Is the evil eye real, and how do I protect myself and cure it?

The short answer

Yes. The Prophet ﷺ said "the effect of an evil eye is a fact". Protect yourself with the mu'awwidhat and the morning and evening adhkar, and protect others by praying for blessing (barakah) when you admire something. The Sunnah cure is ruqyah and, if the person who caused it is known, washing with the water of their wudu.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Explanation

It is real. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The influence of an evil eye is a fact; if anything would precede the destiny it would be the influence of an evil eye" 1. It still only happens by Allah's permission, which is why the cure is to turn to Him.

Don't cause it: pray for blessing. When 'Amir bin Rabi'ah admired Sahl bin Hunaif's skin and Sahl collapsed, the Prophet ﷺ said: "Why would anyone of you kill his brother? If he sees something that he likes, then let him pray for blessing for him" 2, for example by saying "barak Allahu fik" (may Allah bless you). The Quran also teaches, when admiring your own blessings, to say "What Allah willed [has occurred]; there is no power except in Allah" (ma sha Allah, la quwwata illa billah) 3.

Protect yourself. Surah al-Falaq teaches refuge "from the evil of an envier when he envies" 4. Reciting al-Ikhlas and the two mu'awwidhat three times morning and evening "will suffice you against everything" 5. The Prophet ﷺ sought refuge for his grandsons from "every evil, harmful, envious eye" 6.

Cure it with ruqyah. The Prophet ﷺ ordered ruqyah for the evil eye 7, and when he saw a girl with a dark spot on her face he said she was affected by an evil eye and should be treated with ruqyah 8.

The wash. In the story of Sahl, the Prophet ﷺ told 'Amir to perform wudu and the water was poured over Sahl 2. He also said that when you are asked to take a bath as a cure, you should do it 1.

Do not become paranoid, blaming every problem on the eye; the Sunnah treats it calmly, with dhikr and dua.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 2188
    Sahih Muslim

    The evil eye is real; if anything could precede destiny it would be the eye; bathe when asked.

    Ibn 'Abbas reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:The influence of an evil eye is a fact; if anything would precede the destiny it would be the influence of an evil eye, and when you are asked to take bath (as a cure) from the influence of an evil eye, you should take bath

    العربية

    وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الدَّارِمِيُّ، وَحَجَّاجُ بْنُ الشَّاعِرِ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ خِرَاشٍ، قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ، طَاوُسٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ الْعَيْنُ حَقٌّ وَلَوْ كَانَ شَىْءٌ سَابَقَ الْقَدَرَ سَبَقَتْهُ الْعَيْنُ وَإِذَا اسْتُغْسِلْتُمْ فَاغْسِلُوا ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  2. 2
    Hadith Sunan Ibn Majah 3509
    Sahih graded by Al-Albani

    Why kill your brother? Pray for blessing when you admire something; the wudu water cure.

    It was narrated that Abu Umamah bin Sahl bin Hunaif said:“ ‘Amir bin Rabi’ah passed by Sahl bin Hunaif when he was having a bath, and said: ‘I have never seen such beautiful skin.’ Straightaway, he (Sahl) fell to the ground. He was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ) and it was said: ‘Sahl has had a fit.’ He said: ‘Whom do you accuse with regard to him?’ They said: “ ‘Amir bin Rabi’ah.’ They said: ‘Why would anyone of you kill his brother? If he sees something that he likes, then let him pray for blessing for him.’ Then he called for water, and he told ‘Amir to perform ablution, then he washed his face and his arms up to the elbows, his knees and inside his lower garment, then he told him to pour the water over him.”

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ بْنِ سَهْلِ بْنِ حُنَيْفٍ، قَالَ مَرَّ عَامِرُ بْنُ رَبِيعَةَ بِسَهْلِ بْنِ حُنَيْفٍ وَهُوَ يَغْتَسِلُ فَقَالَ لَمْ أَرَ كَالْيَوْمِ وَلاَ جِلْدَ مُخَبَّأَةٍ ‏.‏ فَمَا لَبِثَ أَنْ لُبِطَ بِهِ فَأُتِيَ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَدْرِكْ سَهْلاً صَرِيعًا ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ مَنْ تَتَّهِمُونَ بِهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا عَامِرَ بْنَ رَبِيعَةَ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ عَلاَمَ يَقْتُلُ أَحَدُكُمْ أَخَاهُ إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمْ مِنْ أَخِيهِ مَا يُعْجِبُهُ فَلْيَدْعُ لَهُ بِالْبَرَكَةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ دَعَا بِمَاءٍ فَأَمَرَ عَامِرًا أَنْ يَتَوَضَّأَ فَيَغْسِلَ وَجْهَهُ وَيَدَيْهِ إِلَى الْمِرْفَقَيْنِ وَرُكْبَتَيْهِ وَدَاخِلَةَ إِزَارِهِ وَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَصُبَّ عَلَيْهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ قَالَ مَعْمَرٌ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ وَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَكْفَأَ الإِنَاءَ مِنْ خَلْفِهِ ‏.‏

  3. 3
    Quran Al-Kahf · 18:39

    Say "What Allah willed; there is no power except in Allah" when admiring blessings.

