evil eye - Definition of the evil eye, and ways of protecting oneself against it and treating it

What is the evil eye? I've seen this terminology been used so many
time on this webpage. Can you please explain in detail?.
Praise be to Allaah.
These follow some information and fatwas that have to do with the evil
eye. We ask Allaah tobenefit readers thereby.
The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked:
What is the definition of the evil eye? Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning):
"And from the evil of theenvier when he envies"
[al-Falaq 113:5]
Is the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) saheeh in which it says that "One third of those who are inthe
grave are there because of the evil eye"?If a person thinks that
someone is envying him,what should the Muslim do and say? If the
personwho put the evil eye on someone washes himself, will the water
he used bring healing tohis victim? And should he drink the water or
wash himself with it?
They replied:
The Arabic word al-'ayn (translated as the evil eye) refers to when a
person harms another with his eye. It starts when the person likes a
thing, then his evil feelings affect it, by means of his repeated
looking at the object of his jealousy. Allaah commanded His Prophet
Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to seek refuge
with Him from the envier, as He said (interpretation of the meaning):
"And from the evil of theenvier when he envies"
[al-Falaq 113:5]
Everyone who puts the evil eye on another is envious, but not every
envier puts the evil eye on another. The word haasid (envier) is more
general in meaning thanthe word 'aa'in (one who puts the evil eye on
another), so seeking refuge with Allaah from the one who envies
includes seeking refuge with Him from the one who puts the evil eye on
another. The evil eye is like an arrow which comes from the soul of
the one who envies and the one who puts the evil eye on another
towards the one who is envied and on whom the evil eye is put;
sometimes it hits him and sometimes it misses. If the target is
exposed and unprotected, it will affect him, but if the target is
cautious and armed, the arrow will have no effect and may even come
back on the one who launched it.
Adapted from Zaad al-Ma'aad.
There are ahaadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) which speak of the effects of the evil eye. For exampleit is
narrated in al-Saheehayn that 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with
her) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) used to tell me to recite ruqyah for protection against the
evil eye.
Muslim, Ahmad and al-Tirmidhi narrated from Ibn 'Abbaas (may Allaah be
pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: "The evil eye is real and if anything were to overtake
the divine decree, it would be the evil eye. When you are asked to
take a bath (to provide a cure) from the influence of the evil eye,
you should take a bath." This was classed as saheeh by al-Tirmidhi,
and also by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 1251.
Imam Ahmad and al-Tirmidhi (2059, wherehe classed it as saheeh)
narrated that Asma' bint 'Umays said: "O Messenger of Allaah, the
children of Ja'far have been afflicted by the evileye, shall we recite
ruqyah for them?" He said, "Yes, for if anythingwere to overtake the
divine decree it would be the evil eye." Classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
Abu Dawood narrated that 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her)
said: The person who had put the evil eyeon another would be ordered
to do wudoo', then the person who had been afflicted would wash
himself (with that water). This was classed as saheeh byal-Albaani in
Saheeh Abi Dawood.
Imam Ahmad (15550), Maalik (1811), al-Nasaa'i and Ibn Hibbaan narrated
from Sahl ibn Haneef that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) came out and traveled with him towards Makkah, until they
were in the mountain pass of al-Kharaar in al-Jahfah. There Sahl ibn
Haneef did ghusl, and he was a handsome white-skinned man with
beautiful skin. 'Aamir ibnRabee'ah, one of Banu 'Adiyy ibn Ka'b looked
athim whilst he was doing ghusl and said: "I have never seen such
beautiful skin as this, noteven the skin of a virgin," and Sahl fell
to the ground. They went to Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) came and said, "O Messenger of Allaah, can you
do anything for Sahl, because by Allaah he cannot raise his head." He
said, "Do you accuse anyone with regard to him?" They said, " 'Aamir
ibn Rabee'ah looked at him." So the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) called 'Aamir and rebuked him
strongly. He said, "Why would one of you kill hisbrother? If you see
something that you like, then pray for blessing for him." Then he said
tohim, "Wash yourself for him." So he washed his face, hands,
forearms, knees and the sides of his feet, and inside his izaar (lower
garment) in the vessel. Then that water was poured over him, and a man
poured it over his head and back from behind. He did that to him, then
Sahl got up and joined the people and there was nothing wrong withhim.
Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Mishkaat,4562.
The majority of scholars are of the view that people can indeed be
afflicted by the evil eye, because of the ahaadeeth quoted above and
others, and because of the corroborating reports and other evidence.
With regard to the hadeeth that you mention, "One third of those who
are in the grave are there because of the evil eye," we do not know
how sound it is, but the author of Naylal-Awtaar said that al-Bazzaar
narrated witha hasan isnaad from Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with
him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: "Most of those who die among my ummah die because of the will
and decree of Allaah, and then becauseof the evil eye."
The Muslim has to protect himself against the devils among the
eviljinn and mankind, by having strong faith in Allaah and by putting
histrust in Him and seeking refuge with Him and beseeching Him,
recitingthe prayers for protection narrated from the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him), reciting al-Mi'wadhatayn [the
last two soorahs of the Qur'aan], Soorat al-Ikhlaas, Soorat
al-Faatihah, and Aayat al-Kursi.
Du'aa's for protection include the following:
A'oodhu bi kalimaat-illaah il-taammati min sharri ma khalaqa (I
seekrefuge in the perfect words of Allaah from theevil of that which
He has created).
A'oodhu bi kalimaat-illaah il-taammati min ghadabihi wa 'iqaabihi, wa
min sharri 'ibaadihi wa min hamazaat al-shayaateeni wa an yahduroon (I
seek refuge in the perfect words of Allaah from His wrath and
punishment, from the evil of His slaves and from the evil promptings
of the devils and from their presence).
And one may recite the words of Allaah:
"Hasbi Allaahu laa ilaaha illa huwa, 'alayhi tawakkaltu wa huwa Rabb
ul-'arsh il-'azeem
(Allaah is sufficient for me. Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has the right
to beworshipped but He) in Him I put my trust and He is the Lord of
the Mighty Throne)"
[al-Tawbah 9:129 – interpretation of the meaning]
And there are other similar du'aa's that are prescribed in sharee'ah.
This is what was meant by Ibn al-Qayyim in the words quoted at the
beginning of this answer.
If it is known or suspected that a person has been afflicted by
theevil eye, then the one who put the evil eye on him should be
ordered to wash himself for his brother. So a vessel of water should
be brought, and he should put his hand in it, rinse out his mouth into
the vessel. Then he should wash his face in the vessel, then put his
left hand into the vessel and wash his right knee, then put his right
hand in the vessel and wash his left knee. Then he should wash inside
his garment. Then the watershould be poured over the head of the one
on whom he put the evil eye, pouring it from behind in one go. Then he
will be healed, by Allaah's leave.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah li'l-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wa'l-Ifta, 1/186
Shaykh Muhammad al-Saalih al-'Uthaymeen was asked:
Can the evil eye afflict a person? How is it treated? Does being on
one's guard against it contradict putting one's trust in Allaah?
He replied:
Our opinion concerning the evil eye is that it is real and is proven
both by Islamic teachings and by real life experiences. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"And verily, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with
their eyes (through hatred)"
[al-Qalam 68:51]
Ibn 'Abbaas and others said, commenting on this verse: this means,
they put the evil eye on you with their glances. The Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The evileye is real and if
anything were to overtake the divine decree, it would be the evil eye.
When you are asked to take a bath (to provide a cure) from the
influence of the evil eye, you should take a bath." Narrated by
Muslim. Al-Nasaa'i and Ibn Maajah narrated that 'Aamir ibn Rabee'ah
passed by Sahl ibn Haneef when he was bathing… and he quotedthe
hadeeth.
Reality confirms that andit cannot be denied.
In the event that you areafflicted by the evil eye, you should use the
treatments recommended in sharee'ah, which are:
1 – Reciting ruqyah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said, "There isno ruqyah except in the case of the evil eye
or fever." al-Tirmidhi, 2057;Abu Dawood, 3884. Jibreel used to do
ruqyah for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and
say, "Bismillaahi arqeekamin kulli shay'in yu'dheeka, min sharri kulli
nafsin aw 'aynin haasid Allaahu yashfeek, bismillaahi arqeek (In the
name of Allaah I perform ruqyah for you, from everything that is
harming you, from the evil of every soul or envious eye may Allaah
heal you, in the name of Allaah I perform ruqyah for you)."
2 – Asking the person who has put the evil eye on another to wash, as
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded
'Aamir ibn Rabee'ah to do in the hadeeth quoted above. Then the water
should be poured over the one who has been afflicted.
With regard to taking his waste, such as his urine and stools, there
isno basis for doing so; the same applies to taking any of his
belongings. Rather whatis narrated is that which is mentioned above,
washing his limbs and washing inside his garment, or likewise washing
inside his headgear and garments.And Allaah knows best.
There is nothing wrong with taking precautions against the evil eye
before it happens, and this does not contradict the idea of tawakkul
(putting one's trust in Allaah). In fact this is tawakkul, because
tawakkul means putting one's trust in Allaah whilst also implementing
the meansthat have been permitted or enjoined. The Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to seek refuge for al-Hasan and
al-Husayn and say: U'eedhukuma bi kalimaat Allaah al-taammati min
kulli shaytaanin wa haammah wa min kulli 'aynin laammah (I seek refuge
for you both in the perfect words of Allaah, from every devil and
every poisonous reptile, and from every evil eye).'" Al-Tirmidhi,
2060; Abu Dawood, 4737. And he would say, "Thus Ibraaheem used toseek
refuge with Allaah for Ishaaq and Ismaa'eel,peace be upon them both."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3371.