Understanding the Evil Eye and Its Shariah Remedies
📮 The Shariah Remedy for the Evil Eye
Many people who excel in certain skills or possess beauty often become the target of someone’s evil eye. It has been observed that children are more frequently and easily affected than adults. The existence of the evil eye cannot be denied, as it is proven both through sensory and Shariah evidence.
Allah Almighty says:
And the disbelievers (when they hear this book of admonition) seem as if they will make you slip with their (evil) eyes.
Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) and others explained this verse, saying that they would harm the Prophet (peace be upon him) with their gaze. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“The evil eye is genuine. If anything could get ahead of the decree the evil eye would do so. And when you are asked to bathe, do so.”
(Sahih Muslim: 5831)
🚫 After being affected by the evil eye, people often turn to incorrect beliefs and customs, which common Muslims mistakenly consider Shariah remedies. For example, some people use black items as protection against magic or the evil eye, such as tying a black cloth to a vehicle to protect it from the evil eye, placing a black pot on top of a new house, or tying a black thread on themselves for protection. Additionally, people burn black pepper and use its smoke as a remedy for the evil eye. Many other practices are followed to remove the evil eye, while Islam has already provided a Shariah method to deal with it. Therefore, avoid such customs and eradicate weak beliefs from your mind.
📌The Shariah Remedy for the Evil Eye
First, it is essential to determine, through medical and psychological examination, whether the person is genuinely affected by the evil eye. Often, there is no real illness, but mere superstition, and this superstition can lead to severe diseases and, at times, even death.
✅ (1) The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to perform ruqyah (recite protective supplications) over his sons and his grandsons, Hasan and Husain (may Allah be pleased with them), and he would say:
“I seek refuge for you both in the perfect words of Allah from every devil and harmful creature, and from every envious eye.”
(Jami’ Tirmidhi: 2060)
✅ (2) If the person who caused the evil eye (the ‘Ain) or the one affected is identified, the former should be asked to perform ablution (wudhu) and wash the lower parts of their body. The water that touches their body should be collected in a container and then poured over the affected person (the ‘Ma’een’) from behind, covering their entire body. By Allah’s will, the effect of the evil eye will be removed. (The Hadith regarding ablution from Sahih Muslim is mentioned above.)
✅ (3) Treatment should be done through the Qur’an because it is a cure. Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned in a narration:
“Adopt two cures: honey and the Qur’an.”
(Sunan al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi)
Translation: “Adopt the two healing things: the Qur’an and honey.”
✅ (4) The treatment should also include ruqyah (protective supplications). The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught and trained us to perform ruqyah on those afflicted by the evil eye. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
“He was instructed to perform ruqyah for the evil eye.”
(Sahih Bukhari: 5738, Sahih Muslim: 5851)
Translation: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded me to perform ruqyah if someone is affected by the evil eye.”
✅ (5) Pray to Allah for healing through His beautiful names. Allah accepts prayers and removes the distress of His servants.
📌Treat the evil eye using the above-mentioned lawful methods and avoid self-invented methods. Even if someone finds relief from these self-invented methods, it cannot be considered valid evidence, as Allah may test His servants in different ways. Such situations are simply trials from Allah.
✍️ Written by: Maqbool Ahmed Salafi
Islamic Dawah Center
✍🏻 Interpreter: Hasan Fuzail