Protection from the Evil Eye (nazar)

Assalaamu ’alaykum,

Is the concept of evil eye real? If so, what should one do to protect one’s children from the evil eye (nazar)?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما

The concept of evil eye is something that exists and has been mentioned in different ahaadith and we have been taught to take due precaution in protecting ourselves and our families from the evil eye. Consider the following hadith:

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) has said, “The evil eye is a reality.” (Muslim)

However, there are many different du’as that the Messenger (may Allah bless him and give him peace) has taught for protection against the evil eye and shaytaan. A few of which are mentioned below:

•   Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) would seek protection for his grandsons, Hasan and Husain, (may Allah be pleased with them) by reciting the following du’a:

أُعِيذُكُمَا بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لاَمَّةٍ

I seek protection for you two in the perfect words of Allah from every devil, every poisonous pest, and from every evil eye.

The Messenger (may Allah bless him and give him peace) further stated that Ibrahim ‘alayhi salam would also make the same du’a for his sons. (Tirmizi)

•   In another hadith, we find that the Messenger (may Allah bless him and give him peace) would also teach the companions the following du’a for when they are in a state of worry or fear:

أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ غَضَبِهِ وَشَرِّ عِبَادِهِ وَمِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ

I seek refuge in Allah’s perfect words from His anger, the evil of His servants, the evil misgivings of the devils and their presence.

‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) would teach these words to those of his children who had reached the age of maturity and for younger children he would write it down and have them wear it. (Abu Dawud)

In conclusion, while we have been taught that the evil eye is indeed a reality, we have also been taught many du’as as a form of protection against the evil eye. A few of those have been mentioned above, while there are many others which you may find in reliable books of du’as.

والله اعلم

And Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala knows best.

Waqas Memon

Approved by Mufti Husain Ahmad Madani