Essays in Philosophy and Kalam

Essays in Philosophy and Kalam

An Examination of Muslim Theologians’ Views on the Evil Eye

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Esmail Esbati
u
10.22067/epk.2025.93642.1447
Abstract
The belief in the evil eye is widespread among various societies, including Muslim communities. Traditionists (hadith scholars) have recorded narrations on this subject, and some Qur’anic commentators have interpreted certain verses as referring to it. Among Muslim theologians, the nature and mode of the evil eye’s influence have been matters of dispute. This study, employing a descriptive–analytical method, seeks to collect, examine, and critique the views of Muslim theologians concerning the evil eye. Abū ʿAlī al-Jubbāʾī rejected the notion altogether, regarding it as a popular belief lacking rational or textual evidence. Al-Jāḥiẓ attributed it to the emission of rays from the eye. The Muʿtazilite and Imāmī theologians interpreted it as the alteration of divine blessings in accordance with divine wisdom and human welfare, denying any causal efficacy to the eye itself. The Ashʿarites and the Traditionists likewise rejected any real causality, holding that the concurrence between an envious gaze and the loss of blessing does not imply causal connection, for the true and sole agent is God. This position, however, was later criticized by some Salafi scholars. In conclusion, the arguments presented by the theologians cannot prove the existence of the evil eye; rather, assuming its existence through the kind of evidence like experience or transmitted reports, their discussions merely attempt to explain its nature as a possible phenomenon.
Keywords
Evil Eye
Islamic Theology
Ashʿarites
Muʿtazilites
Imāmiyyah
Subjects

Authors retain the copyright and full publishing rights. This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

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Essays in Philosophy and Kalam
Volume 57, Issue 2 - Serial Number 115
Autumn & Winter 2026
February 2026
Pages 77-95

  • Receive Date 31 May 2025
  • Revise Date 15 October 2025
  • Accept Date 20 October 2025