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Diseases,Medicines,Treatment |
Back to Diseases,Medicines,Treatment |
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| Fatwa By : |
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid |
| Language |
English |
| Reference By |
Islam Q&A |
| Addition Date |
07/09/2013 |
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Definition of
the evil eye, and ways of protecting oneself against it and treating it
What is the evil eye? I've seen this terminology been used so many time on
this webpage. Can you please explain in detail?.
Praise be to Allah.
These follow some information and fatwas that have to do with the evil eye. We
ask Allah to benefit readers thereby.
The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked:
What is the definition of the evil eye? Allah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
“And from the evil of the envier when he envies” [Al-Falaq 113:5]
Is the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
sahih in which it says that “One third of those who are in the grave are there
because of the evil eye”? If a person thinks that someone is envying him, what
should the Muslim do and say? If the person who put the evil eye on someone
washes himself, will the water he used bring healing to his victim? And should
he drink the water or wash himself with it?
They replied:
The Arabic word al-‘ayn (translated as the evil eye) refers to when a person
harms another with his eye. It starts when the person likes a thing, then his
evil feelings affect it, by means of his repeated looking at the object of his
jealousy. Allah commanded His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah
be upon him) to seek refuge with Him from the envier, as He said
(interpretation of the meaning):
“And from the evil of the envier when he envies” [Al-Falaq 113:5]
Everyone who puts the evil eye on another is envious, but not every envier puts
the evil eye on another. The word hasid (envier) is more general in meaning
than the word ‘aa’in (one who puts the evil eye on another), so seeking refuge
with Allah from the one who envies includes seeking refuge with Him from the
one who puts the evil eye on another. The evil eye is like an arrow which comes
from the soul of the one who envies and the one who puts the evil eye on
another towards the one who is envied and on whom the evil eye is put;
sometimes it hits him and sometimes it misses. If the target is exposed and
unprotected, it will affect him, but if the target is cautious and armed, the
arrow will have no effect and may even come back on the one who launched it.
Adapted from Zad al-Ma’ad.
There are ahadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him) which speak of the effects of the evil eye. For example it is narrated in
al-Sahihayn that ‘Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger
of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to tell me to recite
ruqyah for protection against the evil eye.
Muslim, Ahmad and At-Tirmidhi narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased
with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“The evil eye is real and if anything were to overtake the divine decree, it
would be the evil eye. When you are asked to take a bath (to provide a cure)
from the influence of the evil eye, you should take a bath.” This was classed
as sahih by At-Tirmidhi, and also by Al-Albani in Al-Silsilah As-Sahihah,
1251.
Imam Ahmad and At-Tirmidhi (2059, where he classed it as sahih) narrated that
Asma’ bint ‘Umays said: “O Messenger of Allah, the children of Ja’far have
been afflicted by the evil eye, shall we recite ruqyah for them?” He said,
“Yes, for if anything were to overtake the divine decree it would be the evil
eye.” Classed as sahih by Al-Albani in Sahih At-Tirmidhi.
Abu Dawood narrated that ‘Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The
person who had put the evil eye on another would be ordered to do wudoo’, then
the person who had been afflicted would wash himself (with that water). This
was classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawood.
Imam Ahmad (15550), Malik (1811), An-Nasa’i and Ibn Hibbaan narrated from
Sahl ibn Hanif that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
came out and traveled with him towards Makkah, until they were in the mountain
pass of al-Kharar in al-Jahfah. There Sahl ibn Hanif did ghusl, and he was a
handsome white-skinned man with beautiful skin. ‘Amir ibn Rabiah, one of
Banu ‘Adiyy ibn Ka’b looked at him whilst he was doing ghusl and said: “I have
never seen such beautiful skin as this, not even the skin of a virgin,” and
Sahl fell to the ground. They went to Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him) came 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 Rabiah looked
at him.” So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
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 blessing 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 izar (lower garment)
in the vessel. Then that water was poured over him, 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.
Classed as sahih by al-Albani in al-Mishkat, 4562.
The majority of scholars are of the view that people can indeed be afflicted by
the evil eye, because of the ahadith quoted above and others, and because of
the corroborating reports and other evidence.
With regard to the hadith that you mention, “One third of those who are in the
grave are there because of the evil eye,” we do not know how sound it is, but
the author of Nayl al-Awtar said that al-Bazzar narrated with a hasan isnad
from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Most of those who die among my ummah
die because of the will and decree of Allah, and then because of the evil
eye.”
The Muslim has to protect himself against the devils among the evil jinn and
mankind, by having strong faith in Allah and by putting his trust in Him and
seeking refuge with Him and beseeching Him, reciting the prayers for protection
narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), reciting
al-Mi’wadhatayn [the last two soorahs of the Quran], Soorat al-Ikhlas, Soorat
al-Fatihah, and Aayat al-Kursi.
