Dua to Remove Nazar: Islamic Remedy for Evil Eye

You heard someone compliment your child, your new job, or your health — and then things went sideways soon after. Or you have been feeling an unusual heaviness, a persistent fatigue, or a run of difficult days with no clear reason. You wonder: could this be nazar?

Islam takes this question seriously. The Prophet ﷺ confirmed the evil eye is real, and he taught specific cures — not vague spiritual gestures, but precise duas and a documented Prophetic method. This guide walks through exactly what to recite, when, and how.

What Is the Dua to Remove Nazar?

The core ruqyah dua for removing nazar, narrated in Sahih Muslim (2186), is a direct prayer the Prophet ﷺ used for those afflicted with the evil eye. Recited three times with the hand placed on the affected person's forehead, it combines reliance on Allah with a specific request for healing. The dua names the exact harms it addresses — every harmful soul and every envious eye — making it one of the most targeted supplications in the Sunnah for this purpose.

The Dua: Arabic Text, Transliteration, and Meaning

The primary ruqyah dua for treating nazar comes from Sahih Muslim 2186:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ، مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ يُؤْذِيكَ، مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ أَوْ عَيْنٍ حَاسِدٍ، اللَّهُ يَشْفِيكَ

Bismillahi arqika, min kulli shay'in yu'dhika, min sharri kulli nafsin aw 'aynin hasid, Allahu yashfika

"In the name of Allah I perform ruqyah for you, from everything that harms you, from the evil of every soul or envious eye — may Allah heal you." — (Sahih Muslim 2186)

How to recite it: Place your right hand on the person's forehead (or the area of complaint) and recite three times. If performing self-ruqyah, recite over your hands and pass them over your body.

A second authentic ruqyah narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari 3371 covers a wider range of harm:

أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ، مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لَامَّةٍ

A'udhu bikalimati Allahit-tammah, min kulli shaytanin wa hammah, wa min kulli 'aynin lammah

"I seek refuge in the complete words of Allah from every devil, every harmful creature, and from every evil eye." — (Sahih al-Bukhari 3371)

The Prophetic Method: A Step-by-Step Ruqyah for Nazar

When someone is afflicted with nazar and the source is known, the Sunnah provides a specific treatment method. This is documented in Sunan Abu Dawud 3880 and confirmed in the hadith of Sahl ibn Hunayf, where the Prophet ﷺ directed the man who had cast the evil eye to perform wudu and have the water collected for the afflicted person.

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Make use of the two cures: honey and the Quran." (Sunan Ibn Majah 3452). Ruqyah and practical medicine work together.

When the Source Is Unknown: Self-Ruqyah at Home

Most of the time you will not know who may have cast the evil eye. The evidence from the Sunnah supports self-ruqyah as effective regardless of knowing the source.

A daily self-ruqyah practice:

1. After Fajr — Recite Ayat al-Kursi, Surah Al-Falaq, and Surah An-Nas, three times each. Blow gently into cupped hands and pass them over the entire body starting from the head.
2. Before sleeping — The same three recitations. The Prophet ﷺ did this every night without exception (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017).
3. When feeling afflicted — Recite the Sahih Muslim 2186 ruqyah dua three times over the area of complaint.

The combination of morning, evening, and targeted ruqyah creates the protective and remedial framework the Prophet ﷺ established. For more on what these surahs protect against, see the detailed guides on Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas.

The Story Behind the Cure: Sahl ibn Hunayf

The hadith of Sahl ibn Hunayf is one of the clearest documented cases of nazar treatment in the Sunnah. Sahl, a companion of the Prophet ﷺ, was admired by Amir ibn Rabi'ah without saying Masha'Allah. Sahl immediately fell ill. When the companions brought him to the Prophet ﷺ, he directed Amir to perform wudu, and the water was poured over Sahl — who recovered immediately.

This hadith, recorded in Muwatta Imam Malik 50/5 and other collections, establishes several principles:

• Even a compliment from a Muslim can cast nazar without ill intent
• The remedy the Prophet ﷺ prescribed was practical and immediate
• Recovery through the Sunnah method can be swift

The practical takeaway: always say Masha'Allah (ما شاء الله) when admiring anything — your own children, blessings, or the work of others.

Building a Daily Protection Habit

Treating nazar after the fact is harder than preventing it. The Prophet ﷺ set a clear daily habit that serves as both protection and cure. Understanding what ruqyah means in Islam helps ground this as a legitimate, Sunnah-based practice rather than superstition.

A few additional steps scholars recommend:

• Say Masha'Allah or Allahumma barik when admiring anything, including your own blessings
• Read Ayat al-Kursi after every obligatory prayer
• Maintain consistent morning and evening dua for protection
• Recite Surah Al-Baqarah regularly in the home (the Prophet ﷺ said Shaytan does not enter a home in which Al-Baqarah is recited — Sahih Muslim 780)

Do you feel your duas are unanswered?

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The key is consistency. The morning adhkar and evening adhkar are the best daily investment against all forms of harm, including the evil eye. Building the habit of reciting the three quls and Ayat al-Kursi each morning and evening is something any Muslim can start today.

The DeenBack guide to daily dhikr habits explores how consistent remembrance of Allah strengthens the spiritual immune system — a complement to targeted ruqyah when affliction occurs. And the Demi Manifest piece on facing adversity in Islam reflects on how the Prophetic framework for hardship includes both dua and practical trust in Allah's decree.

Dua Quick-Reference Table

Common Questions About Removing Nazar

Can nazar affect animals and objects, not just people?

Yes. Scholars note that the Prophet ﷺ's statement that "the evil eye is real" (Sahih Muslim 2188) is general. The hadith on this topic shows nazar affecting a camel. The same protective and remedial duas apply.

Is ruqyah different from black magic remedies?

Completely. Ruqyah is the Quranic and Prophetic method of reciting authentic verses and duas — permissible and encouraged. Black magic remedies (sihr) involve prohibited practices involving jinn or forbidden methods. Never seek a cure through prohibited means; the Quranic method is complete.

Do I need a scholar to perform ruqyah for me?

No. Self-ruqyah is well-established. The Prophet ﷺ taught the ruqyah duas to ordinary companions for them to use themselves and for their families. A qualified scholar or trusted practitioner can help in severe cases, but the basic ruqyah is accessible to every Muslim.

Can ruqyah remove nazar that has been present for a long time?

Yes. There is no evidence that nazar becomes permanent. The Prophetic treatment applies regardless of duration. Consistency — daily adhkar combined with targeted ruqyah — is what the evidence supports.

Closing: Trust the Cure Allah Gave You

The Prophet ﷺ confirmed nazar exists and gave us the remedy. That remedy is the Quran and authentic dua — the same tools that strengthen every part of the Muslim's life. You do not need to fear the evil eye; you need to maintain the Prophetic habits that address it directly.

Start with the three quls and Ayat al-Kursi every morning and evening. Add the ruqyah dua when you feel afflicted. Say Masha'Allah when you see blessings. These are simple, Sunnah-grounded practices. The dua for protection from evil eye gives you additional context on the protective side; this article covers the cure.

Do you feel your duas are unanswered?

Have you read the dua properly? Learn authentic duas, understand their meanings, and call upon Allah with greater confidence through DeenUp.

Take the Dua Quiz