How do you protect a baby from the evil eye?

The four schools agree on this.

Explanation

Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to seek protection for al-Hasan and al-Husayn, saying that Ibrahim sought it for Ismail and Ishaq with these words: A'udhu bi-kalimatillahit-tammah, min kulli shaytanin wa hammah, wa min kulli aynin lammah: I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from every devil and harmful creature, and from every evil eye. For your child, say u'idhuka (for a boy), u'idhuki (for a girl) or u'idhukuma (for two).

Daily protection for a baby:

• say the dua above in the morning and evening and when you put the baby down to sleep
• recite al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and al-Nas, blow lightly into your hands and wipe over the baby
• ask visitors to say mashaAllah or barakAllah when they admire the baby, as the Prophet ﷺ told the Companion who harmed Sahl with his eye to pray for blessing
• be sensible about posting photos and praising your child in public, without becoming fearful

The black dot. In many South Asian families a small mark of kohl is put on a baby's forehead or behind the ear. A report attributed to Uthman describes darkening the chin of a beautiful child so the eye would not strike him. On that basis some Hanafi muftis allow a mark whose purpose is to make onlookers less taken by the child, provided you do not believe the dot itself has power. Others say to leave it, because it is too close to a charm. The blue bead, the hamsa hand and black threads are amulets and are not allowed (see is the evil eye real).

If a baby cries constantly or seems unwell, see a doctor first: colic, reflux and infections are far more common than nazar. Then do ruqyah as well. For a sick child, see dua for a sick child.

The evidence

Where the ruling is recorded

• Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Hazr wa al-Ibaha, discussion of amulets. Forbids charms and amulets that are relied on for protection.
• Sharh al-Sunnah (al-Baghawi), Kitab al-Tibb, on the evil eye. Records the report from Uthman about darkening a child's chin.

Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.