Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Dato’ Seri Mufti. I want to ask regarding an illness known as ‘ain illness. Does this illness affect humans? How would we treat it or protect ourselves from it? Hope for an explanation.
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
‘Ain illness is mentioned in Quranic and prophetic evidences. Allah SWT state:
وَإِن يَكَادُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَارِهِمْ
“And indeed, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes.”
Surah al-Qalam (51)
Ibn Abbas, Mujahid and others said: (لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ) means those with the intention to make you fall. While (بِأَبْصَارِهِمْ) “with their eyes, means their jealousy and hatred towards you. If it isn’t for the protection of Allah SWT from them you would not be safe from them.”
In the verse, it is clearly stated that the influence of evil eyes is true and Allah SWT’s commandment to seek His protection from it. This is stated in several hadiths from various narrations. (See Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Azim, 8/260)
From Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBU said:
الْعَيْنُ حَقٌّ
“The influence of an evil eye is a fact.”
Sahih Muslim (2187)
In a hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas R.Anhuma, the Prophet PBUH said:
الْعَيْنُ حَقٌّ وَلَوْ كَانَ شَىْءٌ سَابَقَ الْقَدَرَ سَبَقَتْهُ الْعَيْنُ وَإِذَا اسْتُغْسِلْتُمْ فَاغْسِلُوا
“The influence of an evil eye is a fact; if anything would precede the destiny it would be the influence of an evil eye, and when you are asked to take bath (as a cure) from the influence of an evil eye, you should take bath.”
Sahih Muslim (5831)
Imam al-Nawawi said: “The above hadith is a confirmation of Allah SWT’s will, the truth of ‘ain illness and its dangers.” (See Syarh al-Nawawi ‘ala Sahih Muslim, 7/328)
Al-Hafiz Ibnu Hajar al-Asqalani said: “This means that a person is in harm due to the gaze of someone else by the will of Allah SWT, for in truth it is within the will of Allah SWT and not because of the gaze of a person.”
‘Ain illness is from the gaze of another person who is jealous or impressed towards someone. It can happen from a jealous person, or a loved one, from an evil person or a pious person.
Al-Hafiz Ibnu Hajar said: “’Ain is an illness due to the gaze of another person who is jealous or greatly impressed towards someone and is harmful to the person who are the object of jealousy or inspiration.”
He further states: “‘Ain can also happen when one is greatly impressed by another person without the feelings of jealousy or hatred, (it can also happen) from a loved one and (even) from a pious person (accidentally).” (See Fath al-Bari, 10/203-205)
Treatment for ‘Ain Illness
To treat ‘ain illness, one should seek treatment in accordance with syara’, which is as the following:
- Reciting ruqyah or supplication
From Buraidah bin al-Husyaib RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
لاَ رُقْيَةَ إِلاَّ مِنْ عَيْنٍ أَوْ حُمَة
“There is no Ruqyah except for the evil eye or from the sting of a scorpion.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (5705) and Sahih Muslim (220)
- Bathed with water
It was narrated that Abu Umamah bin Sahl bin Hunaif said: “ ‘Amir bin Rabi’ah passed by Sahl bin Hunaif when he was having a bath, and said: ‘I have never seen such beautiful skin.’ Straightaway, he (Sahl) fell to the ground. He was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ) and it was said: ‘Sahl has had a fit.’ He said: ‘Whom do you accuse with regard to him?’ They said: “ ‘Amir bin Rabi’ah.’ The Prophet PBUH said:
عَلاَمَ يَقْتُلُ أَحَدُكُمْ أَخَاهُ ، إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمْ مِنْ أَخِيهِ مَا يُعْجِبُهُ ، فَلْيَدْعُ لَهُ بِالْبَرَكَةِ
‘Why would anyone of you kill his brother? If he sees something that he likes, then let him pray for blessing for him.’
Then he called for water, and he told ‘Amir to perform ablution, then he washed his face and his arms up to the elbows, his knees and inside his lower garment, then “The Prophet PBUH told him to pour the water over him.”
Sunan Ibn Majah (2828), Sunan al-Nasaie (10036)
Ibn Qayyim Rahimahullah said:
هَذِهِ الْكَيْفِيَّةُ لَا يَنْتَفِعُ بِهَا مَنْ أَنْكَرَهَا وَلَا مَنْ سَخِرَ مِنْهَا وَلَا مَنْ شَكَّ فِيهَا أَوْ فَعَلَهَا مُجَرِّبًا غَيْرَ مُعْتَقِدٍ
“This treatment is ineffective for those who do not believe it, making fun of it, doubting it or just trying it without believing in the treatment.” (See Fath al-Bari, 10/205)
Seeking Protection from ‘Ain Illness
Making an effort in seeking protection from ‘ain illness is permissible as long as it does not contradict the concept of tawakkal (reliance on Allah SWT). The reason is tawakkal is the reliance on Allah SWT accompanied by doing asbab which are permissible or commanded for it.
Seeking protection from Allah SWT is the best protection from ‘ain illness and any type of harm or dangers. The Prophet PBUH used to ask protection for al-Hasan and al-Husin as stated in a hadith from Ibn Abbas R.Anhuma, where the Prophet PBUH said:
أُعِيذُكُمَا بِكَلِمَاتِ اللهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لاَمَّةٍ
“I seek refuge for both of you in the perfect words of Allah from every devil and every poisonous thing and from the evil eye which influences.”
Sunan al-Nasa’ie (7679), Sunan Abu Daud (4737), Sunan Ibn Majah (3525) and Sunan al-Tirmizi (2060)
Lastly, we would like to ask readers to contemplate on surah al-Falaq and practise it to protect ourselves from jealousy and enmity of others. Hence, we end this discussion with the following verses of surah al-Falaq:
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ ﴿١﴾ مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ﴿٢﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ﴿٣﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ ﴿٤﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak. From the evil of that which He created. And from the evil of darkness when it settles. And from the evil of the blowers in knots. And from the evil of an envier when he envies."
Surah al-Falaq (1-5)