The Evil Eye: What the Qur'an and Sunnah Say, and Where We Go to Extremes

The evidence first

The effect of the eye is real — on this, both the Qur'an and the authentic hadith are clear. In Surah Al-Falaq, Allah Himself taught us to seek refuge from the evil of the envier.

Envy and the eye are not the same thing

Hasad is a state of the heart: seeing someone's blessing and wishing for it to be ruined. The eye is its expression — that harm reaching someone through a glance. A person can cast the eye without any envy, simply out of admiration; and a person can also harbor envy and still stay silent without saying anything.

For this very reason, the remedy of the Sunnah is also of two kinds. Keeping your own heart clean of envy is one thing, and seeking protection from another person's eye is another. Most people are busy with only the second.

Symptoms cannot give certainty

Sudden tiredness, frequent yawning, a heavy feeling in the body, trouble striking right after receiving something new — these are mentioned as possible signs of the eye. But the word "possible" is important. Each of these symptoms can also have ordinary physical causes — anemia, thyroid problems, lack of sleep, depression.

Among the patients who come to a raqi, a large share actually have physical or mental problems that can be treated medically. Medical examination should not be skipped before beginning ruqyah — rather, the two should go side by side.

The remedy of the Sunnah

The Prophet, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, told us to perform ruqyah for the evil eye, and he did it himself too. The greatest prevention, however, comes before the remedy — making a dua for barakah when you see something beautiful.

Saying "Masha'Allah, Tabarak Allah" is not a mere formality. It is an acknowledgment that the blessing is from Allah, and that very acknowledgment closes the door of envy.

Showing restraint in displaying your own blessings is also consistent with the Sunnah. Pictures of your children, a new home, progress in your business — not putting everything before everyone is not disbelief, it is caution.

Where people make the biggest mistake

When they suspect the eye, many begin blaming a specific person — a neighbor, a relative, a colleague. This is a terrible mistake. Who cast the eye is a matter of the unseen, and only Allah knows the unseen. Accusing someone on the basis of suspicion is slander, and slander is itself a major sin.

The second mistake is going to someone to "tell me who did it." Going to a person who claims to give news of the unseen is itself forbidden — believing what he says is far more serious. Ruqyah means treatment with the words of Allah, not detective work.

• Do not assume it is definitely the eye just because the symptoms match — continue with medical examination.
• Do not try to find out who cast the eye; do not blame anyone.
• Do not go to anyone who claims to give news of the unseen — do not take amulets, threads or charms.
• Ruqyah is a long-term amal; if you do not see results in a few days, do not give it up.