Signs of Evil Eye: 20 Symptoms you might be under its effect
- Umm-e-Sidrah
- 4 days ago
- 10 min read
Updated: 23 hours ago
What is the meaning of Evil Eye?
Technically, “evil eye” refers to the negative impact caused by someone’s envy, hatred, or ill intention toward another person and the belief that a person’s gaze can carry a power that brings harm, illness, or misfortune to others.
According to Islamic teachings, the evil eye is considered a form of satanic influence.
Satan plants feelings of jealousy, envy, and malice in a person’s heart, making their gaze spiritually harmful and effective.
This concept exists in many religions and cultures, and Islam also acknowledges the evil eye as a real and powerful phenomenon.
In many cultures, it is believed that a person’s gaze (look or glare) can bring bad luck, harm, or misfortune to the one being looked at, and this concept is known as the evil eye. To protect themselves from such negative energy or envy, people often wear evil eye charms or get evil eye tattoos as a form of protection.
Make sure to read our next blog to learn if this form of protection is haram or not. Sign up to stay tuned!
The evil eye, known in Arabic as “al-‘Ayn” (العين), is very real.
In fact, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ clearly said:
“Al-‘Ayn is real.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
Quran says:
قُلْ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا۟ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ
“Tell the believing men to lower some of their gazes.”
(Surah An-Nur 24:30)
Kanz-ul-Iman
It is the eyes through which temptation spreads,
The eyes that give birth to evil and lead towards wrongdoing.
That is why Islam commands both men and women to guard their gaze and protect what they look at.
Evil Eye vs. Jealousy (Hasad)
The evil eye (Nazar-e-Bad) is related to jealousy, but not the same thing. In jealousy (Hasad), a person wants someone’s blessings to disappear. But in the evil eye, the person doesn’t necessarily wish harm; it can even happen unintentionally. Many people assume the evil eye is only caused by jealousy, but that’s not always true.
For example:
Someone admires your glowing face, your long shiny hair, your peaceful home, or your joyful smile without saying “Masha Allah” or “Subhan Allah.” Even if they mean no harm, their gaze can transmit a subtle, unseen energy that affects you.
That’s why Prophet Muhammad ﷺ advised us to say:
“When you see something that pleases you, say: Masha Allah, La quwwata illa billah (Whatever Allah wills, there is no power except by Him).”
( Surah Al-Kahf, 18:39)
The phrase "Masha Allah, La quwwata illa billah" (ما شاء الله لا قوة إلا بالله) means "What Allah has willed, there is no power except with Allah"
Who Can Cast the Evil Eye?
This may surprise you: even a pious or righteous person can cause the evil eye unintentionally. Islamic scholars refer to such a person as “A‘in” (عائن), the one whose gaze carries energy, while a jealous person is called “Hasid” (حاسد).
History and experience both show that even saints, scholars, or kind-hearted people can cast an evil eye not because of malice, but because of intense admiration without remembrance of Allah. Even the unseen beings, like jinn and certain animals, can cast an evil eye on humans. But the nature of their gaze is different.
What Causes the Evil Eye?
The root cause is simple: intense attention mixed with emotion. It may come from:
Admiring someone’s beauty or success
Noticing someone’s peace, gratitude, or blessings
Saying “wow” without remembering Allah
Looking in the mirror and admiring your own beauty without reciting a protective supplication(dua).
That’s why we’re taught to recite a short prayer when we see something beautiful, even in ourselves.
Understanding the Power of the Evil Eye and Its Effects
A Powerful Hadith for Evil Eye:
Asma bint Umays (RA) once said to the Prophet ﷺ:
“O Messenger of Allah, the children of Ja‘far often get affected by the evil eye. Should I perform Ruqyah (spiritual healing) for them?
He ﷺ replied: "Yes. If anything were to overtake destiny, it would be the evil eye.”
(Musnad Ahmad, Tirmidhi – Hadith No. 2059)
This means that the evil eye is so powerful, it could almost overcome what has been written if Allah didn’t will otherwise.
How the Evil Eye Works (According to Scholars)
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (RA) explained it beautifully:
“The evil eye is like an arrow that comes from the soul of the one who casts it (the ‘Ain) and hits the person being looked at (the Ma‘in). If the target is protected by strong faith and remembrance of Allah, the arrow has no effect. But if the person is spiritually exposed, it penetrates and causes harm.”
(Zad al-Ma‘ad, Ibn al-Qayyim)
In simple words, the evil eye is not superstition. It’s an unseen energetic arrow, and our spiritual armor (duas, dhikr, and faith) determines whether it hits us or bounces off.