    وَلَوۡلَآ إِذۡ دَخَلۡتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلۡتَ مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِۚ إِن تَرَنِ أَنَا۠ أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مَالࣰ ا وَوَلَدࣰ ا ۝٣٩

    And why did you, when you entered your garden, not say, 'What Allah willed [has occurred]; there is no power except in Allah '? Although you see me less than you in wealth and children

  4. 4
    Quran Al-Falaq · 113:5

    Refuge from the evil of an envier when he envies.

    وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ ۝٥

    And from the evil of an envier when he envies

  5. 5
    Hadith Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3575
    Hasan graded by Al-Albani

    Al-Ikhlas and the mu'awwidhat three times morning and evening suffice against everything.

    Mu`adh bin `Abdullah bin Khubaib, narrated from his father, who said:“We went out on a rainy and extremely dark night, looking for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), so that he could lead us in Salat.” He said: “So I met him and he (ﷺ) said: ‘Speak’ but I did not say anything. Then he (ﷺ) said: ‘Speak.’ But I did not say anything. He (ﷺ) said: ‘Speak.’ So I said: ‘What should I say?’ He (ﷺ) said: ‘Say: “Say: He is Allah, the One” and Al-Mu`awwidhatain, when you reach evening, and when you reach morning, three times, they will suffice you against everything.’”

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أَبِي فُدَيْكٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْبَرَّادِ، عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ خُبَيْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ خَرَجْنَا فِي لَيْلَةٍ مَطِيرَةٍ وَظُلْمَةٍ شَدِيدَةٍ نَطْلُبُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي لَنَا - قَالَ - فَأَدْرَكْتُهُ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ قُلْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَلَمْ أَقُلْ شَيْئًا ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ قُلْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَلَمْ أَقُلْ شَيْئًا ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ قُلْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ مَا أَقُولُ قَالَ ‏"‏ قُلْ ‏:‏ ‏(‏ هوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ‏)‏ وَالْمُعَوِّذَتَيْنِ حِينَ تُمْسِي وَتُصْبِحُ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ تَكْفِيكَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ وَأَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْبَرَّادُ هُوَ أَسِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي أَسِيدٍ مَدَنِيٌّ ‏.‏

  6. 6
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 3371
    Sahih Bukhari

    The Prophet ﷺ sought refuge for his grandsons from every envious eye.

    Narrated Ibn `Abbas:The Prophet (ﷺ) used to seek Refuge with Allah for Al-Hasan and Al-Husain and say: "Your forefather (i.e. Abraham) used to seek Refuge with Allah for Ishmael and Isaac by reciting the following: 'O Allah! I seek Refuge with Your Perfect Words from every devil and from poisonous pests and from every evil, harmful, envious eye

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنِ الْمِنْهَالِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُعَوِّذُ الْحَسَنَ وَالْحُسَيْنَ وَيَقُولُ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ أَبَاكُمَا كَانَ يُعَوِّذُ بِهَا إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ، أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لاَمَّةٍ ‏"‏‏.‏

  7. 7
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 5738
    Sahih Bukhari

    The Prophet ﷺ ordered ruqyah for the evil eye.

    Narrated `Aisha:The Prophet (ﷺ) ordered me or somebody else to do Ruqya (if there was danger) from an evil eye

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَعْبَدُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ شَدَّادٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ أَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَوْ أَمَرَ أَنْ يُسْتَرْقَى مِنَ الْعَيْنِ‏.‏

  8. 8
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 5739
    Sahih Bukhari

    A girl affected by the evil eye was to be treated with ruqyah.

    Narrated Um Salama:that the Prophet (ﷺ) saw in her house a girl whose face had a black spot. He said. "She is under the effect of an evil eye; so treat her with a Ruqya

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ وَهْبِ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ الزُّبَيْدِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا الزُّهْرِيُّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ زَيْنَبَ ابْنَةِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَأَى فِي بَيْتِهَا جَارِيَةً فِي وَجْهِهَا سَفْعَةٌ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ اسْتَرْقُوا لَهَا، فَإِنَّ بِهَا النَّظْرَةَ ‏"‏‏.‏ وَقَالَ عُقَيْلٌ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏ تَابَعَهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَالِمٍ عَنِ الزُّبَيْدِيِّ‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

Report an issue

Tell us what is wrong. Every report is read.

What is the problem?