Dua’s for protection include the following:
A’oodhu bi kalimaat-illaah il-taammati min sharri ma khalaqa (I seek refuge in
the perfect words of Allah from the evil of that which He has created).
A’oodhu bi kalimaat-illaah il-taammati min ghadabihi wa ‘iqaabihi, wa min
sharri ‘ibaadihi wa min hamazaat al-shayaateeni wa an yahduroon (I seek refuge
in the perfect words of Allah from His wrath and punishment, from the evil of
His slaves and from the evil promptings of the devils and from their presence).
And one may recite the words of Allah:
“Hasbi Allaahu laa ilaaha illa huwa, ‘alayhi tawakkaltu wa huwa Rabb ul-‘arsh il-‘azeem
(Allah is sufficient for me. Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be
worshipped but He) in Him I put my trust and He is the Lord of the Mighty
Throne)”
[al-Tawbah 9:129 – interpretation of the meaning]
And there are other similar dua’s that are prescribed in shariah. This is
what was meant by Ibn al-Qayyim in the words quoted at the beginning of this
answer.
If it is known or suspected that a person has been afflicted by the evil eye,
then the one who put the evil eye on him should be ordered to wash himself for
his brother. So a vessel of water should be brought, and he should put his hand
in it, rinse out his mouth into the vessel. Then he should wash his face in the
vessel, then put his left hand into the vessel and wash his right knee, then
put his right hand in the vessel and wash his left knee. Then he should wash
inside his garment. Then the water should be poured over the head of the one on
whom he put the evil eye, pouring it from behind in one go. Then he will be
healed, by Allah’s leave.
Fatawa Al-Lajnah Ad-Da’imah li’l-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wa’l-Ifta, 1/186
Shaykh Muhammad al-Salih al-‘Uthaymeen was asked:
Can the evil eye afflict a person? How is it treated? Does being on one\'s
guard against it contradict putting one\'s trust in Allah?
He replied:
Our opinion concerning the evil eye is that it is real and is proven both by
Islamic teachings and by real life experiences. Allah says (interpretation of
the meaning):
“And verily, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes
(through hatred)” [Al-Qalam 68:51]
Ibn ‘Abbas and others said, commenting on this verse: this means, they put the
evil eye on you with their glances. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah
be upon him) said: “The evil eye is real and if anything were to overtake the
divine decree, it would be the evil eye. When you are asked to take a bath (to
provide a cure) from the influence of the evil eye, you should take a bath.”
Narrated by Muslim. An-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah narrated that ‘Amir ibn Rabiah
passed by Sahl ibn Hanif when he was bathing… and he quoted the hadith.
Reality confirms that and it cannot be denied.
In the event that you are afflicted by the evil eye, you should use the
treatments recommended in shariah, which are:
1. Reciting ruqyah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
said, “There is no ruqyah except in the case of the evil eye or fever.” At-Tirmidhi, 2057; Abu Dawood, 3884. Jibril used to do ruqyah for the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and say, “Bismillaahi arqeeka min
kulli shay’in yu’dheeka, min sharri kulli nafsin aw ‘aynin haasid Allaahu
yashfeek, bismillaahi arqeek (In the name of Allah I perform ruqyah for you,
from everything that is harming you, from the evil of every soul or envious eye
may Allah heal you, in the name of Allah I perform ruqyah for you).”
2. Asking the person who has put the evil eye on another to wash, as the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commanded ‘Amir ibn
Rabiah to do in the hadith quoted above. Then the water should be poured
over the one who has been afflicted.
With regard to taking his waste, such as his urine and stools, there is no
basis for doing so; the same applies to taking any of his belongings. Rather
what is narrated is that which is mentioned above, washing his limbs and
washing inside his garment, or likewise washing inside his headgear and
garments. And Allah knows best.
There is nothing wrong with taking precautions against the evil eye before it
happens, and this does not contradict the idea of tawakkul (putting one\'s
trust in Allah). In fact this is tawakkul, because tawakkul means putting
one’s trust in Allah whilst also implementing the means that have been
permitted or enjoined. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
used to seek refuge for al-Hasan and al-Husayn and say: U’eedhukuma bi kalimaat
Allaah al-taammati min kulli shaytaanin wa haammah wa min kulli ‘aynin laammah
(I seek refuge for you both in the perfect words of Allah, from every devil
and every poisonous reptile, and from every evil eye).’” Al-Tirmidhi,
2060; Abu Dawood, 4737. And he would say, “Thus Ibrahim used to seek refuge
with Allah for Ishaq and Isma’eel, peace be upon them both.” Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 3371.
Fatawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 2/117, 118
See also the answers to questions no. 7190 and 11359.
And Allah knows best.
Islam Q&A
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