Q. Is there a sign that I can see to recognise that I might have Hasad towards others?
A. The issue of the evil eye includes all people, even those who are righteous if they do not pay attention to it, whereas envy is limited to certain people. Hence the envious person has certain characteristics by which he may be distinguished.
The envier is always angry at the decrees of Allaah.
The envier always complains and rarely thanks Allaah even if he owns the whole world.
He follows up the mistakes of the one whom he envies, and tries to seek out his faults, and exposes them and exaggerates about them before others.
He conceals or ignores or belittles the good qualities and distinguishing characteristics of the person whom he envies.
He clearly criticizes the one whom he envies, with or without evidence.
He looks for opportunities and makes the most of any chance to harm the one whom he envies in himself or his wealth.
Finally, the envier is a troubled man, due to the resentment that is always festering in his heart, so depression and dullness show on his face.
Q. Are the above mentioned the only signs of envy and if I dont see them in myself am I free from envy?
A. Allahu Alam, but let us list a few Subtle Signs of the Presence of Envy here,
If you find yourself more often than not trying to conceal the virtues and goodness of others
If you do not like it when others talk about the good that a person has done
If you are mostly quiet and pretend like you do not know of that good
If you notice that you cannot speak in front of someone without addressing him//her in a laughing, jocular manner, but deep down you are filled with hatred and resentment that is clear from the way in which he looks at him.
If you try to put down the other person even if it is with a few good words but at the end the people in front feel negative about the other person
Then these are subtle signs of envy. A true believer free from envy likes it when good things are said about others and when others are appreciated and spoken about and when he speaks about them, he recounts Allaah’s bounties upon them and spreads the good message.
Note: Flattering someone on the other is also not allowed.
Q. Can a righteous person affect someone by evil eye?
A. Yes as mentioned above and also narrated in the hadith where a Sahabah affected another, surely they were amongst the righteous.
Although it is correct that the evil eye comes from people who feel jealous (hasad), it may also come from a person who is not jealous but merely likes something, because of the hadeeth: “Whoever among you sees something in himself or in his possessions or in his brother that he likes, let him pray for blessing for it, because the evil eye is real.” (Narrated by Ibn al-Sunni and by al-Haakim; Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani)
Q. Can a husband affect his wife with evil eye?
A. The hadeeth stated above explains that a person may harm himself or his wealth – and no one feels jealous of himself – but he may harm himself with the evil eye by admiring himself, so it is even more possible that he may harm his wife in the same way.
So a man may harm his wife with the evil eye by looking at her and noticing her beauty and admiring her, even if he does not actually say to her “You are beautiful.” It is mustahab for him to say, “Allaahumma baarik fihaa (O Allaah, bless her).”
Q. Can a parent affect his/her child?
A. Yes, based on what was mentioned in the above answer.
Q. How to deal with someone who is known to be envious?
A. If a person known to have an evil eye or is known to be envious and it has been established amongst people, then it is better to avoid such a person especially on occasions of when you are being blessed or celebrating a blessing of Allah.
Some of the elders in the community should try to advise the envier.
Send gifts and say Salam to the envier and pray for him that his heart is free from this disease he is suffering from.
Q. What to do if you are scared of harming someone with with evil eye?
A. If the one who may cause harm with the evil eye fears that he may harm the thing he is looking at, then he should say: Allahumma barik ‘alayhi (O Allaah, bless it) or Ma sha Allah la quwwata illa Billah (As Allah wills, there is no power except with Allah).
If the one who may cause harm with the evil eye always says this dhikr, then he will ward off its harm, in sha Allah.
Q. When we like something, what is better to say, MashaAllah or Allahumma Baarik?
A. Allahumma Baarik is better, as it was narrated in the hadith to “pray for blessing when you like something”. The meaning of the Arabic phrase Allahumma Barik is “May Allah Bless You”.
To a person directly: Barak Allahu feek (may Allah bless you)
if person is female: Barak Allahu feeki
To a male: Allahumma Barik Lahu (may Allah bless him)
To a female: Allahumma Barik laha (may Allah bless her)
To an object such as a car: Barak Allahu laka fiha (may Allah bless it)
About “Ma sha’ Allaah laa quwwata illa Billaah (That which Allaah wills (will come to pass)! There is no power but with Allaah)”, there is a difference of opinion. The evidence taken for this phrase is the aayah in Soorat al-Kahf and a hadeeth.
The aayah in question is (interpretation of the meaning): “It was better for you to say, when you entered your garden: ‘That which Allaah wills (will come to pass)! There is no power but with Allaah!’” [al-Kahf 18:39]. But this is not evidence (daleel), because the subject of the aayah has nothing to do with hasad (envy); in fact, Allaah destroyed his garden because of his kufr and transgression and Muslims were asked to say whatever Allah wills….
The hadeeth in question was reported from Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him), saying that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Whoever sees something that he likes, and says, ‘Ma sha Allaah laa quwwata illa Billaah’, the evil eye will not affect him.” But this hadeeth is da’eef jiddan (very weak)!
