Protection from the ‘Evil Eye’
Question:-
What should one recite on seeing another person being blessed with a bounty, so that he may be protected from harm?
Answer:-
Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “The eye is a reality, meaning that if one’s evil gaze falls on any person, then it will definitely affect him.”
In a narration of Kanzul Ummal, Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “The eye (evil glance of one) will make a person enter the grave and will make a camel enter a pot.” [[i]]
Yet in another narration Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam states that the eye is a reality in which Shaytaan and jealousy is present. [[ii]]
Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam also mentioned that the eye is reality, if there was anything that would precede destiny, it would be the eye. [[iii]]
Due to the eye having an adverse effect, the Hadith teaches us that one should make Dua for Barakah for his brother if he happens to like his (possession, or wealth, or physical feature). [[iv]]
Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam used to recite the following Dua seeking protection from Shaytaan and Nazr for his grandsons, namely, Hadhrat Hassan and Hadhrat Hussain Radiallahu Anhuma.
أعيذكما بكلمات الله التامات من كل شيطان وهامة ومن كل عين لامة
I seek protection for the two of you with the complete words of Allah from every Shaytaan, and every poisonous insect and from every evil eye.
In the Kitaab Mishkaatul Masaabeeh, some commentators of Hadith have written that ‘complete words of Allah’ refer to the recitation of Surah Falaq and Surah Naas, which are known as ‘Muawwazatain.” This is one very effective way of being protected from Nazr.
Similarly, recitation of Manzil (which is a compilation of numerous Duas for protection against Jinn, Jadu, Nazr, etc.) and even general recitation of the Quraan Sharif on a daily basis, is extremely effective.
Our great Islamic scholars have said that a person should say ‘MashaAllah’ on seeing any good in a person or an item, based on the following Hadeeth. Through this practice, Insha’Allah, the person would be protected from the evil eye. Consider the following Hadeeth:
Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik Radiallahu Anhu reports that Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “When Allah blesses someone with a bounty, be it with regard to his family, wealth or children, and he says ‘Masha’Allah La Quwwata Illa Billah’, then no harm will come to him except death”. [[v]]
Hafiz ibn Kathir Rahimahullah writes in his Tafseer that some of the Salaf (pious predecessors) said: When one is amazed at his condition, wealth, or children, he should recite “Masha’Allah La Quwwata Illa Billah”.
Ibn Kathir adds: This is derived from verse number 39 of Surah Kahf. [[vi]]
The above anecdotes are just a few ways of protecting oneself from the evil eye. May Allah Ta’ala protect us all. Ameen!
[[vii]]
[i] العين تدخل الرجل القبر وتدخل الجمل القِدر (كنز العمال)
[ii] العين حق يحضرها الشيطان وحسد ابن آدم (كنز العمال)
[iii] العين حق ولو كان شيء سابق القدر سبقته العين (كنز العمال)
[iv] “إذا رأى أحدكم من نفسه أو ماله أو من أخيه ما يعجبه فليدع له بالبركة فإن العين حق” (كنز العمال)
[v] المعجم الصغير (ح-588) / مجمع الزوائد (10/140)
[vi] تفسير ابن كثير ط العلمية (5/ 143)
وَلَوْلَا إِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ إِنْ تَرَنِ أَنَا أَقَلَّ مِنْكَ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا…
ثُمَّ قَالَ: وَلَوْلا إِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شاءَ اللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ إِنْ تَرَنِ أَنَا أَقَلَّ مِنْكَ مَالًا وَوَلَداً هَذَا تَحْضِيضٌ وحث على ذلك، أي هلا إذ أَعْجَبَتْكَ حِينَ دَخَلْتَهَا وَنَظَرْتَ إِلَيْهَا، حَمِدْتَ اللَّهَ مَا أَنْعَمَ بِهِ عَلَيْكَ وَأَعْطَاكَ مِنَ الْمَالِ وَالْوَلَدِ مَا لَمْ يُعْطَهُ غَيْرُكَ، وَقُلْتَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ، وَلِهَذَا قَالَ بَعْضَ السَّلَفِ: مَنْ أَعْجَبَهُ شَيْءٌ مِنْ حاله أو ماله أو ولده، فَلْيَقُلْ: مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ، وَهَذَا مَأْخُوذٌ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ الْكَرِيمَةِ. وَقَدْ رُوِيَ فِيهِ حَدِيثٌ مَرْفُوعٌ، أَخْرَجَهُ الْحَافِظُ أَبُو يَعْلَى الْمَوْصِلِيُّ فِي مُسْنَدِهِ: حَدَّثَنَا جَرَّاحُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ عَوْنٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَى عَبْدٍ نِعْمَةً مِنْ أَهْلٍ أَوْ مَالٍ أَوْ وَلَدٍ، فَيَقُولُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ، فَيَرَى فِيهِ آفَةً دُونَ الْمَوْتِ» وَكَانَ يَتَأَوَّلُ هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ وَلَوْلا إِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شاءَ اللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ قَالَ الْحَافِظُ أَبُو الْفَتْحِ الْأَزْدِيُّ: عِيسَى بْنُ عَوْنٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَنَسٍ لَا يَصِحُّ حَدِيثُهُ.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Abdur Rahman Abdur Razak
Date: 02 Dhul Qa’dah 1444 / 23 May 2023
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai