The Sunnah provides guidance on protecting oneself and others from the evil eye. One of the important means of prevention is to pray for blessing when admiring a person, their appearance, possessions or anything else that one finds pleasing. The following evidence explains how blessing is sought and how the effects of the evil eye can be prevented and treated.
Seeking Blessing to Prevent the Evil Eye
And it was narrated that Sahl ibn Hanif (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah PBUH said:
If one of you sees something that he likes in himself or his wealth, let him pray for blessing for it, for the evil eye is real
This Hadith indicates that the evil eye cannot do any harm if the person who is doing it prays for blessing, rather it can only do harm if he does not pray for its blessing. This was pointed out by Al-Qurtubi and others.
Al-Qurtubi then said:
Every Muslim who likes something should pray for blessing, for if he prays for blessing, that will ward off any potential harm, beyond a doubt.
Ibn Hajar said:
The one who likes something must hasten to pray for blessing for the thing that he likes, and that will be a Ruqya on his part.
The way in which blessing is sought is to say:
Baarik Allahu fi
(May Allah bless it)
Or:
Allah-humma baarik alayhi
(O Allaah, bless it)
And one may say:
Ma Sha Allah, La hawla wala qoowata illa billa
(That which Allah wills (will come to pass))
This is also supported by the verse:
It was better for you to say, when you entered your garden: 'That which Allah wills (will come to pass)! There is no power but with Allah!
The Sunnah is to make Du'aa for the blessing of Allah (SWT) upon that person or object, so they can be protected from the Evil Eye.
The Incident of Sahl ibn Hanif
Narrated Sahl ibn Hanif (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) came out and travelled with him towards Makkah, until they were in the mountain pass of Al-Kharaar in al-Jahfah. There Sahl ibn Hanif did ghusl, and he was a handsome white-skinned man with beautiful skin. Aamir ibn Rabee'ah (one of Banu Adiyy ibn Ka'b) looked at him whilst he was doing ghusl and admired his appearance
and said: 'I have never seen such beautiful skin as this, not even the skin of a virgin'
The full narration describes how Sahl fell to the ground after Aamir ibn Rabee'ah looked at him, and how the Companions sought help from the Messenger of Allah PBUH.
O Messenger of Allah, can you do anything for Sahl, because by Allah he cannot raise his head.
He PBUH
Do you accuse anyone with regard to him?
They said, “Aamir ibn Rabee'ah looked at him.” So the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) called Aamir and rebuked him strongly
He PBUH
Wash yourself for him.
So he washed his face, hands, forearms, knees and the sides of his feet, and inside his izaar (lower garment) in the vessel. Then that water was poured over him, and a man poured it over his head and back from behind. He did that to him, then Sahl got up and joined the people and there was nothing wrong with him.
What to Say When You Admire Someone or Something
The Prophet (PBUH) also instructed Muslims to pray for blessing when they see something they admire in themselves, their possessions or another person.
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.
Hence, say:
Directly to a person: Baarak Allahu feek/feekum (may Allah bless you)
If the person is female: Baarak Allahu feeki (may Allah bless you)
For a male: Allah humma Baarik lahu (may Allah bless him)
For a female: Allah humma Baarik laha (may Allah bless her)
To an object such as a car: Baarak Allahu laka fiha (may Allah bless it)
Ibn Al-Qayyim said that if the person who could cause the evil eye fears his eye and the possibility of harming someone he has admired, he should seek to prevent its harm by saying "Allah humma Baarik Alay", as the Prophet (PBUH) instructed Aamir ibn Rabee'ah when he gave the evil eye to Sahl ibn Hanif.