Ten ways to safeguard against the evil eye, magic, and envious individuals

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Indeed, one of the most pernicious ailments and profound evils is the affliction that befalls an individual as a result of magic, the evil eye, or envy. Magic possesses an exceedingly wicked influence on a person as it has the potential to induce illness or even lead to their demise (by the Will of Allah). Similarly, the evil eye of an envious individual, when accompanied by malice and evil intentions in the heart can bring harm upon the envied person (by the Will of Allah); in fact, it too can result in illness or death (by the will of Allah). However, the believer has been facilitated with the blessed means and beneficial things to ward off evil from (magicians and envious people). Al-Allaamah Ibn Al-Qayyim [may Allah have mercy upon him] summarised these means of protection into ten significant matters as follows:

[1] Tawheed: The firm belief [in pure Islamic monotheism, that Allah is the sole Creator, Provider, and Controller of the universe; the only possessor of Perfect names and Attributes that are not similar to that of anyone else, and that He alone has the right to be worshipped]; constantly attaching (one’s heart and thoughts) to Allah, who has created all the means for achieving our goals, The All-Mighty, The All-Wise, whilst considering the means of protection and to remember that nothing can harm or benefit us without Allah’s permission. Allah says:

وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ اللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ وَإِن يُرِدْكَ بِخَيْرٍ فَلَا رَادَّ لِفَضْلِهِ

And if Allah touches you with hurt, none can remove it but He; and if He intends any good for you, none can repel His Favour which He causes it to reach whomsoever of His slaves He will. [Surah Yunus. 107]

The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said to Ibn Abbaas [may Allah be pleased with him and his father], “Know that even if the entire nation were to gather together to benefit you with something, they would not benefit you with anything except that which Allah has already decreed for you and that if they gather together to harm you with something, they would not be able to harm you with anything except that which Allah has already decreed against you”. [Sahih At-Tirmidhi 2516]

If an individual upholds Tawheed, the fear of anything other than Allah will be eradicated from their heart. Their adversary will appear feeble to them, and they will realise that their preoccupation with their enemy’s affairs, fear of their enemy, and obsession with their enemy stem from a deficiency in their belief in Tawheed. If they were to perfect their belief in Tawheed, their foremost thought would be that Allah is the ultimate Protector and Defender, as Allah safeguards those who have true faith. A true believer will be defended by Allah in accordance with the strength of their faith. Tawheed serves as the most powerful shield, and those who embrace it will be among the protected. As some of the righteous predecessors have stated, “Whoever truly fears Allah, everything will fear him; and whoever does not fear Allah, Allah will make him fear everything.”

[2] Taqwa- [Fear of Allah and piety- striving to fulfill everything Allah has commanded and keep away from everything Allah has forbidden]: Those who are mindful of Allah will be safeguarded by Allah and not left in the care of others. Allah [The Most High] says:

وَإِن تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا لَا يَضُرُّكُمْ كَيْدُهُمْ شَيْئًا ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ

But if you remain patient and become Al-Muttaqun(the pious), not the least harm will their cunning do to you. Surely, Allah surrounds all that they do. [Surah Al Imraan Ayah 120]

[3] At-Tawakkul- [Reliance upon Allah]: Whoever places their trust in Allah will find Allah all-sufficient for them. Trusting in Allah is the most powerful means of protection, regardless of the level of harm, oppression, or enmity from others. Those who rely solely on Allah will find that their enemy has no chance of harming them. When a person trusts in Allah as He deserves and firmly believes in Allah’s complete control over the heavens, the earth, and everything in between, Allah will provide a way out of difficulties and assist them. [See Footnote a]

[4] Devotion to Allah: Being sincere to Allah, striving to attain His love and Pleasure, and fully surrendering to Him in all thoughts and desires, making an effort to align one’s thoughts and desires with what pleases Allah until it becomes dominant and pushes away everything that goes against what is Pleasing to Allah. Thus, one focuses their thoughts and desires to be in line with what their Lord loves, seeking to draw closer to Him, remembering and praising Him. Allah [The Most High] mentions that Iblis said:

قَالَ فَبِعِزَّتِكَ لَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُخْلَصِينَ

[Iblis (Satan)] said: “By Your Might, I will surely mislead them all, except Your chosen slaves amongst them (faithful, obedient, true believers of Islamic Monotheism). [Surah Saad. Ayaat 82-83]

The sincere individual resembles someone who seeks refuge in a well-protected stronghold – neither is the person within it filled with fear nor is the one who seeks refuge in it left vulnerable. Furthermore, their adversary does not harbour any hope of approaching it.