Signs of Evil Eye Curse
A curse is something that cannot cause harm without Allah’s permission, but a person’s jealousy, ill will, or negative intentions can still create harmful effects on another individual. The evil eye is also considered a type of spiritual curse, because it can negatively affect someone’s happiness, success, or health.
The Incident of the Evil Eye in the Quran (Surah Al-Qalam 51–52)
It is narrated that in Arabia, there were certain people well-known for their powerful “evil eye.” They claimed that if they looked at something with the intention to harm it, that thing would immediately perish, and they had witnessed such incidents many times.
When the disbelievers of Makkah heard of this, they said to those men,
“Cast your evil eye on the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
So they stared intensely at the Prophet ﷺ and said,
“We have never seen a man like him, nor signs as clear as his.”
They were known for causing harm simply by looking with astonishment or envy. But all their efforts, like their other conspiracies and tricks, failed.
Allah Almighty protected His beloved Prophet ﷺ from their harm, and these verses were revealed on that occasion.
(Khazin Madarik, Surah Al-Qalam, under verses 51–52, pp. 1271–1272)
Shocking Signs of the Evil Eye (Physical)
How to Know When It’s Not Just “in Your Head”?
Many people ignore the early signs of the evil eye, but its effects can be both physical and emotional, even spiritual. Let’s talk about the real symptoms, one by one, so you can recognize them before things get worse.
1. Unexplained Skin Issues
Suddenly noticing weird marks, rashes, or small bumps that appear for no medical reason and won’t heal no matter what you try can be a common sign of the evil eye.
2. Unknown Illnesses That Doctors Can’t Explain
You feel sick, weak, or in pain, but your medical tests show everything is “normal.”
You might have constant joint pain, lower back pain, stiff shoulders, or random stomach issues that never seem to go away.
3. Sudden Loss of Appetite or Weight Changes
Sometimes you just don’t feel hungry anymore, or you lose or gain weight for no reason, even when your eating habits haven’t changed.
4. Chest Tightness and Restlessness
You feel pressure in your chest, your heart beats fast, and anxiety takes over all without any clear cause.
5. Never-Ending Headaches
Headaches that move from one part of your head to another or refuse to go away despite medicine may be a clear energetic disturbance, a sign that someone’s jealous gaze hit you.
6. Excessive Yawning and Sighing
If you start yawning repeatedly during prayer, meditation, or while reading the Qur’an, it could be more than just tiredness; it might be an evil eye reaction leaving your system.
7. Sleep Disturbances
Insomnia, waking up frequently at night, or feeling uneasy while trying to rest are all spiritual warning signs.
8. Emotional and Mental Changes
Out of nowhere, you start feeling irritated, angry, or anxious. You might even begin fearing death, overthinking, or fighting over small issues.
9. Sudden Mood Swings
You feel happy one minute, then low or snappy the next. Your memory weakens, and your energy feels “off.”
10. Dull or Changing Face Color
When your face suddenly turns pale, dull, or develops dark circles without any health reason, that’s not random. It’s often linked to spiritual fatigue from the evil eye.
11. Hair Loss
One of the most common signs that your beautiful, healthy, shiny hair starts falling out excessively is when people praise it too much.
12. Anxiety or Panic Attacks
Your heart races, breathing feels heavy, and you panic at small things. That restlessness could be the spiritual effect of someone’s negative energy.
Spiritual and Emotional Signs (Beyond the Physical)
13. Sudden Sadness or Hopelessness
You start feeling down, unmotivated, and uninterested in life, as if something is silently draining your energy and joy.
14. Fear of Death or Constant Worry
You suddenly begin fearing death or feeling like something bad will happen. This is a strong spiritual indicator.
15. Loss of Barakah (Blessing) in Rizq or Work
Your business was doing well, but suddenly, sales drop, arguments increase, and money disappears. Even food seems to finish faster; this is a sign of barakah being taken away.
16. Spiritual Fatigue
You feel spiritually exhausted. Even small acts of worship seem heavy, and you feel detached from your surroundings.
17. Bad or Terrifying Dreams
Disturbing dreams, seeing dark shadows, or waking up scared are common spiritual reactions to the evil eye.
18. Sleep Paralysis
Feeling frozen while awake or sensing a heavy presence in the room can also indicate strong spiritual interference.
19. Social Withdrawal
You stop enjoying being around people, avoid family or friends, and prefer isolation, not because you want to, but because you feel uneasy around others.
20. No Interest in Worship
A person affected by the evil eye often feels too lazy or distracted to pray, read the Qur’an, or make dhikr, even if they used to love it before.
