا
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The evil eye is real. If anything were to precede divine decree, the evil eye would precede it. When you are asked to wash, do so."
Reported by Muslim, no. 2188.
This hadith affirms the evil eye and explains the severity of its effect. It does not mean that it precedes Allah's decree or overpowers His will. The evil eye and its effects, ruqyah, and the means by which its harm is warded off are all within Allah's decree. The evil eye does not act independently of Allah's will, and no ruqyah practitioner can guarantee healing through their own power.
What Is the Difference Between the Evil Eye and Envy?
وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
Envy is resenting a blessing Allah has given someone else. One of its forms is wishing for that blessing to disappear, and it may lead the envier to harm the person or try to spoil their blessing. It is a blameworthy trait, and Allah has commanded us to seek refuge from the evil of the one who has it, saying: {And from the evil of an envier when he envies.} [Al-Falaq: 5].
The evil eye, by contrast, is an affliction that may result from an admiring or envious look, by Allah's permission and decree. It may occur without an intention to harm. The person from whom it comes is not necessarily acting deliberately or resenting the person who has the blessing. Not every expression of admiration causes the evil eye, and not every instance of envy results in its effects.
Wishing for a blessing like someone else's in a permissible matter, while wanting their blessing to remain and without resenting the good they have received, is ghibtah, a form of non-resentful admiration, not blameworthy envy.
Supplicating for Blessing
إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمْ مِنْ أَخِيهِ مَا يُعْجِبُهُ فَلْيَدْعُ لَهُ بِالْبَرَكَةِ
If you admire someone else's child, health, or wealth, pray for blessing for them. In the account of Sahl ibn Hunayf, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "If one of you sees something in his brother that he admires, let him pray for blessing for him." Reported by Ibn Majah, no. 3509; it is an authentic hadith.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَهُ
بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ فِيهِ
For example, you may say: "O Allah, bless him" or "May Allah bless it for you." These are examples of supplication, not a single formula beyond which no other wording is valid.
مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ، لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Saying "What Allah wills; there is no power except through Allah" is a good remembrance. It appears in Surah Al-Kahf in the context of reminding the owner of the two gardens of Allah's blessing upon him [Al-Kahf: 39]. Do not object to this remembrance, and do not overlook praying for blessing when admiring something, as instructed in the hadith.
Islamic Ruqyah
Recite what you know of the Quran, including Al-Fatihah, Ayat al-Kursi, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas, and ask Allah for healing. Surah Al-Falaq includes seeking refuge from the evil of an envier, and the two surahs of refuge contain a great means of seeking protection from evils. You do not have to know who afflicted you with the evil eye before performing ruqyah on yourself, nor do you have to go to a particular person. For practical guidance, read How to Perform Ruqyah on Yourself.
Among the authentically reported forms of ruqyah are the words Jibril said to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ، مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ يُؤْذِيكَ، مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ أَوْ عَيْنِ حَاسِدٍ، اللَّهُ يَشْفِيكَ، بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ
"In the name of Allah, I perform ruqyah for you, from everything that harms you, from the evil of every soul or the eye of an envier. May Allah heal you. In the name of Allah, I perform ruqyah for you."
Reported by Muslim, no. 2186.
Ruqyah is a permissible means, and healing comes from Allah alone. Do not attribute to the Sunnah a particular program, number of repetitions, or duration that has not been established. Nor should you treat a practitioner's words or an individual's experience as a promise of guaranteed healing.
The Washing of the One Who Caused the Evil Eye If Known Without Injustice or Accusation
وَإِذَا اسْتُغْسِلْتُمْ فَاغْسِلُوا
In the account of Sahl ibn Hunayf, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, asked whom they suspected of having afflicted him. They named Amir ibn Rabi'ah, may Allah be pleased with him. He instructed him to wash and have the water collected to be poured over Sahl. Reported by Ibn Majah, no. 3509. In the hadith mentioned earlier, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "When you are asked to wash, do so."
If the person responsible for the evil eye is known, or there is a strong likelihood based on credible indications, it is permissible to ask them gently to wash. They should cooperate in the prescribed washing in obedience to the Prophetic instruction. This request does not necessarily accuse them of intending envy or harm, since the evil eye may occur without their choosing it.
Mere suspicion, however, or a practitioner's unsupported statement that a particular person is responsible does not justify publicly shaming people or wronging them. Privacy and dignity must be preserved during the washing, and no one may assault another person or use violent coercion under the pretext of treatment. Anyone unsure how to apply this Sunnah should ask a trustworthy scholar. There is no need to search for a suspect before beginning ruqyah and supplication.
Ruqyah and Medical Treatment
Headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and similar symptoms do not by themselves establish the evil eye, since they have many possible causes. Crying or yawning during recitation is likewise insufficient to diagnose it. Seek an appropriate medical assessment when ill, do not stop prescribed treatment on the advice of an unqualified ruqyah practitioner, and do not delay urgent care while waiting for a ruqyah session.
