Widespread reprehensible innovations to do with protection

against the evil eye and envy

People have introduced many innovations having to do with protection against the evil eye, and they believe that they ward off its evil and the evil of envy. These include the following:

1 - Amulets: these are things that the Arabs used to tie onto their children to protect them against the evil eye, or so they claimed. This is a form of Shirk, because the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessing upon Him) said, according to a Hadith narrated by Ahmad:

"Whoever ties on an amulet has committed Shirk."

2 - Wearing Hijabs (amulets) containing words other than the Qur'an and Sunnah, from those who seek the services of the jinn. This is also Shirk.

3 - Hanging up shells and the like; these are shells that come from the sea, which are used for protection against the evil eye.

4 - Putting necklaces adorned with blue beads and metal pieces in the shape of crescents, or animal teeth and bones, on children and animals.

5 - Hanging up the shoe of a horse or donkey, or ears of wheat, or putting a hand made of copper with an eye in the middle, on the doors of houses, around the necks of riding animals and in cars.

6 - Wearing rings adorned with blue beads on which are written some words, in order to ward off the evil eye and protect oneself against its evil.

7 - Hanging up the skulls of animals in houses and on farms.

8 - Sprinkling salt over wedding guests - this is done in some countries to ward off the evil eye from the newly-weds.

9 - Using strange words and phrases, in the belief that they will ward off the evil eye, such as saying "Khamsah Wa Khumaysah [Khamsah means five; Khumaysah refers to an ornament in the shape of a hand, worn as a talisman against the evil eye. (Hans Wehr dictionary] " or "Imsiku'l-khashab (touch wood)" - which comes from a Hindu belief. The Hindus regard wood as holy, and that it wards off harm from them.

10 - Writing phrases on cars, such as, " 'Ayn Al-husud Fiha 'ud (A stick in the eye of the envier)"... and so on.

11 - Believing that incense wards off harm from one who is sick.

These are some of the reprehensible innovations which people believe offer protection against the evil eye and envy.