Evil Eye


Question

I would request Mr Ghamidi to please take some time for me to reply in detail regarding the belief of evil eye. There is nothing written in the Qur’an about this belief yet the scholars here say that the last two suras are a cure or protection for all such effects.

1. I would like to know whether there is any sahih hadith which says that these suras are a cure or protection against such evil things?

2. I have read some hadith regarding this belief, but a few of them contradict the Quran whereas a few more contain substandard language. Consider the following ones for example:

Ibn ‘Abbas reported Allah’s Messenger (sws) 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. (Book #026, Hadith #5427)

Whereas the holy Qur’an teaches us:

SAY: Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us.

How is destiny preceded by Evil Eye?

Malik related to me from Ibn Shihab that Abu Umama b. Sahl b. Hunayf said: ”Amir b. Rabia saw Sahl b. Hunayf doing a ghusl (bath) and said: I have not seen the like of what I see today, not even the skin of a maiden who has never been out of doors. Sahl fell to the ground. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was approached and it was said: O Messenger of Allah, can you do anything about Sahl b. Hunayf? By Allah, he cannot raise his head. He said: Do you suspect anyone of it? They said: We suspect Amir b. Rabia. He continued: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, summoned Amir and was furious with him and said: Why does one of you kill his brother? Why did you not say: May Allah bless you? Do ghusl (bath) for it. Amir washed his face, hands, elbows, knees, the end of his feet, and inside his lower garment in a vessel. Then he poured it over him, and Sahl went off with the people, and there was nothing wrong with him.
I feel these superstitions have taken us away from God and close to saints and peers etc who by various incantations fool people.
I have seen few videos where in you were questioned regarding such issues like Magic, Sehar but it seemed to me that you have not responded with clear arguments, which leave no space for doubt as you have done in other issues. I am sorry if I have hurt you with such words.
I feel this is a serious issue and to my understanding a kind of idoltry, as people think anyone can harm them with Evil Eye, magic, sihr. So they live in a state of fear of humans, one relative of mine fears to such extent that he prefers driving a scooter instead of bringing a car because of fear of the Evil EYE.

Answer

1. The verses of the two Suras are evident that they are related to the effects of spiritually (i.e. not physically) harming others (which is also referred to by the word ‘magic’). What is known as ‘Evil Eye’ can be considered as an example of these spiritual harms and therefore is related to these two Surahs, although, as clear from the above, it is not all that these two Surahs are about. There are a number of Ahadith that relate these two Surahs to effects of Magic on the Prophet (sws). We however do not consider these Ahadith to be reliable. For details please read this article from the Monthly Islamic Journal of Renaissance: http://www.monthly-renaissance.com/issue/query.aspx?id=765

The issue of Evil Eye (as well as magic) has been numerously reported in Ahadith and it is difficult to deny it, especially given the fact that many have experienced it. According to Mr. Ghamidi the effect of evil eye is of a psychological nature. This has nothing to do with superstitious.

Answered by: Farhad Shafti

Date: 2015-03-03