The evil eye (العين), Envy (الحسد) and the sorcerer/Magician (الساحر)

  The evil eye (العين), Envy (الحسد), and the sorcerer/Magician (الساحر)

By: Dr. Issah Abeebllahi Obalowu

Understand al-Qadar (Destiny)

Knowledge – Writing – Wish/Will – Execution

Iradah Allah – Two types:

1.      الإرادة الكونية → Allah’s Universal Will (also: Cosmic Will)

2.      الإرادة الشرعية → Allah’s Legislative Will (also: Religious Will)

Universal Will: What Allah wills to occur in the universe; whatever He wills must occur, whether He loves it or not.

Legislative Will: What Allah wills in terms of religion, commands, and what He loves and is pleased with; it may or may not occur, because people may obey or disobey.

Sources of Evils

It is part of the wisdom of Allah, Exalted is He, that He has 

made causes and effects for things and events, and has 

connected some of them to others by His will and decree. Allah 

is the true and ultimate Doer, while the causes themselves 

have no independent power to produce effects.

Among the causes of evil that may occur in this world are 

magic, devils, envy, the evil eye, and other such causes. None 

of these causes has an independent power to cause harm; 

rather, their effects occur only by the permission and decree of 

Allah.

1.     The evil eye (العين),

2.     Envy (الحسد),

3.     Sorcerer/Magician (الساحر)

4.      Others

1. العين — The Evil Eye

Definition:
The evil eye (al-ʿayn) is harm that occurs to a person or something else -by Allah's permission- as a result of another person's gaze, accompanied by admiration, envy, or a negative feeling.

Proofs From the Qur’an and Sunnah

·      “And verily, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes through hatred when they hear the Reminder (the Quran), and they say: "Verily, he (Muhammad SAW) is a madman!"

﴿ وَإِن يَكَادُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَارِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا الذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ لَمَجْنُونٌ﴾ القلم: 51

·      The Prophet (saw) said: “The evil eye is real. If anything could precede the divine decree, it would be the evil eye.

"العين حق، ولو كان شيء سابق القدر سبقته العين"

·      It is narrated: “The majority of those who die from my Ummah, after Allah’s decree and predestination, die as a result of the evil eye.”

«أكثرُ من يموتُ من أمتي بعد قضاءِ اللهِ وقدرِه بالعينِ».

·      The Prophet ﷺ said to Asmāʾ bint ʿUmays: “Why is it that I see the bodies of my brother’s children looking weak, as though they are afflicted by poverty or hardship?” She replied: “No, but the evil eye quickly affects them.” He ﷺ said: “Then perform ruqyah for them.”

قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم لأسماءَ بنتِ عُمَيسٍ: ما لي أرى أجسامَ بَني أخي ضارِعةً تُصيبُهمُ الحاجةُ؟ قالت: لا، ولَكِنِ العَينُ تُسرِعُ إليهم، قال: أرقيهم.

 

The hadith of Sahl ibn Hunayf (رضي الله عنه) illustrates the reality of the evil eye.

Sahl ibn Hunayf was bathing when ʿĀmir ibn Rabīʿah (رضي الله عنه) saw him and admired his appearance, saying that he had never seen anything like it. Shortly afterwards, Sahl became seriously ill and collapsed.

When the Prophet ﷺ was informed, he asked: “Do you suspect anyone?” They mentioned ʿĀmir ibn Rabīʿah, so the Prophet ﷺ became upset and said: “Why would one of you kill his brother? When you see something that you admire, why do you not pray for blessing for him?” then, he instructed him to perform ablution/washing, and the water was poured over Sahl. Sahl recovered immediately and went away with the people as though nothing had happened.

 

Key point: The evil eye is not necessarily deliberate. The evil eye can occur even without the person deliberately intending to harm. For example, someone may admire another person's beauty, wealth, children, or achievement and, without properly mentioning Allah's blessing, the person may be affected. The hadith demonstrates that the evil eye is real and that it can occur even when a person does not deliberately intend to harm another. It also teaches us to ask Allah to bless someone when we see something we admire, rather than simply expressing admiration.

