بِسْمِ اللهِ، أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
In the name of Allah, I seek refuge in Allah from the evil of those who practice witchcraft and from the evil of the envier when he envies.
Bismillah, a'udhu billahi min sharri an-naffathati fil-'uqadi wa min sharri hasidin idha hasad.
When to Read
This powerful dua, which is essentially the last two verses of Surah Al-Falaq, is recommended for recitation when one fears the evil eye. This could be upon hearing compliments that might inadvertently lead to envy, or when observing something beautiful that one fears might attract ill will. It's also a beneficial practice to recite it regularly as a general protection, especially in the morning and evening.
How to Read
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this dua to Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) when he noticed his sister's son suffering from the effects of the evil eye. The Prophet ﷺ instructed him to seek refuge in Allah using these words, and to recite them three times. It is recommended to place your hand on the place of pain or on your forehead while reciting. Reciting Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas in their entirety, along with Surah Al-Baqarah, are also excellent means of seeking protection from the evil eye and all forms of harm.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua directly addresses seeking refuge in Allah from the specific harm of envy and the 'puffers on knots' (referring to witchcraft or other means used to inflict harm). Envy, or the evil eye (al-'ayn), is a real phenomenon that can cause illness, distress, and misfortune. By reciting this dua, we are acknowledging Allah's power to protect us and actively seeking His shield against such unseen evils. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "The evil eye is real, and it can make a man get up and climb a mountain and fall down from it." (Sahih al-Bukhari 5705, Muslim 2187). This emphasizes the importance of seeking divine protection.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to seek refuge in Allah for Al-Hasan and Al-Hussain saying: 'I seek refuge for you both in the perfect words of Allah from every devil and from every poisonous creature and from every evil eye.' Then he would say: 'Your father (Abraham) used to seek refuge with Allah for Ishmael and Isaac with these very words.' [Sahih al-Bukhari 3371] Regarding the specific verses of Surah Al-Falaq and An-Nas, it is narrated: 'The Prophet (ﷺ) said to me, 'O Ibn Ka'b, we heard you reciting a recitation and we were amazed by it.' He said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I recited the poetry that was said to me.' He said: 'I have been given something similar to that, which is sufficient: 'Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn (Surah Al-Falaq)' and 'Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind (Surah An-Nas).'' [Tirmidhi 3367 - Hasan Sahih, Sahih Muslim 217] The interpretation of 'an-naffathati fil-'uqadi' (the puffers on knots) refers to sorcerers who blow on knots while practicing witchcraft. Therefore, the dua encompasses seeking refuge from both envy and witchcraft.