Hadith #7

"The envious eye is real." العين حق

This authentic Hadith is narrated by Abu Huraira. In a similar narration by Aisha, the prophet said, "Seek refuge in Allah. The envious eye is real." The message is more emphasized in the narration of Ibn Abbas, where the prophet is quoted to have said: "The envious eye is real and if anything were to overtake the qadr (divine decree), it would be the envious eye."

Hasad (envy) is mentioned up to four times in the Qur'an. For example, in surat-ul-baqarah Allah tells us how envious the people of the book (Christians and Jews) are of the Muslims. In surat-ul-falaq Allah teaches us how to seek refuge in Him against envy.

There are five different types of envy. The worst type is when the envier wishes for the bounty to be totally transferred from others to him and actively tries to make this happen. An acceptable type which is considered to be forgiven is when the envier wishes for the same bounty but does not wish for others to lose it. This type is actually encouraged in the case of religious bounties such as knowledge, Qur'an memorization, etc.

According to Ali, envying others for what Allah has bestowed upon them is equivalent to declaring enmity against the bounties of Allah.

The envious eye has a tremendous amount of power and it could affect a person in many ways. Its symptoms include lack of focus, extreme fatigue, solitude, insomnia, nightmares, or any physical pain that cannot be explained by a doctor. It could also affect a person's children, wealth or property.

There are some prescribed treatment plans using several ayat of the Qur'an and Hadiths. For example, the prophet once ordered a victim of envy to take a bath with the water that the envier has used for wudu. Obviously this method assumes that the envier is known and is willing to cooperate, which is not always the case. Another solution is to recite over the victim surat-ul-fatiha along with ayat-ul-kursi, the last two ayat of surat-ul-baqarah, ayah #51 of surah #69, the last 3 surahs (3 times each), and the following words of the prophet:

1- "I seek protection for you by the perfect words of Allah from every Shaytan, and dangerous creature, and from every eye that is envious."

" أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لاَمَّةٍ ‏"

2-"Bismillahi arqika, min kulli shay'in yu'dhika, min sharri kulli nafsin aw 'ayni hasidi, Allahu yashfika, bismillahi arqika. [With the Name of Allah. I recite over you (to cleanse you) from all that troubles you, and from every harmful mischief and from the evil of the eyes of an envier. Allah will cure you; and with the Name of Allah, I recite over you]."

"بسم الله أرقيك ، من كل شيء يؤذيك، ومن شر كل نفس أو عين حاسد، الله يشفيك، بسم الله أرقيك".

3-" Audhu bi kalimati'llahi't-tammati min sharri ma khalaq. [I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created]."

"أعوذ بكلمات الله التامات من شر ما خلق"

Alternatively the above could be recited over water that the victim drinks and takes a bath with. An important prerequisite for this kind of treatment to be successful is an absolute belief that Allah will make it work.

To protect a house from the effect of envy, one could say in it these words of the prophet:

"Audhu bi kalimati'llahi't-tammati min sharri ma khalaq [I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created]."

"أعوذ بكلمات الله التامات من شر ما خلق"

According to the prophet, these words are actually protection against every kind of harm. Another way to protect a house is by reciting surat-ul-baqarah in it and by not allowing dogs inside. All of this is with the assumption that the house is kept clean from prohibited acts of disobedience.