[5] Repentance: Sins lead to being overpowered by one’s adversary. Allah [The Most High] says:

[وَمَا أَصَابَكُم مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ – And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned]. [Surah Ash-Shurah. Ayah 30]

A servant of Allah is not overpowered by someone who harms them unless it is due to their sins, whether they are conscious of them or not. The sins that a person is unaware of are many times greater than what they are aware of, and the sins that they committed and forgotten are many times greater than what they can remember. In a well-known supplication, the believer is instructed to say:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أُشْرِكَ بِكَ وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لما لا أعلم

O Allah! I seek refuge with you from associating partners with you knowingly and I seek your forgiveness for what I do unknowingly]. [Sahih Adab Al-Mufrad. Number 551]

The necessity of seeking forgiveness for sins that a person is unaware of is significantly greater than the sins one is aware of committing. Adversity is often a result of sin, and evil occurrences are typically a consequence of sins and other related actions. By abstaining from sin, individuals can avoid the adverse outcomes associated with them. In times of being mistreated by an adversary, sincere repentance is the most beneficial thing.

[6] Seek Allaah’s Refuge against their evil: Allah [The Most High] says:

قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ
مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ
وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ
وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ

Say: “I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the daybreak; From the evil of what He has created; And from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness; (or the moon as it sets or goes away). And from the evil of the witchcrafts when they blow in the knots; And from the evil of the envier when he envies.” [Surah Al-Falaq]

Allah hears those who seek His protection and knows what they are seeking. He has the power to do anything and He is the only one to whom we should turn for refuge, as no one else has the right to be invoked for refuge or shelter. He alone is the one who shields us from evil. Seeking refuge means escaping from something that frightens us and seeking protection from the only One who can truly protect and shelter us. There is no one else who can protect or shelter us besides Allah and He is enough as the ultimate source of safety. Allah safeguards us from our fears and offers help to those who seek it. He is the best Protector and the best ally.

[7] Patience: Patience is the ultimate weapon that grants victory to the person who is envied, surpassing any other greater or more effective means. As the envier’s transgressions escalate, they unknowingly become a powerful host for the one they transgress against, inadvertently causing harm to themselves. Their transgressions act as arrows that they unknowingly shoot at themselves. Allah says: [وَلَا يَحِيقُ الْمَكْرُ السَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِ – But the evil plot encompasses only him who makes it]. [Surah Fatir. Ayah 43]

[8] Strive to detach one’s heart from the envier: One should strive to detach their heart from being preoccupied with the affairs of the enemy and refrain from thinking about them. The intention should be to eliminate any thoughts about the enemy whenever they come to mind. It is important not to pay attention to them, neither fear them nor allow one’s heart to be filled with thoughts about them. This approach is highly beneficial and effective in repelling the evil of the enemy. It can be likened to a situation where a person is being pursued by the enemy, but the enemy is unable to see or make contact with them. By abandoning any thoughts about the enemy, they become powerless and unable to harm. This is because evil only occurs when there is contact between the two parties. The same principle applies to similar souls, where tranquility cannot exist if both souls have contact with each other. The cycle of evil will persist until one of them is destroyed. However, if a person turns their soul away from the enemy, protects it from thinking about them, and focuses on what is more beneficial, the envious transgressor will ultimately consume themselves. Envy is like fire, and if it does not find something else to burn, it will eventually burn itself out.

[9] Spending in charity and performing acts of kindness towards others: This has a remarkable impact in warding off calamity, the evil eye, and envy of the envier. Rarely does a person who does good and gives to those in need fall victim to envy or the evil eye, as Allah showers them with kindness and protection in times of difficulty. Giving in charity and doing good deeds are expressions of gratitude towards Allah for His blessings, and serve as a shield against anything that may jeopardize those blessings.

[10] Be good to others: Eradicate the intense anger of the envier, the transgressor, and the harmful person by being good to them, offering sincere advice and being compassionate. Allah [The Most High] says:

وَلَا تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا السَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ
وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا ذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ

The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allah ordered the faithful believers to be patient at times of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly), then verily! he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend. But none is granted it (the above quality) except those who are patient, and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion (of the happiness in the Hereafter i.e. Paradise and in this world of a high moral character). [Surah Fussilat. Ayaat 34-35]

These are the ten great means of protection against the evil of an envious person, the evil eye, and the magician. We ask Allah to safeguard us from all evil, for indeed He is the All-Hearing, the One who answers the invocation of the suppliant. [1]

[Footnote a]:  http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/downloads/pdf/AQD100016.pdf

[1] An Excerpt from “Fiqhul Ad’iyah Wal Adhkaar’  Pages 2/219-223. Publisher: Daar Kunooz’ 1st Ed 1426H (Year 2005)]