Short answer
The Quran and Sunnah give no checklist of symptoms. The evil eye is real and can cause illness and harm, even serious harm, but only by Allah's decree. The same signs usually have ordinary causes, so see a doctor, do ruqyah, and never accuse anyone without proof. The four schools agree.
The evil eye is real and its effect happens by Allah's will. Diagnosing it from vague signs, or blaming a particular person by suspicion, is not allowed. The remedy is ruqyah and dua alongside normal treatment.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ said that the evil eye is real, and that if anything could outrun destiny, the evil eye would. He saw a girl with a dark mark on her face and said that an eye had struck her, and told her family to get ruqyah for her. When Amir ibn Rabi'ah admired Sahl ibn Hunayf and Sahl collapsed, the Prophet asked why one of them would kill his brother. So the eye can cause real harm, and scholars accept that by Allah's decree it can even contribute to death.
What the texts do not give is a list of signs. The lists online come from the experience of raqis (people who do ruqyah). Things often mentioned include:
- a sudden illness or tiredness straight after being praised or admired
- a loss of something that was going well, such as health, a business or a child's progress
- a sudden dislike of study, work or home without a clear reason
Every one of these also has ordinary causes: infections, stress, depression, sleep problems, hormones or plain life. So:
- see a doctor first and follow a qualified doctor's advice
- do ruqyah on yourself or your child anyway, since it helps with every harm (see how to remove nazar)
- do not accuse a relative, friend or neighbour. Suspicion is the most false of speech, and a wrong accusation breaks families
- do not go to anyone who "diagnoses" nazar with eggs, lead, candles or your mother's name
Protection is simple and daily: the morning and evening adhkar, Ayat al-Kursi, al-Falaq and al-Nas, and saying mashaAllah or barakAllah when you admire something. See dua against the evil eye.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Qalam 68:51
وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَٰرِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجْنُونٌۭ ﴿٥١﴾
And indeed, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes when they hear the message, and they say, "Indeed, he is mad."
Many commentators read this ayah as referring to the harmful eye.
Quran, Surah Al-Falaq 113:5
وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ ﴿٥﴾
And from the evil of an envier when he envies."
We are taught to seek refuge from the harm of envy.
Sahih Muslim 2188
Sahih... العين حق ولو كان شيء سابق القدر سبقته العين ...
"The eye is real. If anything were to outrun destiny, the eye would outrun it."
The evil eye is real, but it works within Allah's decree.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5739
Sahih... استرقوا لها فإن بها النظرة ...
"Seek ruqyah for her, for she has been struck by an eye."
The Prophet recognised a case of the eye and prescribed ruqyah, not a ritual.
Sunan Ibn Majah 3509
Grading to be checked... علام يقتل أحدكم أخاه ...
"Why would one of you kill his brother?"
Shows how serious the harm of the eye can be.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5143
Sahih... إياكم والظن فإن الظن أكذب الحديث ...
"Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the most false of speech."
Blaming someone for nazar on suspicion is forbidden.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Hazr wa al-Ibaha, on ruqyah and amulets. Ruqyah with the Quran and known duas is allowed; charms and unknown words are not.
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.