The Evil Eye — Signs, Duas for Protection, and Practices to Remove It

Two kinds of mistakes about the evil eye are common in our society. Some people deny it completely, while others think every illness and hardship is the result of the eye. On this page, the signs of the evil eye, the duas for protection, and the practices are all arranged in one place.

Is the evil eye really real?

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

الْعَيْنُ حَقٌّ

The evil eye is real. (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)Copy

That is, it is not a superstition but a reality — yet it has an effect only by the permission of Allah. Both harm and shifa are in His hand alone.

Signs of the Evil Eye

The signs are not definite proof individually — when many of them are present together, then suspicion is possible:

• Suddenly feeling heavy in the body, unexplained tiredness, being unable to concentrate on work
• Frequent yawning or watering eyes, especially while listening to the Qur'an
• Sudden illness for which no medical explanation is found
• Needless quarrels at home, restlessness, loss of barakah
• Problems beginning right after praise or after someone's gaze has fallen on you

Not every illness is the evil eye. Fever, worry, tiredness, or sleep problems may have ordinary physical and psychological causes. First take the advice of a qualified doctor, and let ruqyah go alongside it.

Duas for Protection from the Evil Eye

Regular Morning and Evening Practices

• Ayat al-Kursi — once
• Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas — three times each

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite the three surahs every night, blow into his two hands, and pass them over his whole body.

Dua for Seeking Refuge

أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ

I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created. (Sahih Muslim)Copy

Before Leaving the House

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

In the name of Allah, with whose name nothing in the earth or the heavens can cause harm; and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. (Sunan Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi)Copy

So That Your Own Eye Does Not Affect Anyone

When you like someone's child, wealth, appearance, or success, it is Sunnah to make a dua of barakah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to such a person — "Why did you not make a dua of barakah?"

• When you are impressed, say: "Masha'Allah, Tabarakallah"
• Make dua for the other person: "Barakallahu lak"

What to Do If the Eye Has Afflicted You

1. Do not panic — fear and restlessness increase suffering, and reliance on Allah is the first treatment.
2. Perform ruqyah on yourself — recite Surah Al-Fatihah, Ayat al-Kursi and the last three surahs, and blow on the water, then drink that water and bathe with it.
3. Continue regularly and with patience — do not lose hope if you do not see results in a single day.
4. If needed, seek the advice of an experienced and religious raqi.

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

And We send down of the Qur’ān that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss. (Surah Al-Israa 17:82 — Saheeh International; meaning of the complete verse)Copy