❖ Reality of the Evil Eye and Islamic Rulings for Protection ❖
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitab al-‘Aqaid, Page 105
Is belief in the evil eye correct according to Islam, or is it merely a superstition? Some people quote the saying of the Prophet ﷺ:
"The evil eye is real, and it can cause a person to enter the grave."
Kindly explain this matter in light of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʾAmma baʿd!
The evil eye (al-ʿayn) is real and, by the will of Allah, it can cause harm. This is an established reality proven through the Qur’an and authentic Hadith.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"العَيْنُ حَقٌّ"
“The evil eye is real.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5740, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2187)
In another narration:
"العَيْنُ تُدْخِلُ الرَّجُلَ القَبْرَ وَالجَمَلَ القِدْرَ"
“The evil eye can take a man to the grave and a camel to the cooking pot.”
(Majmaʿ az-Zawāʾid: 5/106, al-Bayhaqī: 9/244)
The Prophet ﷺ further stated:
"لَوْ كَانَ شَيْءٌ سَابَقَ الْقَدَرِ لَسَبَقَتْهُ الْعَيْنُ"
“If anything were to precede destiny, it would be the evil eye.”
(Sunan at-Tirmidhī: 2059, Sunan an-Nasāʾī al-Kubrā: 9/348)
Surah al-Falaq:
﴿وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ﴾
“And from the evil of the envier when he envies.”
(Surah al-Falaq: 5)
Surah Yūsuf:
﴿يَا بَنِيَّ لَا تَدْخُلُوا مِنْ بَابٍ وَاحِدٍ وَادْخُلُوا مِنْ أَبْوَابٍ مُّتَفَرِّقَةٍ﴾
“O my sons, do not enter by one gate but enter by different gates...”
(Surah Yūsuf: 67)
This instruction by Prophet Yaʿqūb (ʿalayhis-salām) was a precaution against the evil eye.
① Reciting Prescribed Duʿās:
"أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ، مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لَامَّةٍ"
“I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from every devil and poisonous thing and from every harmful eye.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3371)
② Blowing (Ruqyah) on the Affected Person:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The cure for the evil eye is ruqyah (spiritual healing through recitation).”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2198)
③ Pouring the Water of Wudu from the One Who Caused the Evil Eye:
The Prophet ﷺ instructed:
“Make the one who caused the evil eye perform wudu, and then pour that water over the affected person.”
(Muwaṭṭa’ Imām Mālik: 2/938)
④ Reciting Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nās Regularly:
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 Blessings to Prevent the Evil Eye:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If you see something that amazes you, then pray for barakah (blessing): اللهم بارك فيه”
(Musnad Aḥmad: 15550)
The evil eye is real and proven by Qur’an and Sunnah.
It can cause harm, illness, or weakness to a person.
To protect oneself, one should regularly recite prescribed duʿās and adhkār.
In case someone is afflicted, ruqyah and using the wudu water of the one who caused it are effective remedies.
It is incorrect to dismiss the evil eye as mere superstition. Rather, the Prophet ﷺ has provided us with clear guidance on both its reality and means of protection.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitab al-‘Aqaid, Page 105
❀ Question:
Is belief in the evil eye correct according to Islam, or is it merely a superstition? Some people quote the saying of the Prophet ﷺ:
"The evil eye is real, and it can cause a person to enter the grave."
Kindly explain this matter in light of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
✔ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʾAmma baʿd!
The evil eye (al-ʿayn) is real and, by the will of Allah, it can cause harm. This is an established reality proven through the Qur’an and authentic Hadith.
◈ Authentic Hadith on the Reality of the Evil Eye:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:"العَيْنُ حَقٌّ"
“The evil eye is real.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5740, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2187)
In another narration:"العَيْنُ تُدْخِلُ الرَّجُلَ القَبْرَ وَالجَمَلَ القِدْرَ"
“The evil eye can take a man to the grave and a camel to the cooking pot.”
(Majmaʿ az-Zawāʾid: 5/106, al-Bayhaqī: 9/244)
The Prophet ﷺ further stated:"لَوْ كَانَ شَيْءٌ سَابَقَ الْقَدَرِ لَسَبَقَتْهُ الْعَيْنُ"
“If anything were to precede destiny, it would be the evil eye.”
(Sunan at-Tirmidhī: 2059, Sunan an-Nasāʾī al-Kubrā: 9/348)
◈ Qur’anic Evidence on the Evil Eye:
Surah al-Falaq:﴿وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ﴾
“And from the evil of the envier when he envies.”
(Surah al-Falaq: 5)
Surah Yūsuf:﴿يَا بَنِيَّ لَا تَدْخُلُوا مِنْ بَابٍ وَاحِدٍ وَادْخُلُوا مِنْ أَبْوَابٍ مُّتَفَرِّقَةٍ﴾
“O my sons, do not enter by one gate but enter by different gates...”
(Surah Yūsuf: 67)
This instruction by Prophet Yaʿqūb (ʿalayhis-salām) was a precaution against the evil eye.
✿ Islamic Methods for Protection from the Evil Eye:
① Reciting Prescribed Duʿās:
"أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ، مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لَامَّةٍ"
“I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from every devil and poisonous thing and from every harmful eye.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3371)
② Blowing (Ruqyah) on the Affected Person:
The Prophet ﷺ said:“The cure for the evil eye is ruqyah (spiritual healing through recitation).”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2198)
③ Pouring the Water of Wudu from the One Who Caused the Evil Eye:
The Prophet ﷺ instructed:“Make the one who caused the evil eye perform wudu, and then pour that water over the affected person.”
(Muwaṭṭa’ Imām Mālik: 2/938)
④ Reciting Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nās Regularly:
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 Blessings to Prevent the Evil Eye:
The Prophet ﷺ said:“If you see something that amazes you, then pray for barakah (blessing): اللهم بارك فيه”
(Musnad Aḥmad: 15550)
Conclusion:
The evil eye is real and proven by Qur’an and Sunnah.
It can cause harm, illness, or weakness to a person.
To protect oneself, one should regularly recite prescribed duʿās and adhkār.
In case someone is afflicted, ruqyah and using the wudu water of the one who caused it are effective remedies.
It is incorrect to dismiss the evil eye as mere superstition. Rather, the Prophet ﷺ has provided us with clear guidance on both its reality and means of protection.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
