Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
The evil eye (naẓar) is a real and true matter, affirmed by both the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Its reality is also established through practical observation and human experience.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَإِن يَكادُ الَّذينَ كَفَروا لَيُزلِقونَكَ بِأَبصـرِهِم﴾ (Sūrah al-Qalam: 51)
“And indeed, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes…”
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (RA) and other commentators have explained that this verse refers to the concept of the evil eye — that the disbelievers attempted to harm the Prophet ﷺ with their looks.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«اَلْعَيْنُ حَقٌّ وَلَوْ كَانَ شَيْئٌ سَابَقَ الْقَدَرَ سَقَبَتُْ الْعَيْنُ، وَاِذَا اسْتُغْسِلْتُمْ فَاغْسِلُوا»
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd 3925; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī 1817)
“The evil eye is real, and if anything could precede divine decree, it would be the evil eye. And when you are asked to wash (for its cure), then wash.”
Imām al-Nasāʾī and Ibn Mājah narrate:
«عَلَامَ يَقْتُلُ أَحَدُکُمْ أَخَاهُ…»
(Sunan Ibn Mājah 3509; al-Sunan al-Kubrā of al-Nasāʾī 4/381)
“Why would one of you kill his brother? When one of you sees something in his brother that pleases him, let him pray for blessing for him.”
The Prophet ﷺ then instructed ʿĀmir ibn Rabīʿah (RA) to perform wuḍūʾ, washing:
This water was then poured over Sahl (RA), and he recovered. In another narration:
(وَاَمَرَہُ اَنْ یَّکْفَأَ الْاِنَائَ مِنْ خَلْفِه)
“…and he commanded him to pour the water over him from behind.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«لَا رُقْيَةَ اِلاَّ مِنْ عَيْنٍ اَوْ حُمَةٍ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5705; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 220)
“There is no ruqyah except for the evil eye or a sting.”
When Jibrīl (AS) performed ruqyah on the Prophet ﷺ, he recited:
«بِاسْمِ اللّٰهِ اَرْقِيْکَ، مِنْ کُلَّ شَيْئٍ يُؤْذِيْکَ، مِنْ شَرِّ کُلِّ نَفْسٍ اَوْ عَيْنٍ حَاسِدٍ، اَللّٰهُ يَشْفِيْکَ، بِاسْمِ اللّٰهِ اَرْقِيْکَ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2186)
As in the incident of Sahl ibn Ḥunāyf (RA):
Note:
Taking preventive measures against the evil eye is not contrary to tawakkul. It is in fact part of tawakkul — relying on Allah while using the lawful means He has permitted.
The Prophet ﷺ used to seek protection for al-Ḥasan and al-Ḥusayn (RA) with these words:
«أَعِيْذُکَمَا بِکَلِمَاتِ اللّٰهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ کُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَّهَامَّةٍ وَمِنْ کُلِّ عَيْنٍ لَامَّةٍ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3371; Sunan Ibn Mājah 3525; Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4737; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī 2060)
“I seek refuge for you both in the Perfect Words of Allah, from every devil, poisonous creature, and from every harmful eye.”
The Prophet ﷺ said that Ibrāhīm (AS) used to supplicate with these same words for Ismāʿīl and Isḥāq (AS).
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
The Reality of the Evil Eye
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
The evil eye (naẓar) is a real and true matter, affirmed by both the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Its reality is also established through practical observation and human experience.
Evidence from the Qur’an
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَإِن يَكادُ الَّذينَ كَفَروا لَيُزلِقونَكَ بِأَبصـرِهِم﴾ (Sūrah al-Qalam: 51)
“And indeed, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes…”
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (RA) and other commentators have explained that this verse refers to the concept of the evil eye — that the disbelievers attempted to harm the Prophet ﷺ with their looks.
Evidence from the Sunnah
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«اَلْعَيْنُ حَقٌّ وَلَوْ كَانَ شَيْئٌ سَابَقَ الْقَدَرَ سَقَبَتُْ الْعَيْنُ، وَاِذَا اسْتُغْسِلْتُمْ فَاغْسِلُوا»
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd 3925; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī 1817)
“The evil eye is real, and if anything could precede divine decree, it would be the evil eye. And when you are asked to wash (for its cure), then wash.”
Incident Among the Companions
Imām al-Nasāʾī and Ibn Mājah narrate:
- ʿĀmir ibn Rabīʿah (RA) once saw Sahl ibn Ḥunāyf (RA) bathing and said:
“I have never seen skin like this, not even on a virgin maiden.” - Immediately, Sahl fell unconscious.
- The Prophet ﷺ said:
«عَلَامَ يَقْتُلُ أَحَدُکُمْ أَخَاهُ…»
(Sunan Ibn Mājah 3509; al-Sunan al-Kubrā of al-Nasāʾī 4/381)
“Why would one of you kill his brother? When one of you sees something in his brother that pleases him, let him pray for blessing for him.”
The Prophet ﷺ then instructed ʿĀmir ibn Rabīʿah (RA) to perform wuḍūʾ, washing:
- His face
- His hands up to the elbows
- His knees
- The inner side of his lower garment (izār)
This water was then poured over Sahl (RA), and he recovered. In another narration:
(وَاَمَرَہُ اَنْ یَّکْفَأَ الْاِنَائَ مِنْ خَلْفِه)
“…and he commanded him to pour the water over him from behind.”
Sharʿī Cures for the Evil Eye
① Ruqyah (Recitation and Supplication)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«لَا رُقْيَةَ اِلاَّ مِنْ عَيْنٍ اَوْ حُمَةٍ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5705; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 220)
“There is no ruqyah except for the evil eye or a sting.”
When Jibrīl (AS) performed ruqyah on the Prophet ﷺ, he recited:
«بِاسْمِ اللّٰهِ اَرْقِيْکَ، مِنْ کُلَّ شَيْئٍ يُؤْذِيْکَ، مِنْ شَرِّ کُلِّ نَفْسٍ اَوْ عَيْنٍ حَاسِدٍ، اَللّٰهُ يَشْفِيْکَ، بِاسْمِ اللّٰهِ اَرْقِيْکَ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2186)
② Washing
As in the incident of Sahl ibn Ḥunāyf (RA):
- The one who caused the evil eye washes specific parts of his body.
- This water is poured over the afflicted person.
Note:
- Using the urine, feces, or footprints of the one who caused the evil eye is not sanctioned in Sharīʿah.
- Washing clothing or personal items from the inner side may be beneficial, but only as part of what is legislated.
Is Protection from the Evil Eye Against Tawakkul?
Taking preventive measures against the evil eye is not contrary to tawakkul. It is in fact part of tawakkul — relying on Allah while using the lawful means He has permitted.
The Prophet ﷺ used to seek protection for al-Ḥasan and al-Ḥusayn (RA) with these words:
«أَعِيْذُکَمَا بِکَلِمَاتِ اللّٰهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ کُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَّهَامَّةٍ وَمِنْ کُلِّ عَيْنٍ لَامَّةٍ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3371; Sunan Ibn Mājah 3525; Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4737; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī 2060)
“I seek refuge for you both in the Perfect Words of Allah, from every devil, poisonous creature, and from every harmful eye.”
The Prophet ﷺ said that Ibrāhīm (AS) used to supplicate with these same words for Ismāʿīl and Isḥāq (AS).
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
