❖ The Reality of the Evil Eye and Its Islamic Remedies ❖
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitab al-‘Aqaid, Page 103
Is the evil eye a real phenomenon? It is commonly said that a certain person has been affected by someone’s evil eye—does this have any basis in Islamic teachings?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʾAmma baʿd!
The evil eye (al-ʿayn, resulting from envy) is indeed real, and its existence is established by the Qur’an and Hadith.
Narrated by Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"العَيْنُ حَقٌّ"
“The evil eye is real.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5740, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2187)
Narrated by Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"العَيْنُ حَقٌّ"
“The evil eye is real.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2188)
Asmāʾ bint ʿUmays رضي الله عنها said:
“O Messenger of Allah! The children of Jaʿfar (Jaʿfar Ṭayyār رضي الله عنه) often fall prey to the evil eye. Should I perform ruqyah on them?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
"نَعَمْ، فَإِنَّهُ لَوْ كَانَ شَيْءٌ سَابَقَ الْقَدَرَ لَسَبَقَتْهُ الْعَيْنُ"
“Yes, for if anything could precede destiny, it would be the evil eye.”
(Sunan at-Tirmidhī: 2059, as-Sunan al-Kubrā by an-Nasāʾī: 9/348)
Surah Yūsuf:
Prophet Yaʿqūb عليه السلام said to his sons:
﴿وَقَالَ يَا بَنِيَّ لَا تَدْخُلُوا مِنْ بَابٍ وَاحِدٍ وَادْخُلُوا مِنْ أَبْوَابٍ مُّتَفَرِّقَةٍ ۖ وَمَا أُغْنِي عَنكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ۖ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۖ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَعَلَيْهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ﴾
“O my sons, do not enter by one gate, but enter by different gates. I cannot avail you against Allah in anything...”
(Surah Yūsuf: 67)
Surah al-Falaq:
Allah commands seeking refuge from the evil of envy:
﴿وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ﴾
“And from the evil of the envier when he envies.”
(Surah al-Falaq: 5)
① Reciting Prescribed Duʿās for Protection:
"أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ، مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لَامَّةٍ"
“I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from every devil, every poisonous creature, and every harmful eye.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3371)
② Performing Ruqyah (Spiritual Healing):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The treatment for the evil eye is ruqyah (spiritual healing by recitation).”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2198)
③ Pouring the Ablution Water of the One Who Caused the Evil Eye:
The Prophet ﷺ instructed:
“Have the one who caused the evil eye perform wudu, and pour that water over the affected person.”
(Muwaṭṭa’ Imām Mālik: 2/938)
④ Regularly Reciting Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nās:
The Prophet ﷺ used to recite Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nās every night and perform blowing on his body.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5017)
⑤ Supplicating for Barakah When Amazed:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If you see something that amazes you, then pray for blessing (barakah): اللهم بارك فيه (O Allah, bless it).”
(Musnad Aḥmad: 15550)
It is incorrect to consider the evil eye a mere superstition. Rather, the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ should be adopted for both protection and treatment.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitab al-‘Aqaid, Page 103
❀ Question:
Is the evil eye a real phenomenon? It is commonly said that a certain person has been affected by someone’s evil eye—does this have any basis in Islamic teachings?
✔ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʾAmma baʿd!
The evil eye (al-ʿayn, resulting from envy) is indeed real, and its existence is established by the Qur’an and Hadith.
◈ Hadith Evidence for the Reality of the Evil Eye:
Narrated by Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:"العَيْنُ حَقٌّ"
“The evil eye is real.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5740, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2187)
Narrated by Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:"العَيْنُ حَقٌّ"
“The evil eye is real.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2188)
Asmāʾ bint ʿUmays رضي الله عنها said:“O Messenger of Allah! The children of Jaʿfar (Jaʿfar Ṭayyār رضي الله عنه) often fall prey to the evil eye. Should I perform ruqyah on them?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
"نَعَمْ، فَإِنَّهُ لَوْ كَانَ شَيْءٌ سَابَقَ الْقَدَرَ لَسَبَقَتْهُ الْعَيْنُ"
“Yes, for if anything could precede destiny, it would be the evil eye.”
(Sunan at-Tirmidhī: 2059, as-Sunan al-Kubrā by an-Nasāʾī: 9/348)
◈ Qur’anic Evidence for the Evil Eye:
Surah Yūsuf:Prophet Yaʿqūb عليه السلام said to his sons:
﴿وَقَالَ يَا بَنِيَّ لَا تَدْخُلُوا مِنْ بَابٍ وَاحِدٍ وَادْخُلُوا مِنْ أَبْوَابٍ مُّتَفَرِّقَةٍ ۖ وَمَا أُغْنِي عَنكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ۖ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۖ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَعَلَيْهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ﴾
“O my sons, do not enter by one gate, but enter by different gates. I cannot avail you against Allah in anything...”
(Surah Yūsuf: 67)
Surah al-Falaq:Allah commands seeking refuge from the evil of envy:
﴿وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ﴾
“And from the evil of the envier when he envies.”
(Surah al-Falaq: 5)
✿ Remedies and Protective Measures Against the Evil Eye:
① Reciting Prescribed Duʿās for Protection:
"أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ، مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لَامَّةٍ"
“I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from every devil, every poisonous creature, and every harmful eye.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3371)
② Performing Ruqyah (Spiritual Healing):
The Prophet ﷺ said:“The treatment for the evil eye is ruqyah (spiritual healing by recitation).”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2198)
③ Pouring the Ablution Water of the One Who Caused the Evil Eye:
The Prophet ﷺ instructed:“Have the one who caused the evil eye perform wudu, and pour that water over the affected person.”
(Muwaṭṭa’ Imām Mālik: 2/938)
④ Regularly Reciting Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nās:
The Prophet ﷺ used to recite Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nās every night and perform blowing on his body.(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5017)
⑤ Supplicating for Barakah When Amazed:
The Prophet ﷺ said:“If you see something that amazes you, then pray for blessing (barakah): اللهم بارك فيه (O Allah, bless it).”
(Musnad Aḥmad: 15550)
Summary:
- The evil eye is a real and proven concept in Islam, based on authentic Hadith and Qur’anic evidence.
- It can cause illness, weakness, or harm to individuals.
- Protection lies in reciting prescribed duʿās and adhkār regularly.
- If afflicted, one should be treated through ruqyah, and by using the ablution water of the one who caused it.
It is incorrect to consider the evil eye a mere superstition. Rather, the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ should be adopted for both protection and treatment.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