However there are some scholars who say it is acceptable to say MashaAllah laa quwwata illa Billaah, because it was narrated from Hisham ibn ‘Urwah from his father that when he saw a thing that he liked or he entered one of his gardens, he would say: Ma sha Allah la quwwata illa Billah (As Allah wills, there is no power except with Allah).
Q. There are some people who read certain things (not the Quran), and they cure people, are we allowed to benefit from them?
A. It was narrated from Zaynab the wife of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood from ‘Abd-Allaah that he said: “I heard the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ say, ‘Spells, amulets and love-charms are shirk.” I said, “Why do you say this? By Allaah, my eye was weeping with a discharge and I kept going to So and so, the Jew, who did a spell for me. When he did the spell, it calmed down.” ‘Abd-Allaah said: “That was just the work of the Shaytaan who was picking it with his hand, and when (the Jew) uttered the spell, he stopped. All you needed to do was to say as the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ used to say: ((Narrated by Abu Dawood & Ibn Maajah; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani)
‘Adhhib il-ba’s Rabb al-naas ishfi anta al-Shaafi laa shifaa’a illa shifaa’uka shifaa’an laa yughaadiru saqaman
Remove the harm, O Lord of mankind, and heal, You are the Healer. There is no healing but Your healing, a healing which leaves no disease behind.
Q. What is the ruling of hanging amulets and charms?
A. Hanging amulets and charms is of two types:
Firstly – that which is from the Qur’an.
Secondly – that which is from other than the Qur’an, from that which has no meaning.
The first type is something the scholars have differed over both in the past and present: Some have allowed it, considering it to be included in the verse:
“And We send down ofthe Qur’an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe”. Surah al-Isra’, verse 82
“This is a Book (the Qur’an) which We have sent down to you,) full of blessings”. (Surah Sad, verse 29)
Others from the scholars have forbidden it because it has not been established by the Prophet ﷺ as being a permissible means of preventing evil. The safer opinion in these matters is to refrain from this, as it is not narrated that the Prophet ﷺ or the Sahaba hang such amulets even if they are from the Qur’an, or to place them under one’s pillow, or hang them on the wall etc. Rather, one should make dua for the ill and recite upon them as the Prophet ﷺ used to.
Click here to read more about the rulings of hanging Quran as decoration & protection.
The second category, (that which has no meaning and is from other than the Qur’an) is not permissible in any situation, due to one not knowing what has been written. Certain people write incantations and joined words which cannot be read or distinguished; this is an innovation and unlawful in any situation.
It was narrated from ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir al-Juhani that a group came to the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ [to swear their allegiance (bay’ah) to him]. He ﷺ accepted the bay’ah of nine of them but not of one of them. They said, “O Messenger of Allaah, you accepted the bay’ah of nine but not of this one.” He ﷺ said, “He is wearing an amulet.” The man put his hand (in his shirt) and took it off, then he ﷺ accepted his bay’ah. And he ﷺ said, ‘Whoever wears an amulet has committed shirk.” (Narrated by Ahmad, classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani)
Q We see people hanging things like pearls, horse shoe etc to ward off evil, is this permissible?
A. No, for this there is no difference of opinion that it is a form of Shirk.
Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:This misguidance is still widespread among the Bedouin, fellahin (peasants) and some of the city-dwellers. Examples include the pearls which some drivers put in their cars, hanging them from the rear-view mirror. Some of them hang an old shoe on the front or back of the car; some hang a horse-shoe on the front of their house or shop. All of that is to ward off the evil eye, or so they claim. And there are other things which are widespread because of ignorance of Tawheed and the things which nullify it such as actions of shirk and idolatry which the Messengers were only sent and the Books were only revealed to put an end to. It is to Allaah that we complain of the ignorance of Muslims nowadays, and their being far away from their religion.
Q. Does offering an animal (black cock or a goat) in sacrifice help to ward off evil?
A. No, it does not. Only if the sacrifice is done to feed the needy or family and neighbors as an act of thanksgiving to Allaah, then it is permissible, for feeding people is a way of doing good to people, and Allaah loves those who do good.
But if your sacrifice was aimed at warding off evil and bringing about good, then it is not permissible. This is what is well-known among people when the word “sacrifice” (fadw) is used, because they think that by doing this they will ward off evil and bring about good, so they do this when accidents or sickness happen to them or their loved ones.
In Islam, sacrifice is not a means of warding off that which has been decreed by Allaah, whether good or bad.
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about slaughtering an animal when a building is completed or halfway through building. He said:
This action is subject to further examination. If the intention behind the sacrifice is to protect oneself against the jinn or some other intention by which the owner of the house intends to achieve something, such as keeping it or its occupants safe, this is not permissible, and it is a kind of bid’ah (innovation). If it is done for the jinn then it is major shirk, because it is an act of worship done for someone other than Allaah.
