✦ The Incident of the Evil Eye

The Companion Sahl ibn Hunaif (may Allah be pleased with him) decided to take a bath to cleanse himself from the dust and fatigue of a journey. In the harsh, sun-drenched climate of Makkah and Madinah, most men had dry, sun-darkened skin. Yet, Sahl’s skin was remarkably different—it was exceptionally white and beautiful.

As Sahl was bathing, another esteemed Companion, ‘Amir ibn Rabi’ah, happened to see him. Struck by the unusual beauty of Sahl’s skin, ‘Amir exclaimed: “I have never seen anything like it today, not even the skin of a virgin hidden in her chamber!”

The moment ‘Amir uttered these words, Sahl ibn Hunaif collapsed, falling unconscious to the ground. The Companions tried everything to revive him, but failed. They quickly carried him to the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and said, “O Messenger of Allah, look at Sahl! By Allah, he cannot raise his head.”

✦ The Prophet’s Rebuke and Remedy

The Prophet (PBUH) immediately understood the cause. He asked, “Do you accuse anyone of causing this?”

The Companions replied, “‘Amir ibn Rabi’ah looked at him.”

The Prophet (PBUH) summoned ‘Amir and addressed him with a stern, powerful question: “Why would one of you kill his brother? Why did you not say ‘Barak Allahu Lak’ (May Allah bless you) when you saw what you liked?”

The Prophet (PBUH) then ordered ‘Amir to perform a specific ritual washing for Sahl. This was not a normal bath, but a precise remedy for the evil eye. ‘Amir was instructed to wash his face, hands up to the elbows, his knees, and the ends of his feet, and to collect all the water in a vessel. This water was then poured over Sahl’s head and back from behind.

The result was instantaneous. As soon as the water touched him, Sahl recovered, stood up, and walked among the Companions as if nothing had ever happened.

✦ The Difference Between the Evil Eye and Envy

This incident highlights a crucial distinction in Islamic teaching: the difference between the Evil Eye (al-‘Ayn) and Envy (al-Hasad).

Feature	The Evil Eye (al-‘Ayn)	Envy (al-Hasad)
Cause	Seeing something beautiful and forgetting to invoke blessings	Hateful desire for a blessing to be removed from another
Intent	Unintentional harm; may be from a loving person	Intentional malice and hatred
Source	Can come from anyone, even a parent or sibling	Comes from someone who is hateful and vindictive
Cure	The prescribed washing from the person who cast the eye	Spiritual protection and repentance; no physical cure

The person who casts the eye causes harm unintentionally, simply by being struck by admiration and neglecting the spiritual safeguard of invoking God’s blessing.

✦ The Prophetic Safeguard

The Prophet’s instruction to ‘Amir—“Why did you not say ‘Barak Allahu Lak’?”—establishes the fundamental safeguard against the Evil Eye. When you see something beautiful, whether it belongs to another person or even yourself, you must invoke God’s blessing.

The Qur’an reinforces this principle. When speaking of one’s own wealth and possessions, Allah says:

This is why the recommended supplication is to say: “Masha’Allah La Quwwata Illa Billah” (What Allah wills, there is no power except with Allah).

✦ The Reality of the Evil Eye

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) affirmed the reality and danger of the Evil Eye:

Another profound narration warns of its devastating effect:

This story serves as a powerful reminder for us today. If such an incident could occur unintentionally among the best of generations—the Companions—how much more cautious should we be in the age of social media, where we constantly display our blessings, wealth, and children with pride? We must always be mindful to invoke God’s blessings, both for ourselves and for others, and to practice caution, not denial, regarding the blessings we share.

✦ Key Lessons

From this profound story, we learn several essential lessons:

1. Always Invoke Blessings: When you see something beautiful or admirable in others, say “Masha’Allah” or “Barak Allahu Lak” to invoke God’s blessing and protection.

2. Recognize the Reality of the Evil Eye: The evil eye is not superstition; it is a reality affirmed by the Prophet and the Qur’an.

3. Protect Your Blessings: Be cautious about displaying your wealth, children, and possessions excessively on social media or in public.

4. Distinguish Between Evil Eye and Envy: The evil eye can come from someone who loves you; it is not always rooted in hatred.

5. Seek Remedy When Needed: If you suspect you have been affected by the evil eye, seek the prescribed Islamic remedies and invoke God’s protection.