 

How to prevent harming others with the evil eye

1.    Say a blessing when you admire something

If you see something you like in another person, say:

مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ، بَارَكَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ

Or:

اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَهُ

“O Allah, bless him.”

 

2.    Do not become jealous

The evil eye can be connected to strong admiration or envy. A Muslim should train the heart to be happy when Allah blesses another person.

 

3.    Make duʿā for the person

When you see something beautiful—such as someone's child, house, clothing, intelligence, or achievement—make duʿā that Allah blesses it rather than simply expressing strong admiration.

 

4.    Remember that Allah is the One who gives blessings

 

5.    Teach yourself and people around you not to say things that express envy

Instead of:

“I wish I had what you have!”

Learn and teach to say:

“May Allah bless you!”

Simple Principle:

“When you see something you like, don't just admire it—ask Allah to bless it.”

How to Protect Yourself from the Evil Eye

1.    Strengthen your Iman

2.    Have trust in Allah

3.    Have total reliance on Allah

4.    Do your morning, evening and other adhkaar regularly

 

How to Deal with Any Evil or Misfortune That Befalls You

• Do not immediately accuse anyone. Even if you suspect the evil eye, envy, or another person, do not accuse someone without clear and reliable evidence.
• Do not become obsessed with finding the source. Constantly asking “Who did this to me?” can create suspicion, anxiety, and conflict. Your priority should be seeking Allah's help rather than identifying a culprit.
• Turn to Allah immediately. Make duʿā, pray, recite the Qur'an, perform ruqyah, and seek Allah's protection. Remember that nothing can harm you except by Allah's permission.
• Be patient and trust Allah. A believer responds to hardship with ṣabr (patience) and tawakkul (reliance upon Allah), knowing that Allah knows what is best.
• Examine yourself. Ask yourself honestly: Have I done something wrong? Have I neglected an obligation? Have I harmed someone? If you find a sin or mistake, repent and correct it. However, do not assume that every hardship is necessarily a punishment for a sin.
• Remember that hardship can be a test. Allah may test His servants through difficulties in order to raise their ranks, expiate their sins, or bring them closer to Him. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“No fatigue, illness, sorrow, harm, or distress befalls a Muslim—even a thorn that pricks him—except that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)

• Take legitimate worldly means. If the problem involves illness, seek medical treatment; if it involves a practical problem, take appropriate practical steps. Tawakkul does not mean abandoning the means.
• Protect yourself through legitimate ruqyah and adhkār. Recite al-Fātiḥah, Āyat al-Kursī, al-Ikhlāṣ, al-Falaq, and an-Nās, and maintain the authentic morning and evening adhkār.
• Do not resort to superstition or forbidden means. Avoid charms, fortune-tellers, soothsayers, or practices that have no basis in Islam.
• Do not let fear control you. The evil eye is real, but a Muslim's heart should remain attached to Allah. Allah is the ultimate Protector, and nothing happens except by His permission.

 

🌿 A simple principle

When something bad happens: Don't accuse → Don't obsess → Turn to Allah → Examine yourself → Be patient → Take the proper means → Trust Allah.

And:

“Instead of asking, ‘Who caused this to me?’ first ask, ‘How can I turn to Allah and respond correctly to this test?’”

 

2. الحسد — Envy

Definition: Ḥasad is wishing that a blessing Allah has given to another person would be removed from them, whether or not the envier himself receives that blessing.

For example, someone sees another person's wealth and wishes, “I wish he would lose his wealth.”

Allah says:  ﴿وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ﴾“And from the evil of an envier when he envies.”
Qur'an 113:5

Ḥasad is therefore primarily a disease of the heart and an attitude of the soul. It becomes sinful when a person harbors such envy and especially when he acts upon it through words or actions.

