Many families feel it: a child who was well suddenly falls ill, a business that was growing suddenly stalls, and someone says "nazar lag gayi". Islam does not dismiss this. The Prophet ﷺ said:
"The evil eye is real."
Sahih al-Bukhari 5740, Sahih Muslim 2187
But the answer Islam gives is not fear — it is dhikr, dua and trust in Allah. Below are the protections the Prophet ﷺ himself used and taught.
1. The dua the Prophet ﷺ read over Hasan and Husain
The Prophet ﷺ used to seek protection for his grandsons with these words, and said that Ibrahim (as) used them for Isma'il and Ishaq:
أُعِيذُكُمَا بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ، مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لاَمَّةٍ
U'īdhukumā bi-kalimātillāhit-tāmmah, min kulli shayṭānin wa hāmmah, wa min kulli 'aynin lāmmah.
Meaning: "I seek protection for you both in the perfect words of Allah, from every devil and every harmful creature, and from every evil eye."
Sahih al-Bukhari 3371
- For one child, say U'īdhuka (boy) or U'īdhuki (girl).
- For yourself, say A'ūdhu bi-kalimātillāhit-tāmmah… ("I seek refuge…").
2. Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nas (al-Mu'awwidhatayn)
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to seek refuge from the jinn and from the evil eye, until these two surahs were revealed — then he used them and left other words.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2058, Sunan Ibn Majah 3511
Surah al-Falaq ends with protection from envy itself:
وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
"…and from the evil of an envier when he envies."
Qur'an 113:5
3. The three Quls — morning and evening
The Prophet ﷺ told Abdullah ibn Khubayb to recite Surah al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Nas three times in the morning and three times in the evening, and said: "they will suffice you against everything."
Sunan Abi Dawud 5082, Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3575
This is the simplest daily habit for the whole family — after Fajr and after Maghrib.
4. Ayat al-Kursi before sleeping
Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:255) when going to bed will have a guardian from Allah through the night, and no devil will come near him until morning.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2311
5. Stop nazar before it starts: say "Ma sha Allah" and make dua for barakah
Nazar can come even from people who love us — even from ourselves — when we admire something and forget Allah. When 'Amir ibn Rabi'ah admired Sahl ibn Hunayf and Sahl fell ill, the Prophet ﷺ asked: "Why did you not ask for blessing for him?"
Sunan Ibn Majah 3509, Muwatta Malik
So when you see something you like — a baby, a house, someone's success — say:
مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Mā shā' Allāh, lā quwwata illā billāh — "What Allah wills; there is no power except with Allah."
Qur'an 18:39
and Bārakallāhu fīh — "May Allah bless it."
A simple daily routine
- After Fajr and Maghrib: the three Quls, 3 times each.
- Over your children each night: U'īdhukumā bi-kalimātillāhit-tāmmah…
- Before sleeping: Ayat al-Kursi.
- Whenever you admire something: Mā shā' Allāh, lā quwwata illā billāh.
Protection comes only from Allah. Duas, the Qur'an and — for those who use one — a taweez of Qur'anic verses are means; the effect is from Allah alone. If someone is unwell, also see a doctor: seeking treatment is part of the Sunnah.
