The Evil Eye

Question :

Does the evil eye afflict human beings? How is it treated? And when someone tries to protect himself from it, does he lack in his trust upon Allah Almighty?

Answer:

According to the Shari'ah and based on what we tangibly witness, the evil eye is a reality. Allâh Almighty says:
"And verily, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their vision (through hatred)."

Ibn 'Abbas and others explained that it means they give you an evil eye with their vision.

The Prophet ﷺ said:
"The eye is a reality; were something to come before Qadr, it would be the evil eye. And if one of you is asked to wash, then he should wash himself."

It was recorded by An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah that 'Amir bin Rabiyah once passed by Sahl bin Hanif, who was washing himself. The latter praised the handsome form of the former, who, not before very long, fell off his horse and was killed.

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ found out what had happened, he said:
"Upon what does one of you kill his brother? If one of you sees something of his brother that he likes, he should pray for him to be blessed (in that thing)."

The Prophet ﷺ called for water to be brought, and he ordered 'Amir to make ablution with it, to wash his face and hands until his elbows, to wash his knees and the inside of his Izar (lower garment), and he ordered that the water be poured over him - in one narration. the container was poured over him from behind him. Such occurrences are known and can not be denied.

When the evil eye does occur, the following Shari'ah treatments should be used:

1. Recitation: The Prophet ﷺ said:
"There is no Ruqya except for the eye or the sting of a scorpion."

Jibril used to read over the Prophet: "In the name of Allah do I read this over you (to protect) you from all evil that may harm you and from the evil of every soul and every envious eye; may Allâh cure you. In the name of Allâh do I read this over you."

2. Asking someone to wash himself, as the Prophet ordered in the case of 'Amir bin Rabiyah to do in the previous Hadith. Then that water is poured over the afflicted.

As for using the water after it has been poured over the private area, there is no basis for that. Rather what is mentioned is only what has preceded; washing the limbs and under the Izar. Perhaps the same is the case with the head covering, the cap and the robe, and Allah knows best.

Protecting yourself from the evil eye before it occurs is permitted and it does not signify a lack of dependence upon Allâh (Tawakkul); rather, doing so is a part of depending in Allâh. Dependence upon Allâh means putting one's faith in Him and relying on Him, while taking those practical steps that he ordered or permitted us to do. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to read this invocation over Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn, may Allah be pleased with them.
"I commend you two to the protection of Allah's perfect words from every devil, vermin, and every evil eye."

And he said, "This is how Ibrahim would seek protection for Ishaq and Isma'il, peace be upon them."