At Peace

My Lifetime Stories in blog

Friday, March 12, 2010

Let me warn you about Evil Eye

New concept

As far as i know, i don't have any substitute word of evil eye in Malay language. Hence, this concept of Evil Eye is new to me, and perhaps is new to many of my Malaysian friends as well. Although, internationally, this concept has been mentioned since the Socrates era. Every religion recognize the effect of evil eye, including the three Abrahamic religions.

Rasulullah said: The influence of an evil eye is a fact.. (Muslim)


Meaning

To put it simply, evil eye is a little more that just envy (dengki) and a little less than sihr (black magic). Jealousy plays an important part behind evil eye. Ibn Qayyim explained evil eye in his own word:
It begins when the person likes something, then his evil soul dwells on the matter, and by continually looking at the person who has the thing of which he feels jealous, he directs his venom towards him. A person may put the evil eye on himself, or he may put the evil eye on someone else without intending to, because it is is a part of his nature. This is the worst type of human being. Our companions and other fuqahaa’ said: if someone is known for this, he should be detained by the imaam (leader), who should spend on him and provide for him until he dies. This idea is absolutely correct… 
(Zaad al-Ma’aad, 4/167)

Although it is correct that the evil eye comes from people who feel jealous (hasad), it may also come from a person who is not jealous but merely likes something that other people have. That is why Rasulullah said: Whoever among you sees something in himself or in his possessions or in his brother that he likes, let him pray for blessing for it, because the evil eye is real. (Al-Hakim - sahih by Al-Albani)


Application in real life

When we like what our brothers have, then we should say:

"If any one of you insists in praising his brother, let him say: 
I think so-and-so is such-and-such, and Allah knows the exact truth, or I do not confirm anyone's good conduct before Allah, but I think him to be such-and-such. (Muslim)

... as we have learnt, even without any evil intention, we can inflict damage through evil eye.

And when we hear that we are being praised, we should say:

Adi b Arta't said: When one of the companion of the Prophet was praised, he prayed to Allah:
Do notmake me responsible for what they say and forgive me for what they do not know. (Adab Al-Mufrad)


Dua

It is comparatively easy for us to practice the above supplication when we hear that we are being praised. However, not everybody will say what they have in their mind. How can we deflect something when we don't even know we are the target? We need a full protection, something that are permanently there to shield us from evil eye.

Rasulullah taught us the surat al-Falaq (113) and surah An-Naas (114) as a mean of protection from the general evil of the satan and human. Rasulullah also taught us a supplications to ward evil eye:
A’oodhu bi kalimaat Allaah al-taammaati min sharri maa khalaq. (I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allaah from the evil of that which He has created) - Hadith Muslim

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to seek refuge with Allaah for al-Hasan and al-Husayn. He said: ‘Your father [i.e., Ibraaheem] used to seek refuge with Allaah for Ismaa’eel and Ishaaq with these words: 
A’oodhu bi kalimaat Allaah al-taammah min kulli shaytaanin wa haammah wa min kulli ‘aynin laammah (I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allaah, from every devil and every poisonous reptile, and from every bad eye).’” - Hadith Bukhari


Ruqyah from evil eye

In the following 2 hadith, Prophet prescribed an interesting treatment for a person who is struck by the evil eye. We also learn that evil eye stroke can be caused by mere admiration, even when there is no envy involved.

Aishah reported: A person who strikes another with the evil eye used to be ordered (by the Prophet) to perform wudu' (and save his used water). The person he struck would then pour the used water over himself. (Abu Dawud, authentic by Albani)

Sahl bin Hanif reported that he was once travelling with the Prophet. During one of their stops, Sahl took a bath. Amr bin Rabiah saw him and, on observing the whiteness of his skin, exclaimed, "By Allah, I never saw before this day a skin like this - smooth like a virgin's!" Immediately, Sahl was struck with a seizure and fell sick. When the Prophet learned about this, he asked his companions, "Do you suspect anyone?" They said, "Amr bin Rabiah." So the Prophet summoned Amir and addressed him angrily: 
Why would any of you want to kill his brother (with an evil look)? Shouldn't you have invoked Allah's blessings (when you liked what you saw)? Wash yourself for his sake. So Amir washed his face, hands, elbows, knees, the sides of his feet and his inner thigh. The water dripping from his limbs during the washing collected in a bucket. A man then took the bucket, stood behind Sahl, and poured the water over his head and back. Sahl immediately stood up and was cured. (Recorded by Malik, Ahmad. Authentic by Albani)

May Allah protect us.

@Peace.

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