But if it is done as an act of thanksgiving for a blessing that Allaah has bestowed, such as reaching the roof or completing the house, so the person gathers his relatives and neighbours and invites them to this feast, there is nothing wrong with this. This is what many people do as an act of thanksgiving for a blessing from Allaah, as He has enabled them to build a house and live in it instead of renting. Similar to this is what some people do when they come back from a journey, and they invite their relatives and neighbours as an act of thanksgiving to Allaah for their safe arrival. When the Prophet ﷺ came back from a journey he would sacrifice a camel and invite the people to eat. (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3089). Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 5/388.
Q: What is the ruling of the bride placing her foot in the blood of a slaughtered sheep?
A. This custom (probably from the Hindu culture) has no permissible (shariah) foundation, rather, it is an evil custom, for it is:
A false belief (probably from the Hindu traditions) has no basis in the divine law (shariah).
It makes her foot impure because of the blood. One is ordered to remove impurities, and stay away from them.
There is also the fear that the sacrifice may have been performed for some other reason, like sacrificing it to the jinn or devils (shayatln) etc; this is from shirk, and it is well known that shirk is a sin which is not forgiven by Allah.
Q. We see some people making circular hand movements (from head to wherever the hand reaches) in front of a newly married couple or someone who just passed an important exam while holding Money in their hand. Does this help cure evil eye or protect from it?
A. This circling is a hindu practice and has no basis in Shari’a. Just give the money in charity and Allah will protect you.
Q. How about circling salt or red chillies (head to bottom) while reciting something, to cure from Evil Eye? Some people burn the red chillies and say if the smell do not come then that means you were affected by evil eye and now are cured.
A. Again, no basis in Shariah. However some people read verses of Quran or authenticate duas while doing this circling action, the reciting is correct but the action has no basis, we can keep it on the person or the place he/she feels the pain.
Q. Is it allowed to recite the Qur’an for the ill, for the sake of Allah or for a fee?
A. If the purpose is to make incantations (Ruqyah) upon the ill, then this is allowed, indeed, it is recommended, because of the saying of the Prophet ﷺ “Whosoever from amongst you can benefit his brother, let him do so.” Collected by Muslim.
Due to this being the action of the companions, it is better to do it without taking a fee, and if one takes a fee then it is allowed because it has been mentioned in the Sunnah.
If the purpose here is to recite, with the intention that the reward is going to the ill, it is best to avoid this as it is not mentioned in the shariah. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whosoever brings into this affair of ours that which is not from it, will have it rejected. ” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Q: What is the ruling of ‘nafath’ (lightly spitting) in water?
A. Spitting in water is of two types:
Firstly – To want some blessing from the saliva of that person. Without doubt, this is impermissible and a form of shirk for a person’s saliva does not possess any blessing or cure. so one should not seek blessing from anyone else’s traces except the Prophet ﷺ. People used to seek blessings from his traces during his lifetime. Likewise, after his death, if those traces were still present, (Umm Salamah would have hairs of the Prophet ﷺ in a silver container) they would be used to cure the ill by placing water on them, then giving the water to the ill.
However, this is not allowed for anyone other than the Prophet ﷺ. Using a person’s saliva, sweat or clothes is unlawful and a form of shirk, as the one who brings a cure which is not from the sharfah or a natural cure, has brought a form of shirk. If a person does this, he has made himself similar to Allah in placing a cure, for these cures are only taken from the shariah, so the one who relies upon a means and cure other than that which is natural or from the sharfah, he has brought a form of shirk.
Secondly – To spit after having recited the Qur’an, such as reciting Surah Fatihah, (which is from the best ‘ruqyahs’ to recite over the ill. He recites it and then spits into the water; this is allowed, and some of the pious predecessors would do it. It has been tried and is beneficial by the will of Allah. The Prophet ﷺ before sleeping, would recite Surahs Ikhlas, Falaq and Nas and then spit into his hands, and wipe his face and whatever he could of his body.
Some other widespread reprehensible innovations to do with protection against the evil eye and envy
Putting necklaces adorned with blue beads and metal pieces in the shape of crescents, or animal teeth and bones, on children and animals.
Hanging up the shoe of a horse or donkey, or ears of wheat, or putting a hand made of copper with an eye in the middle, on the doors of houses, around the necks of riding animals and in cars.
Wearing rings adorned with blue beads on which are written some words, in order to ward off the evil eye and protect oneself against its evil.
Hanging up the skulls of animals in houses and on farms.
Sprinkling salt over wedding guests – this is done in some countries to ward off the evil eye from the newly-weds.
Using strange words and phrases, in the belief that they will ward off the evil eye, such as saying “Touch Wood” “Imsiku’l-khashab” or “Khamsah Wa Khumaysah ” ” — which comes from a Hindu belief. The Hindus regard wood as holy, and that it wards off harm from them.
Writing phrases on cars, such as, ” ‘Ayn Al-husood Fiha ‘ood (A stick in the eye of the envier)”… and so on.
Success is with Allah and in the way of the Prophet ﷺ.
