THE CONCEPT OF THE EVIL EYE (AYN)

A person who afflicts others by the evil eye is known as "Al- A'in" and a person affected by the evil eye is called "Al- Ma'yoon". Ibn Al Qayyim (RA) said in his book Zaad al Ma'ad:

"It is the arrow that is taken out from the soul of the envious individual, the one whom causes the affliction of the evil eye, and then it is fired upon the subject of the evil eye. This individual can be affected sometimes and manage to escape it at other times. If one encounters this and is exposed to it then there will be no protection from its effect, however it then becomes imperative if one encounters this to take care and prepare themselves with the best defence and not allow it to be implanted upon them. It is in this manner that a person can protect themselves from the envious individual and not be effected by them.

Sometimes these arrows return to the one whom they belong and this archery makes the envious individual feel the same negativity in his life like the negatively he tried to push on the subject.

Allah (SWT) says:

"And indeed, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes when they hear the message and they say, "Indeed, he is mad." (Al- Qalam: 51) 

Ibn Katheer (RA) uses this verse as evidence to show that the evil eye is real and that it has the ability to effect people since Allah (SWT) mentions 'those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes when they hear the message'.

An incident which is narrated from the time of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم saw Quraish ask some people who were known to give the evil eye to another person which could cause illness, death or some other effect to put it on the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. However, Allah (SWT) protected the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم from those who were intent on destroying him with Ayn.

Ibnul Qayyim (RA) mentioned in his book Zaad al Ma'ad that some people have denied the effects of Ayn; and he describes these people as arrogant with no knowledge.

According to some scholars the concept of effecting a person with the evil eye (Ayn) can be likened to the effect of when a person walks into a room and they feel embarrassment or shyness due to people looking at them, perhaps causing the face to change colour. Another example could be where someone sees someone they fear and they become pale in the face. Ibnul Qayyim (RA) describes it as a physical or spiritual effect that leaves the eye and effects the human being.

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF EVIL EYE (AYN) 

  • Ayn (العين) 

    The eye from someone who may love or know you and not have evil intentions towards you.

  • Hasad (الحسد)

    The envious eye from someone who hates or dislikes you or something you have but wants it removed from you.

  • Nafs (النفس)

    The admiring eye which a person can put on themselves. 

  • Nathara (النظرة)

    The evil eye which comes from the Jinn.

Evidence for the different types of Evil Eye 

Ayn

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "The evil eye is real and if anything were to overtake Qadr (divine decree), it would have been the evil eye...". This alludes to the speed of the evil eye and expresses that if anything was to overtake the decree of Allah it would have been the evil eye, i.e. in its speed.

Hasad

Iblees envied Adam (AS) as he disliked his creation and the fact he was ordered to prostate to him. He thought he was better because he was made from fire and Adam (AS) was created from clay. Therefore it was only envy which pushed iblees to transgress and disobey the order of Allah (SWT).

Nafs

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said "Whoever among you sees something in himself or in his possessions or in his brother that he likes, let him pray for blessings for it because the evil eye is real."

Narrated by Ibn al-Sunni, Al- Haakim and classed as saheeh by Al-Albaani 243.

Nathara 

This originates from the evil eye of a Jinn. The evidence for this is the narration of Umm Salamah (RAA) who said the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم saw in her house a slave girl with a discolouration on her face so he said: "Perform Ruqya for her, for she has been afflicted by the eye of a Jinn."

From the above, we see that the evil eye can be given by a human or by a Jinn. It is also known that animals can give the evil eye too when they look at something. There are many stories and encounters concerning this and Allah knows best.