The Evil Eye (Nazar e Bad) occurs when a person feels jealous or envious of another person’s blessings, beauty, or success and does not say “Masha’Allah”. This effect can be so severe that it can take a person from a state of illness to the brink of death.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said that the evil eye takes a person to the grave and a camel to the pot. Therefore, taking precautions against it is a Sunnah of the Prophet.
The Evil Eye (Nazar e Bad) is not just a myth, but a bitter reality. The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“Al-Ain Haqq” (The evil eye is true).
It not only affects a person’s health, wealth and happiness, but sometimes also causes major accidents. Islam teaches us to rely on Allah and seek treatment through Sunnah supplications instead of being afraid of it.
The evil eye is a reality that is clearly mentioned in the Quran and Hadith. It is also called “eye-catching” in common parlance. Sometimes a person’s own self-interest or the envious glance of another person can damage a blessing.
If a person sees something of himself or someone else that he likes, he should pray for its blessing (for example, saying:
اللهم بارك فيه
ما شاء الله لا قوة إلا بالله
This removes the effect of the Evil Eye.
Below is a detailed article on the reality of the evil eye, its symptoms, and Sunnah duas to avoid it.
Signs of Evil Eye
If a person suddenly experiences the following problems, it may be a sign of the evil eye:
- Continuous lethargy and fatigue without any medical reason.
- Painful or pale complexion.
- Repeated illness and lack of effect of medicines.
- Unexplained irritability and anger towards loved ones.
- Sudden decline in business or education.
- Feeling of heaviness in various parts of the body (especially shoulders and back).
Sunnah Duas for Evil Eye
There are several powerful supplications (duas) taught by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) for protection against the “Evil Eye” (Al-Ayn) and other harms.
Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas
The Mu’awwidhatayn (Arabic: المعوذتين) refers to the last two chapters (Surahs) of the Quran: Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas. These are known as the “Verses of Refuge.”
The most powerful means for treating the evil eye are Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas.
Method: Recite three times in the morning and evening, breathe on your hands and rub them all over your body.
Specific Dua for Protection
When he (ﷺ) used to breathe life into Hasan and Husayn (RA), he would recite this supplication:
This is a powerful and well-known supplication (dua) from the prophetic tradition, often used for seeking protection, especially for children.
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ، مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لَامَّةٍ
Transliteration: A‘ūdhu bi-kalimāti-llāhit-tāmmati, min kulli shayṭānin wa hāmmatin, wa min kulli ‘aynin lāmmah.
Translation: “I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah, from every devil and every poisonous creature, and from every evil eye that harms.”
(ترجمہ: میں اللہ کے مکمل کلمات کی پناہ مانگتا ہوں، ہر شیطان اور زہریلے جانور سے، اور ہر لگ جانے والی نظرِ بد سے۔)
Dua for Healing (Ruqyah)
This specific dua is recorded in Sahih Muslim. It is the prayer that the Angel Jibril (Gabriel) recited over the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) when he was ill. It is commonly recited today for those seeking relief from physical illness or spiritual distress.
This is a powerful Ruqyah (dua for healing and protection) derived from the Prophetic tradition.
بِاسْمِ اللهِ أَرْقِيكَ، مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ يُؤْذِيكَ، مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ أَوْ عَيْنِ حَاسِدٍ، اللهُ يَشْفِيكَ بِاسْمِ اللهِ أَرْقِيكَ
Transliteration: Bismillahi arqika, min kulli shay’in yu’dhika, min sharri kulli nafsin aw ‘ayni hasidin, Allahu yashfika, bismillahi arqika.
Translation: “In the name of Allah, I perform ruqyah (supplication) for you, from everything that harms you, from the evil of every soul or envious eye. May Allah heal you; in the name of Allah, I perform ruqyah for you.”
(ترجمہ: اللہ کے نام سے میں آپ پر دم کرتا ہوں، ہر اس چیز سے جو آپ کو تکلیف دے، اور ہر نفس کے شر سے یا حاسد کی نظر سے، اللہ آپ کو شفا دے۔)
The Prophetic Method of Treating the Evil Eye (Ghusl)
If it is known who has cast the evil eye, the Sunnah method is to have that person perform ablution or take a bath and pour the water used on the person who has cast the evil eye. This immediately removes the effect of the evil eye.
Imam Nawawi has described in his famous commentary on “Sahih Muslim” and “Al-Adhkar” the method of bathing to cure the evil eye, which is proven by the blessed hadiths (especially the incident of Sahl bin Hanif (RA).
The method is as follows:
Water should be brought in a vessel and it should not be placed on the ground (rather, someone should hold it or place it on a high place).
- The person who caused the evil eye should take water from this vessel and wash the following parts in order.
- First, rinse your mouth and let the water fall into the vessel.
- Then wash your face.
- Wash your left hand and then your right hand (up to the elbows).
- Wash your left foot and then your right foot (up to the ankles).
- Then wash your knees.
- Finally, wash the inside of your trousers or apron (which is close to the body) with the same water.
- When all these parts have been washed, the vessel in which all this water has been collected should be poured once on the back of the afflicted person’s head.
By the will of Allah, he will recover.
The evil eye is a test, but Allah Almighty has provided a solution for it in His Word. Instead of superstition, we should believe in the Sunnah prayers and include the remembrance of Allah in our daily routines.
In Islamic teachings, the status of the morning and evening adhkar is that of a spiritual shield that protects a person from the effects of envious people and the evil eye.
The morning and evening adhkar, especially the two (Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas) and Ayat Al-Kursi, create a protective circle around a person that cannot be easily broken by satanic influences or the evil eye.
May Allah protect us all from the envy of the envious and the evil eye of the wicked. Amen.