Evil Eye (Ayn)

The evil eye is another type of spiritual affliction which can have disastrous effects. Even by looking at something, someone can give evil eye to another one.

The evil can come from human and jinns and sometimes animals as well.

Evidence from the Quran

Allah says in surah Al-Qalam (51):

 And verily, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes (through hatred) when they hear the Reminder (the Qur’ân), and they say: “Verily, he (Muhammad peace be upon him) is a madman!” (verse 51)

Evidence from the Hadith

We have collected the following hadiths which related to the evil eye:

Jabir reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “A great many from my nation who die, after the judgment, decree, and providence of Allah, die by the evil eye.”

Source: Musnad Abī Dāwūd al-Ṭayālisī 1868

Ibn Abbas reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The evil eye is real. If anything could precede the divine decree, it would be preceded by the evil eye. When you are asked to perform a ritual bath, then do so.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2188

Umm Salamah reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, saw a servant girl in her house whose face has become discolored. The Prophet said, “Treat her with protective recitations, as she has been afflicted by an evil stare.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5739

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Bukhari

Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, the evil eye might attach itself to a man by permission of Allah, until he climbs a tall mountain and then throws himself off it.”

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 21471

Grade: Hasan li ghayrihi (fair due to external evidence) according to Al-Albani

Narrated from Sahl ibn Haneef (RAA) that the Prophet ﷺ came out and traveled with him towards Makkah until they were in the mountain pass of Al-Kharar in Al-Jahfah. There Sahl ibn Haneef did ghusl (bathed), and he was a handsome white-skinned man with beautiful skin. Amir ibn Rabee’ah, one of Banu Adiyy ibn K’ab looked at him whilst he was doing ghusl and said, “I have never seen such skin as beautiful as this, not even the skin of a virgin,” upon those words Sahl fell to the ground. They went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, “O Messenger of Allah, can you do anything for Sahl because by Allah he cannot raise his head.” He said, “Do you accuse anyone with regard to him?” They said, “‘Amir ibn Rabee’ah looked at him.” So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called Amir and rebuked him strongly. He said, “Why would one of you kill his brother? If you see something that you like, then pray for blessings for him.” Then he said to him, “Wash yourself for him.” So he washed his face, hands, forearms, knees and the sides of his feet, and inside his izaar (lower garment) in the vessel. Then that water was poured over him (i.e. Sahl) and a man poured it over his head and back from behind. He did that to him then Sahl got up and joined the people and there was nothing wrong with him. Ahmad, Malik, An-Nasai’ and Ibn Hibban. Classed as saheeh (authentic) by al-Albani in Al-Mishkat.

Signs and Symptoms

Based on the above hadiths, it is clear that the evil eye can have disastrous effects (by the will of Allah) on the one who is afflicted. Below we list some signs and symptoms caused by the evil eye:

  • You were motivated previously but now you are unable to study, not wanting to pick up the books at all
  • Feeling that you will die young
  • Evil eye on beauty
    • Hair loss
    • Spots on the body/face
    • Skin problems
  • Poor provisions/rizq/no job no matter how qualified you are
  • Becoming dumb all of a sudden when you are sharp
  • Ayn on your imaan
    • You take off your hijaab
    • You engage into adultery and feel no more interested in islaam
    • Shaving beard when you had it previously
  • Ayn on your quranic recitation
    • Unable to proceed with hifz
    • Forgetting about tajweed rules
    • You lose your voice which people enjoyed listening to. This happened in Saudi Arabia where a brother could not recite Qur’an and had to leave his job as imam
  • Ayn on your physique
    • Losing weight
    • Unable to workout due to unexplained injuries
  • Pain between your shoulder blades
  • Neck pain
  • Feeling heavy and taking narcotic medications and unable to understand where this is coming from
  • Unable to get married
  • You were able to do work/do some stuff and all of a sudden someone made a comment about it and since then you can no more do that specific stuff
  • Anxiety/Depression
  • Sinusitis