Furthermore, symptoms also include:
Unexplained business losses
Unexplained arguments and conflicts between the husband and wife.
Frequent family disputes without reason
Lack of interest in studies or a sudden drop in academic performance
Mental block/ Inability to focus or think clearly
Blackouts / Sudden memory loss / Temporary loss of consciousness
Psychology and the Evil Eye: Where Spirituality Meets Science
Modern psychology doesn’t describe the evil eye as a supernatural power. But it does agree that a person’s emotions, gaze, intentions, and thoughts can deeply affect others.
In other words, what spirituality calls “the evil eye,” psychology explains as negative energy or emotional influence.
Emotional Contagion
Research shows that emotions are contagious. If two positive people are sitting together and a deeply negative person joins them, the atmosphere starts to change even without a word being said.
That negative person’s facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language send out subtle signals that others pick up. Without realizing it, people around them begin to feel uneasy, drained, or anxious.
According to a 2021 study in Frontiers in Psychology:
“Humans unconsciously catch the emotions of others sometimes just through their eyes or facial expressions.”
The Power of the Gaze
Another study, also in Frontiers in Psychology (2021), found that
A direct gaze can trigger powerful emotions.
In simple terms, someone’s eyes can truly speak.
A warm, kind look can lift your spirit.
A cold, envious stare can quietly drain your energy.
Spirituality says, “You were struck by the evil eye.”
Psychology says, “You absorbed someone’s negative emotion.
Solution in Dua
The Prophet’s Dua for Hasan and Husain رضی اللہ عنہم Against the Evil Eye
Ibn ‘Abbas (RA) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ used to seek protection for Hasan and Husain by saying:
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللّٰهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لَامَّةٍ
“I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from every devil and poisonous thing, and from every evil eye that harms.” He added, “Your father (Ibrahimعلیہ السلام) used to seek protection with these same words for Ismail and Ishaq علیہ السلام .”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3371)
The two lights(Surah) from the Quran
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When afflicted by the evil eye, recite Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Naas and blow (for protection).”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5738)
A Simple Spiritual Method to Remove the Evil Eye
There’s a gentle, time-tested way to help clear the effects of the evil eye. A method that many people have relied on for centuries.
Take clean water in a glass cup (glass is preferred over metal or plastic). With full focus and faith, recite one of the following:
Surah Al-Fatiha 7 times,
or
Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Naas 3 times each,
or
A verse from Surah Al-Qalam (68:51–52) 3 times.
Start and end your recitation with Durood Shareef (salawat on the Prophet ﷺ).
After reciting, lightly blow on the affected person and gently move the glass around him/her, as if spiritually cleansing them. Once done, pour the water into the toilet: avoid clean areas or gardens, since the water has absorbed the negative energy.
⚠️ A Few Important Tips:
Each recitation should be done separately. For example, if you’re doing Surah Al-Qalam today, don’t combine it with Surah Al-Falaq or Al-Fatiha in the same session. You can rotate different recitations on different days.
Sometimes, simply reciting Surah Al-Fatiha or Surah Al-Falaq/An-Naas and blowing over the affected person is enough to bring a sense of calm and relief.
Scientific Perspective
Modern research shows that sound, intention, and focused energy can actually influence water and human energy fields. When Qur’anic verses are recited over water with full faith, the vibrations may help restore emotional balance, reduce stress, and promote calmness.
References:
1. Garner, Dwight (13 March 2005). "Inside the list". The New York Times.
2. Hall, Harriet (1 November 2007). "Masaru Emoto's Wonderful World of Water". Skeptical Inquirer.
FAQ: Islamic Guidance & Protection
Is it allowed in Islam to get an evil eye tattoo for protection?
In Islam, getting a tattoo is generally considered haram (forbidden), even if intended for protection. True protection from the evil eye comes through dua, faith, and following Islamic guidance, not ink on the skin.
Can reciting Qur’anic verses really protect from black magic?
Yes, reciting certain Qur’anic verses, Surah Al-Falaq, An-Naas, Al-Fatiha, and the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah with sincere faith can provide spiritual protection and calm. It’s the intention, trust, and belief in Allah that truly matters.
How can I spiritually cleanse my home from negative energy?
You can recite protective verses over your home. Always keep your clothes clean, maintain wudu (ablution), and listen to Surah Al-Baqarah in audio or read it when possible. Consistency, faith, and focused intention are key to creating a positive, protective environment.
جزاکمُ اللہُ خیراً
Alhamdulillah,very nice article from spain
purely insightful. JAZAK ALLAH