What is the evil eye and is it real in Islam?

The evil eye, or al-ayn, is harm that reaches a person through the look of another, usually accompanied by admiration or envy. Islam treats it as real and well established.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, stated that the evil eye is true, and that if anything were to precede the divine decree it would be the eye. He also instructed that the eye be treated when it strikes, and sought refuge for his grandchildren from every envious eye.

It is far more common than sihr. Sihr requires someone to deliberately seek out a sorcerer and pay for a pact. The evil eye requires only a glance and an unguarded moment of envy, which is why practitioners report encountering it constantly and sihr comparatively rarely.

It also has an important limit. Like everything else, it operates only by the permission of Allah, and it cannot touch what He protects.