One of my very good friends told me that I have cast a bad eye on her daughter and that means that I am jealous of her. She thinks this because I called to inquire about her daughter's health and some time after my call the baby had some breathing problems. Please note that this problem is hereditary in the baby since birth and has happened many times earlier also. She was not well during that time, and her mother was also worried about her health the night before that. This is the reason I called next morning to inquire about her health.I tried to explain her that this is wrong and I am not jealous of her daughter or her family. I went to her home to explain this to her but she did not open the door saying that she loves her family (implying that if I come to her home some harm may befall them). I spoke to my friend's elder sister so that she could make her understand but she also said things like " I warned my sister not to be friends with you because your birth sign does not match hers". I want to know your opinion as to:-What is evil eye as per Qur'an and Sunnah?How can you blame someone that he is responsible for it?Is it necessary for the person who has cast a bad eye to be Jealous also?Is it right to cut off your relations saying that because you have cast a bad eye you are jealous and not allow that person event to enter your home?Is it right to believe in zodiac signs and not only believe, to advise others to make or break friendships guided by the birth signs?

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.

Imam Muslim narrated in his Saheeh that the Prophet said: “The influence of an evil eye is a fact (real, true); if anything would precede the destiny, it would be the influence of an evil eye.”

The purpose of the Hadeeth is that the influence of an evil eye is a fact (truth). Sometimes it might be due to jealousy, and sometimes it might be due to amazement; when one looks at something strange and does not say: (Ma Shaa’ Allah) May Allaah bless you, and instead looks at it astonishingly, then his eye affects it.

The Sharee'ah provides the guidelines regarding the matter of evil eye, some of them are as follows:

1) Performing Ruqyah (Quranic verses and Prophetic supplication) before the influence of the evil eye. The Prophet used to recite this invocation over Al-Hassan and Al-Hussayn : “I commend you two to the protection of Allah's perfect words from every devil, vermin, and every evil eye).” [At-Tirmithi, and its origin is in Saheeh Al-Bukhari]

Allah Says (what means): {Say: "I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the daybreak, from the evil of what He has created; and from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness; (or the moon as it sets or goes away), and from the evil of the witchcrafts when they blow in the knots, 'and from the evil of the envier when he envies."} [Quran 113:1-5]

2) If one sees something impressive, he should say: (This is that which Allah has willed, there is no power except with Allah) or (May Allah send blessing upon him).

3) Reciting Quran or the authentic supplication after having the influence of an evil eye.

4) If the person who caused harm by his evil eye is known, he may be asked to perform ablution and then the affected person should take a bath from that water.

It is not permissible to blame someone of causing harm by his/her evil eye, as it is compulsory for the one who knows without any doubt that he was the reason in causing harm, to co-operate with the affected person to get rid of his illness.

It is not permissible to have doubts about people and to cut relations with them based upon suspicions and devilish insinuations.

Believing in a horoscope and relying on it is not permissible. The one who deals with it is considered Kafir (non-Muslim) since he claims having the knowledge of unseen, while no one knows it except Allah Alone.

Finally, it is not permissible to cut the relation with others depending on a horoscope. In fact, it is a devilish trick to cause mischief among people. We are ordered not to follow Satan.

We ask Allah to give good health for you and us.

For more benefit on treatment of evil eye, please refer to Fataawa 3273, 7151, 32262, 223150, 82648 and 374689.

For more benefit on Ruqyah, please refer to Fataawa 4310, 82918, 31469, 13277, 4678, 88660, 81667, and 117025.

Allah knows best.