Expert: Imam Habeeb - 3/6/2004

Question
I was wondering is the evil eye real? There are some people I know that  I've heard of that give the evil eye. They say they can do it without meaning to. Aso I know some people who've said they've had someone give them the evil eye and how some things happend to them like get sick or something. So if there is such a thing can you please give me  an understanding about it   i.e. where it came from and how to avoid it. Thank you for your time.

Answer
Salam

Evil eye is called Ain in Islam and the Prophet did say Al ain haqqun!

By just looking at someone jealuosly they may be affected or their posessions to the extent that they pine away or their properties get diminished.

It has happened in the time of the Prophet to Sad. Reciting Mashaaallah when we see something appealling is a way of protecting others from our evil eye. Making wudu and having the person we affected drinking the dripping water is also another way.

Reciting auzubikalimati taamati min shari maa khalaq helps from others' evil eyes as well as sura falaq.

In superstitious circles people do jarrae'or paasing rituals by burning garlic skin and ounchai or wiping rituals to the affected but there is no such baseless  riuals in Islam. Prayer and a clean forgiving heart is what Islam preaches. We should look at those above us in righteousness and those below us in worldly things and then the heart will get free of jealousy. It's so lousy to envy, isn't it?