Important distinction: Simply admiring what someone has and wishing for something similar is not necessarily ḥasad except when want him/her losing it. The Prophet (saw) said:

"لا حَسَدَ إِلَّا فِي اثْنَتَيْنِ: رَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ مَالًا، فَسَلَّطَهُ عَلَى هَلَكَتِهِ فِي الْحَقِّ، وَرَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ حِكْمَةً، فَهُوَ يَقْضِي بِهَا وَيُعَلِّمُهَا." رواه البخاري ومسلم.

“There is no envy except in two cases: a person whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it in the right way, and a person whom Allah has given wisdom, and he acts according to it and teaches it to others.”

How to Protect Yourself from Envying Others

Islam teaches us to protect our hearts from ḥasad (envy)—wanting another person's blessing to disappear.

• Remember that blessings come from Allah. Everyone has different blessings and different tests.
• Be grateful for what Allah has given you. Compare yourself with those who have less rather than constantly looking at those who have more.
• Make duʿāʾ for the person you envy. Ask Allah to bless them and to bless you with similar good. This helps purify the heart.
• Avoid excessive comparison. Constantly comparing your wealth, appearance, family, achievements, or lifestyle with others can lead to envy.
• Focus on your own goals and blessings. Ask yourself: What has Allah given me that I should be grateful for?
• Remember the reward of wishing good for others. A believer should love for his brother what he loves for himself.
• Ask Allah to purify your heart. Make duʿāʾ that Allah removes jealousy, hatred, and resentment from your heart.

A useful Qur'anic duʿāʾ

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا

“Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and do not place in our hearts any hatred toward those who believe.” (Qur'an 59:10)

How to Protect Yourself from Other People's Envy

We cannot control what is in another person's heart, but Islam teaches us to seek Allah's protection.

A. Recite Sūrat al-Falaq

Pay particular attention to: وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ “And from the evil of an envier when he envies.” (Qur'an 113:5)

B. Recite Sūrat al-Nās

It is also recommended to seek Allah's protection through Sūrat al-Nās.

C. Recite the morning and evening adhkār

Regularly maintaining the authentic morning and evening supplications (adhkār) is an important means of seeking Allah's protection.

D. Make duʿāʾ for protection

Seek refuge in Allah from every form of harm and evil.

E. Say “Mā shāʾ Allāh” and praise Allah for blessings

When speaking about your blessings, especially things that may attract attention, remember that all blessings come from Allah.

F. Do not become excessively afraid of envy

A person should take legitimate means of protection but not live in constant suspicion of other people. Do not accuse someone of envy or the evil eye without evidence.

Important Islamic Balance

“Protect your heart from envy by being grateful and wishing good for others. Protect yourself from the envy of others by seeking refuge in Allah, reciting Sūrat al-Falaq and al-Nās, and maintaining the authentic adhkār. At the same time, never let fear or suspicion control you.”

3. الساحر — The Sorcerer/Magician

Definition: A sāḥir is a person who practices siḥr (sorcery/magic). In Islamic terminology, siḥr involves hidden or deceptive practices through which a person seeks to produce effects or harm, sometimes involving seeking the assistance of devils/jinn, depending on the type of siḥr.

Allah says: ﴿وَلَٰكِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ كَفَرُوا يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ﴾ “But the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic.” Qur'an 2:102.

Unlike ordinary envy or the evil eye, sorcery generally involves a deliberate act or practice intended to produce an effect.

 

The Main Difference

Concept	What is it?	Usually intentional?	How does it differ?
العين — Evil eye	Harm resulting from a person's gaze/admiration/envy	Not necessarily	The person may harm another without deliberately intending it
الحسد — Envy	Wishing for another person's blessing to disappear	Yes, as a feeling/desire	Primarily a disease of the heart
السحر — Sorcery	Deliberately practicing magic to produce an effect or harm	Yes	Involves an intentional practice/act of siḥr

 

Conclusion:

There is, however, overlap between the evil eye and envy. A person may give the evil eye because of envy, but not every envier necessarily gives the evil eye, and not every case of the evil eye is necessarily caused by ḥasad.