On your site you mention that protection against the evil eye is Ma Sha Allah but I was told that some scholars say that you should say “Allahumma Barik Lahu (for male), Allahumma Barik Laha (for female)” so is it correct to pray for blessing for the person? Also if it is correct to pray blessings then can one simply say “Allahumma Barek Lek” rather than specific for male and female?Thank you.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

It is permissible to supplicate, as a protection against evil eyes, by asking blessings or saying Ma Shaa’ Allah; both are permissible.

With regard to asking for blessings, the evidence is the Hadeeth that reads: "If any one of you sees what he likes in his brother, then let him supplicate for blessing for him." [Ibn Maajah]

The wording by Imam Ahmad reads: “When you saw something you liked, why did you not supplicate for blessings.”

As regards the wording of the supplication for blessing, Al-Manaawi said in his book Faydh Al-Qadeer:

"The term, ‘let him supplicate for blessing’, suggests the recommendation of saying, 'O Allah, bless him and do not cause harm to him (Allaahumma Baarik Lahu wa la Tadhurruh),' and also, 'That which Allah wills (happens), there is no might except with Allah (Ma Shaa’ Allah, La Quwwata Illa Billaah)!'" [End of quote]

Al-Hafith Al-‘Iraaqi said in his book Tarh At-Tathreeb:

"Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr narrated in his book At-Tamheed from the scholars, that seeking blessings for a person is to say, 'O Allah, bless him (Allaahumma Baarik Feehi)'; and according to some of them one should say: 'Blessed is Allah, the best of the Creators (Tabaaraka Allaahu Ahsanu Al-Khaaliqeen).'" [End of quote]

With regard to the evidence for using the term “Ma Shaa’ Allah” is the saying of Allah (which means): {And why did you, when you entered your garden, not say, 'What Allah willed [has occurred] (Ma Shaa’ Allah); there is no power except in Allah (La Quwwata Illa Billaah)'?} [Quran 18:39]

The scholars deducted the permissibility of saying this [what is mentioned in the verse] when a person sees what he likes.

The Salaf (the righteous predecessors), when they used to enter their homes or see what they liked of their wealth, they would say: "Ma Shaa’ Allah, La Quwwata Illa Billaah.", they would use the same wording in the saying of Allah (which means): {And why did you, when you entered your garden, not say, 'What Allah willed [has occurred]; there is no power except in Allah?'} [Quran 18:39]

This was reported from Imam Maalik and his Shaykh Ibn Shihab, and 'Urwah.

Al-Qurtubi reported these statements in At-Tafseer and As-Suyooti in Ad-Dur Al-Manthoor, and others. Ibn Katheer said in his Tafseer about the interpretation of the this verse:

"{It was better for you to say, when you entered your garden, 'That which Allah wills (happens) (Ma Shaa’ Allah)! There is no power but with Allah (La Quwwata Illa Billaah)!' If you see me less than you in wealth, and children.}; Here he was urging and encouraging him to say that, as if he was saying, 'When you entered your garden and looked at it and liked it, why did you not praise Allah for the blessings He granted you and the wealth and children He gave you, in a way which He did not give to others? Why did you not say, ‘Ma Shaa’ Allah, La Quwwata Illa Billaah.' One of the Salaf said, 'Whoever is delighted with something in his circumstances, his wealth or his children, let him say, 'Ma Shaa’ Allah, La Quwwata Illa Billaah'. This is based on this verse." [End of quote]

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said:

"If a person sees what he likes and fears to envy someone (or something) or to strike someone (or something) with an evil eye, then he should say: 'Ma Shaa’ Allah, Blessed is Allah (Tabaaraka Allah)', so that the person who is seen will not be affected with evil eye. Also, if a person sees something he likes in his wealth, he should say; 'Ma Shaa’ Allah, La Quwwata Illa Billaah,' lest he would become (arrogantly) proud of himself, and glorify himself in this wealth, which he liked. If he says: 'Ma Shaa’ Allah, La Quwwata Illa Billaah', then he puts the matter in the Hands of Allah." [Fataawa Noorun ‘ala Ad-Darb]

Moreover, it was reported in a Hadeeth, whose chain of narrators is not sound, from Anas that the Prophet said: "Whoever sees something that he likes, he should say: 'Ma Shaa’ Allah, La Quwwata Illa Billaah,' then he will not harm him." [Al-Bazzaar]

For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 33932 and 21647.

Allah knows best.