You can recite and supplicate while receiving treatment; the two do not conflict. Read Ruqyah and Medical Treatment.
Daily Adhkar
Maintain prayer, morning and evening adhkar, bedtime adhkar, and the established recitations in their appropriate contexts, including Ayat al-Kursi, Al-Ikhlas, and the two surahs of refuge. One of the morning and evening remembrances is to say three times:
Repeat: 3 times in the morning and eveningبِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ، وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
"In the name of Allah, with whose name nothing on earth or in heaven can cause harm, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing."
Reported by Abu Dawud, no. 5088, and at-Tirmidhi, no. 3388. At-Tirmidhi described the hadith as hasan sahih gharib.
These are prescribed remembrances through which a Muslim worships and places trust in Allah. They are not amulets or words that have an effect independently of Him. Seeking protection does not replace fulfilling one's obligations and taking permissible practical measures.
Protect your privacy and your family's privacy where wisdom calls for it, without believing that concealing every blessing is an independent, religiously prescribed protection or a guarantee against affliction. Do not let fear of the evil eye lead you to stop visiting others or maintaining family ties. For parents, read Ruqyah for Children from the Evil Eye and Envy.
How Does a Muslim Protect Himself from Envy?
If someone else's blessing makes you feel resentful, do not feed that feeling by following their news or belittling them. Ask Allah to bless them and provide for you from His bounty, remember the blessings He has given you, and strive to love good for other Muslims. If envy has led you to backbite, wrong someone, or cause harm, repent to Allah, repair what harm you can, and restore people's rights.
Common Mistakes
Do not go to a charlatan, wear an amulet, bead, or thread for protection, or follow unknown rituals said to remove the evil eye. The stronger scholarly view prohibits amulets even if they contain Quranic verses. The Quran is to be recited, reflected upon, and acted upon, not made into an amulet to wear. It is important to understand The Difference Between Islamic Ruqyah and Sorcery.
Do not treat illness or difficulties at work as proof that a particular person envies you. Do not spread an accusation because a ruqyah practitioner named someone or because that person's image came to mind during recitation. Nor is it permissible to harm a patient by beating, choking, or frightening them under the pretext of removing the effects of the evil eye. A person's need for healing does not make a forbidden method permissible.
Is Every Illness Caused by the Evil Eye?
No. An illness may be physical, psychological, or have another cause. The evil eye is real, but it cannot be established with certainty merely from a general symptom or because an illness began after a visit. Ruqyah is permissible alongside seeking an appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
May I Ask Someone I Suspect to Wash?
It is permissible if there is a strong likelihood based on credible indications. The request should be made gently, without accusing the person of intending harm, publicly shaming them, or assaulting them. You do not have to prove deliberate envy before making the request, since the evil eye may occur without a person's choosing it. Mere suspicion, however, does not make someone a suspect or permit wronging them.
Does Saying "Masha Allah" Prevent the Evil Eye?
مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ، لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَهُ
Saying "What Allah wills; there is no power except through Allah" is a good remembrance mentioned in the Quran. Praying for blessing is what the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, instructed when admiring something. You may say, for example: "O Allah, bless him." Do not assign a guarantee to a saying or action on your own authority. Protection comes from Allah, and adhkar are among its prescribed means.
Can a Raqi Identify Who Afflicted Me With the Evil Eye?
The identity of the person responsible for the evil eye is not established through recitation alone or a claim that jinn informed the ruqyah practitioner. Neither an image imagined by the patient nor a name supplied by the practitioner should be relied upon. Credible indications and events should be examined on their actual merits, not on the basis of an alleged supernatural ability.
Does Posting Photographs Bring the Evil Eye?
Not necessarily. Not everyone who sees a photograph is envious or causes the evil eye. Posting photographs does not establish the cause of an illness that occurs afterward, and not posting them does not guarantee freedom from affliction. Respecting other people's privacy, especially children's, is important, but do not attribute a specific protective merit to it without evidence.
Must I Identify Who Caused the Evil Eye Before Seeking Treatment?
No. You can perform ruqyah with the Quran and supplication and receive appropriate medical treatment without identifying a particular person. Do not let searching for names distract you from treatment or damage your relationships with your family and relatives.
What if I Do Not Improve After Ruqyah?
That alone does not indicate weak faith in you or the person who performed ruqyah for you, nor does it establish that the illness is the evil eye or sorcery. Healing is in Allah's hands, and it may be delayed for a wisdom He knows. Continue permissible supplication, take practical measures, and consult a doctor if the illness persists or worsens.
How Should I Deal With Persistent Fear of the Evil Eye?
Maintain adhkar, ask Allah for well-being, and then go about your life without dwelling on every glance and comment. Avoid videos that claim to diagnose people with certainty and stir up fear. If fear begins to disrupt your sleep, relationships, or work, seek professional help while asking people of knowledge about anything you find unclear. Do not respond to someone who increases your fear in order to sell you a treatment.
