Salafus-Saaliheen سلف صالحين

First question from Fatwa No. 6387
Q 1: What is the truth of `Ayn (the evil or envious eye )? Allah (Exalted be He) says: "And from the evil of the envier when he envies." . Is the following Hadith Sahih (a Hadith that has been transmitted by people known for their uprightness and exactitude; free from eccentricity and blemish): One-third of those who are in the graves are because of `Ayn. ? What should someone do and say if they think that they are envied? Will it cure them if they use water with which the Hasid (envier) has washed themselves? Should they drink that water or wash themselves with?
A: The Arabic word Al-`Ayn (literally, the eye ) is derived from (`Aana - Ya`inu), and refers to when a person harms another by casting the `Ayn on him. It originally starts with admiration for something felt by the person who casts the `Ayn, then it is followed by a reaction of his evil soul towards it, seeking assistance in putting its venom into effect by eyeing the Mahsud (victim of envy). Allah commanded His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to seek refuge with Him from the Hasid[envier], saying: "And from the evil of the envier when he envies." Everyone who casts a `Ayn on another is a Hasid, but not every Hasid is a person who casts a `Ayn. The subjective noun Hasid is more general in meaning than the subjective noun `Aa'in (one who casts an evil eye ). Therefore, seeking refuge with Allah from the Hasid includes seeking refuge with Him from the `Aa'in, which is like an arrow darting from the soul of the Hasid or the `Aa'in towards the Mahsud; sometimes they hit them and sometimes they miss. If the arrows find the person exposed and unprotected, they will affect them, but if they find them cautious, well-armed and impenetrable by arrows, the arrows will not affect them, perhaps they may even recoil upon the one who aimed them. (Adapted from Zad Al-Ma`ad).
(Part No. 1; Page No. 272)

There are Hadiths authentically narrated by the Prophet (peace be upon him) which affirm the effect of `Ayn, among them is the Hadith reported in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) on the authority of Lady `Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: The Messenger of Allah 'peace be upon him' used to command me to recite Ruqyah 'Qur’an and prescribed supplications recited for purposes of healing or protection' against `Ayn. Muslim, Ahmad and Al-Tirmidhi , who also classed the following Hadith as Sahih, narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: `Ayn is real, and if anything were to precede destiny, it would be `Ayn. And if you 'the Hasid' are asked to take a bath 'to provide a cure for the envied', you should take a bath. Imam Ahmad and Al-Tirmidhi , who classed the following Hadith as Sahih, narrated that Asma’ bint `Umays said: 'O Messenger of Allah, the children of Banu Ja`far have been affected by the `Ayn, shall we recite Ruqyah over them?' He said, 'Yes, for if anything were to precede destiny, it would be the `Ayn.' Abu Dawud also narrated that `Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The one who cast a `Ayn on another should be ordered to perform Wudu’ 'ablution', then the Mahsoud 'victim of envy' should wash himself with it.
(Part No. 1; Page No. 273)
Imam Ahmad, Malik, Al-Nasa'i and Ibn Hibban narrated from Sahl ibn Hanif , who said: The Prophet, peace be upon him, set out and they traveled with him towards Makkah, until they reached the mountain pass of Al-Kharar in Al-Juhfah. There Sahl ibn Hanif bathed himself; he was a fair man in complexion with a good body and skin. ‘Amir ibn Rabi‘ah, a kindred of Banu ‘Ady ibn Ka‘b, looked at him while he was taking a bath and said, 'I have never seen the likes of what I see today, not even the skin of a virgin in a boudoir,' and immediately Sahl suffered a seizure and fell to the ground. He was brought to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and it was said, 'O Messenger of Allah, can you do anything for Sahl, for by Allah he cannot raise his head or recover consciousness.' He said, 'Do you accuse anyone with regard to him?' They said, '`Amir ibn Rabi‘ah looked at him.' The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, summoned `Amir and spoke angrily to him, saying, 'Why would one of you kill his brother? If you see something that you like, why do you not supplicate [Allah’s] blessings on it?' Then he said to him '‘Amir', 'Wash yourself for him.' So he washed his face, hands, forearms, knees, the end of his feet, and the inside of his Izar 'garment worn below the waist' in a vessel. Then that water was poured over him 'Sahl'; a man was pouring it over his head and back from behind. He poured out the vessel from behind him. He did that to him, then Sahl got up and joined the people and there was nothing wrong with him.
The dominant majority of scholars have confirmed the risk of harm by `Ayn, on the authority of the Hadiths quoted above as well as others, and because of the corroborating actual events. As for the Hadith you have mentioned, “One-third of those who are in the graves are there because of `Ayn,” we do not know of its authenticity. However, the author of Nayl Al-Awtar said that Al-Bazzar narrated from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him), with a good Sanad (chain of narrators), that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Most of those who die among my Ummah 'nation' after the Decree and Predestination of Allah are by the souls 'i.e., `Ayn'.
(Part No. 1; Page No. 274)
A Muslim must fortify himself against the devils from among the evil jinn (creatures created from fire) and mankind, by having strong Iman (Faith) in Allah and by putting their trust in Him and seeking refuge with Him and beseeching Him. They should recite the Du`a's (supplications) prescribed by the Prophet (peace be upon him) for refuge and protection. They should often recite Al-Mu`awwidhatayn (Surahs Al-Falaq and Al-Nas), Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Fatihah and Ayat-ul-Kursy (the Qur’anic Verse of the Throne, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:255). One of the Prophetic Du`a's for refuge and protection is to say: I seek refuge in the Perfect Words of Allah from the evil of what He has created. and I seek refuge in the Perfect Words of Allah from His Wrath and Punishment, and from the evil of His slaves, and from the evil promptings of the devils and from their presence. And the Saying of Allah (Exalted be He): Allâh is sufficient for me. Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) in Him I put my trust and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne. And other Du`a's that are prescribed in the Shari‘ah (Islamic law), for that is what is meant by the words of Ibn Al-Qayyim quoted at the beginning of this answer.
If a person thinks or suspects that someone has cast a `Ayn on him, then the `Aa'in should be ordered to wash themselves for the Mahsoud. A vessel of water should be brought to them, in which the `Aa'in should put his hand and rinse out his mouth. 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. The water should then be poured over the head of Mahsoud, pouring it from behind in one go. Then they will be healed, by the Permission of Allah.
May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta'

Member Member Deputy Chairman Chairman
`Abdullah ibn Qa`ud `Abdul-Razzaq `Afify `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz