

In a time when our lives are exposed to everyone, and we share every happy moment on social media, complaints about envy and the evil eye have increased significantly. Many people are reporting strange changes happening suddenly: problems without any reason, tension between spouses, sudden exhaustion, or even delays in livelihood. All of this could be caused by envy or the evil eye, and understanding the difference between them is crucial to know how to protect ourselves and our loved ones. In this article, we will explore the difference between envy and the evil eye, the main symptoms, and simple ways to protect ourselves without any complications.
Envy is a hidden feeling that arises within a person when they see something they admire or wish to possess but are unable to do so. This feeling forms in the subconscious mind and may remain buried due to social constraints or fear of acknowledging envy. However, most often, the envious person hides their negative emotions like hatred and spite within themselves.
Envy starts when a person sees something they wish they could own, whether it's money, beauty, health, or success. At that moment, a feeling of jealousy is deeply ingrained in their heart, and it transforms into an evil eye if the person doesn't mention God or protect themselves. Some people may be affected by the evil eye just by a glance, while others cause envy by simply desiring what another person has.
The envious eye that causes harm can be categorized into three types:
Admiring Eye: This focuses on something the person admires without wishing for it to be taken from the other person.
Envious Eye: This wishes for the blessing or favor to be removed from another person.
Killing Eye: This causes severe harm to the person affected and may lead to illness or disruption in life.
Increased Marital Conflicts: When a couple is exposed to envy, there is often a sudden increase in disagreements without any clear reason. Each partner may feel a lack of understanding or harmony, with frequent arguments indicating the influence of envy on their relationship.
Changes in Emotions and Feelings: Envy weakens the emotional bond between spouses, causing love and affection to diminish. This can result in a decrease in the desire to be close to one another and increased emotional distance.
Inability to Tolerate Each Other: Envy can reach a point where each spouse cannot tolerate the other, where everything about their partner becomes irritating, and the focus shifts only to their partner’s flaws.
Doubt in the Marital Relationship: Doubt is one of the strongest signs of envy in a relationship. When doubt enters, both partners become suspicious of each other's intentions, which harms the marital bond and increases tension.
Negative Perception of Each Other: Envy may cause one spouse to develop a negative view of the other, whether it’s about their appearance, behavior, or daily habits. Every action or word from the other partner might become a point of criticism.
Sudden Health Issues: Envy can lead to unexplained health problems, such as sudden exhaustion or persistent headaches. At times, the couple may struggle to find an explanation for these issues.
Inability to Solve Marital Problems: When a couple reaches a point of despair in resolving their issues or finding solutions to conflicts, envy may be the cause of this ongoing inability to fix their problems.
Decline in Intimacy: If the marriage is affected by envy, there will be a noticeable decline in both emotional and physical intimacy. Even sexual relations might become unsatisfactory and unfulfilling as they once were.
Downplaying Achievements: A husband who feels envious of his wife may try to downplay her accomplishments. He views her success as a threat and feels jealous, so he minimizes her achievements to ease his own psychological discomfort.
Constantly Looking for Mistakes: An envious husband frequently criticizes his wife, searching for the smallest mistakes to highlight. This behavior enhances his feeling of superiority and gives him comfort simply by criticizing her.
Intense Jealousy: A husband who is envious of his wife’s success or strong personality always feels that she is better than him. He begins to feel uneasy about her achievements.
Frequent Criticism: The envious husband tends to criticize his wife’s actions and feels uncomfortable with everything she does. This constant criticism leads to frustration and insecurity for the wife.
Annoyed by Wife’s Success: Sometimes, the wife’s success causes anxiety or discomfort for the envious husband, rather than supporting her and celebrating with her. He perceives her success as a threat to his position in her life.
Comparison | The Evil Eye | Envy |
---|---|---|
Definition | A glance that causes harm due to admiration without mentioning God | Wishing the blessings of another person to disappear or disliking others owning what they have |
Intent | Often unintentional (just admiration) | Intentional, with bad intentions |
Associated Verse | "And they almost would have made you slip with their eyes..." | "And from the evil of an envious one when he envies" |
Damage | Its effect is quicker, causing immediate harm | Its effect is slower but more widespread, affecting various aspects of life |
Signs | Sudden illness, fatigue, headaches, laziness, unexplained physical exhaustion | Problems with livelihood, disruptions in work, relationship issues |
Protection | Saying "Mashallah" and fortifying oneself with protective prayers | Remembrance of God, reciting the Qur’an, reducing the display of blessings |
Treatment | Spiritual healing, washing with water if the source is known | Spiritual healing, continuous remembrance of God |
Source | Anyone, even if they respect or love you | A person who is envious or dissatisfied with your situation |
Envy between spouses can greatly affect the marital relationship, and it manifests in various ways, sometimes even unnoticed. It’s important to understand that envy can be more than just a negative feeling; it has a deep impact on the emotions of both spouses and their relationship. Here, we review the main types of envy between spouses and how they affect the relationship:
Emotional Envy
Emotional envy occurs when one spouse feels jealous of the other's emotional relationships with others, whether with friends, family members, or even how they express their feelings. This kind of envy can lead to tension and anxiety between the couple.
Reasons for Emotional Envy:
Jealousy over the spouse's attention to relationships outside the marriage.
Feeling insecure emotionally in the relationship.
Impact on the Relationship:
Decreased trust between the spouses.
Social Envy
Social envy occurs when one spouse feels jealous of the other’s success in work or social life. The person may believe the other is gaining more recognition or fame in their professional field or among friends, creating uncomfortable feelings.
Causes of Social Envy:
Personal feelings of inadequacy or fear of not achieving the same success.
Feeling unappreciated by the other spouse or by those around them.
Impact on the Relationship:
Feelings of jealousy and lack of appreciation arise.
This can lead to a sense of deprivation and imbalance between the spouses.
Material Envy
Material envy occurs when one spouse feels jealous of the other’s wealth or possessions, whether material or financial. Material envy creates a gap between the spouses and can lead to ongoing tension due to differences in economic levels.
Causes of Material Envy:
Economic disparity between the spouses.
Feeling unappreciated for the efforts the other puts in to achieve financial success.
Impact on the Relationship:
Increasing material and social gaps between the spouses.
Feelings of jealousy or resentment toward the other’s financial success.
Physical Envy
Physical envy arises when one spouse feels jealous of the other’s appearance, whether it’s beauty or the admiration the other receives for their looks. This type of envy can breed negative feelings related to self-esteem.
Causes of Physical Envy:
Dissatisfaction with one’s appearance.
Lack of self-confidence regarding physical appearance.
Impact on the Relationship:
Feelings of frustration and jealousy regarding the other’s looks.
This may lead to a decline in intimacy and trust between the spouses.
Envy Due to Attention to Children
Envy due to attention given to children occurs when one spouse feels the other is prioritizing the children over their relationship. This type of envy can create feelings of neglect or loneliness.
Causes of Envy Due to Children:
Feeling emotionally neglected.
Imbalance in the distribution of attention between the spouses.
Impact on the Relationship:
Emotional distance between the spouses increases.
It may cause feelings of loneliness or discomfort due to the other spouse’s priorities.
Sexual Envy
Sexual envy occurs when one spouse feels jealous of the other’s sexual needs or intimacy in their relationship. This type of envy may arise from differences in desires or expectations in the sexual relationship between the spouses.
Causes of Sexual Envy:
Changes in sexual life or intimacy.
Feelings of being unappreciated or dissatisfied with the sexual aspect of the relationship.
Impact on the Relationship:
Decreased sexual desire and intimacy.
This may cause feelings of anger or resentment between the spouses.
Envy between spouses can sometimes manifest subtly, but its impact on the relationship is evident. A wife who envies her husband may not openly show this feeling, but it manifests through behaviors and actions that negatively affect the relationship. In this article, we explore signs of envy between spouses and how to get rid of envy.
Undermining Husband's Achievements
A jealous wife may weaken her husband's self-confidence by belittling his accomplishments. She may make him feel as though he's not doing anything significant and put him in a negative comparison with others. This behavior leads to constant frustration.
Making the Husband Feel Inadequate
The envious wife always finds ways to make her husband feel that he is falling short in his duties, even if he has done his best. She may try to push him to do more for her, while at the same time hindering him from pursuing his own ambitions.
Bringing Up Past Mistakes
The envious wife may continue to remind her husband of his past mistakes, even after he has corrected them or repented. This creates continuous psychological pressure on him and prevents the relationship from progressing.
Claiming Credit for Husband's Success
The wife might exaggerate her role in her husband's successes, making it seem as though she is a major contributor, even though she may have hindered him at times. This exaggeration aims to boost her sense of importance and superiority over him.
Reluctance to See Her Husband Happy
An envious wife doesn't accept seeing her husband happy or proud of himself. She may try to negate his moments of joy, causing him to feel disappointed and frustrated.
Regularly Read the Protective Verses
The Surahs of Al-Falaq, Al-Nas, and Al-Ikhlas are famous protective Surahs that shield a person from the evil eye and envy. Reciting these Surahs with belief in God's power will protect you from the effects of envy and give you a sense of peace and tranquility.
Recite Ruqyah (Spiritual Healing)
Ruqyah is one of the most effective remedies to eliminate envy and the evil eye. You can listen to Ruqyah or recite it yourself. It is narrated by Abu Sa'id al-Khudri that Gabriel (peace be upon him) used to recite over the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): "In the name of Allah, I perform Ruqyah for you from everything that harms you." This spiritual healing helps cleanse the heart and soul.
Pray to Allah to Remove Envy
Prayer to Allah is one of the strongest weapons against envy. Make it a part of your daily routine to pray to Allah, asking Him to protect you and your husband from the harm of envy and the evil eye. Allah loves for His servants to ask from Him, and He responds to them.
Patience and Rationality in Solving Marital Issues
Do not let envy ruin your married life. After reading the protective verses, reciting Ruqyah, and praying, strive to communicate with your husband calmly and resolve problems with patience, maintaining balance in dealing with matters.
Look for Common Positive Ground
In marriage, always focus on the shared positive aspects between you and your husband. Appreciation and good intentions help in resisting the effects of envy and thus strengthen your relationship.
There are several verses in the Qur'an that can be recited for protection against envy, magic, and the evil eye. Here are some of them:
Ayat al-Kursi (Surah Al-Baqarah, 255)
"Allah, there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep..."
This verse is powerful for protection against all harm and is known to protect against magic, the evil eye, and envy.
The Story of Moses and the Sorcerers (Surah Yunus, 81)
"But when they threw, Moses said, 'What you have brought is sorcery; indeed, Allah will invalidate it. Indeed, Allah does not amend the work of corrupters.'"
This verse reminds how magic was nullified by Allah’s power, and can be used for protection against sorcery.
Protection from the Jinn (Surah As-Saffat, 6-10)
"And we have placed guards upon them who do not listen to the higher assembly and are cast from every side..."
This verse enhances protection from devils and evil spirits, preventing their influence on a person.
Surah Al-Ikhlas (1-4)
"Say, 'He is Allah, [Who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge...'"
Reciting this Surah helps protect from all harm and shields from the evil eye and envy.
Surah Al-Falaq (1-5)
"Say, 'I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn, from the evil of what He has created, and from the evil of the darkening when it settles, and from the evil of the blowers in knots, and from the evil of an envier when he envies.'"
This Surah protects from envy, the evil eye, and magic.
Surah An-Nas (1-6)
"Say, 'I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, the King of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of the whisperer who withdraws, who whispers in the hearts of mankind, among jinn and among mankind.'"
This Surah protects from satanic whispers, whether from jinn or humans.
"O Allah, protect me"
"In the name of Allah, I seek refuge for myself from everything that harms me, and from the evil of every soul or envious eye. In the name of Allah, I seek refuge for myself, may Allah heal me. What Allah wills happens, and what He does not will does not happen. There is no power and no strength except by Allah."
"O Allah, safeguard and save me"
"O Allah, protect me, the best of protectors, from all evil and envy, and place me under Your protection, safeguard, and safety, O Most Merciful of the merciful."
"O Allah, keep away harm"
"O Allah, turn away from me anyone who wishes me harm, distract them with their own affairs, and restrain their hands."
"Surrendering matters to Allah"
"O Allah, I know that nothing has befallen me except what You have written, and I fear no one as long as You are with me, so O Allah, protect me and guard me."
"O Allah, bless my sustenance"
"O Allah, bless me in what You have provided me, turn away the evil of the wicked, the plots of the wrongdoers, and the dangers of the night and day."
Protection with the Words of Allah
"I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from every devil, harmful creature, and every evil eye." (Narrated by Muslim)
Protection in the Name of Allah
"In the name of Allah, with whose name nothing in the heavens or on earth can harm, and He is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing." (Narrated by Tirmidhi)
Prayer to Repel the Devil's Harm
"I seek refuge in Allah, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from the accursed devil, from his whispering, his blowing, and his spit." (Narrated by Bukhari)
Certain dreams may indicate the presence of envy in the relationship between a couple. Some dreams can be messages from the subconscious mind, pointing to underlying tensions or negative feelings in the relationship, whether caused by envy or other factors. Here are some dreams that might signify envy between spouses:
Seeing Insects in the Dream
Insects in a dream are often symbols of anxiety and disturbance. If these insects are attacking the dreamer or causing fear, such as ants or cockroaches, this may indicate the presence of the evil eye or envy.
Insects on the Couple’s Bed
If either the wife or husband dreams of insects scattered on their bed, it could be a clear sign of envy between the couple. Insects on the bed reflect tensions or issues negatively affecting the relationship.
Seeing Insects Coming from Someone’s Eyes
If you see insects coming out of someone’s eyes in your dream, it may symbolize that this person envies you or has cast the evil eye upon you. This dream indicates negative energy or hatred from a close individual.
Eyes Watching You
Seeing eyes in a dream, especially if they are watching or following you, may suggest that someone is casting the evil eye or harboring envy towards you. Eyes in dreams represent negative energy that could affect the person in real life.
Someone Watching You Through a Keyhole
If you dream of someone spying on you through a keyhole, it might indicate that person’s jealousy or desire to know everything about your life, suggesting envy.
Seeing Flames
Fire in a dream, whether burning someone or a place, is a strong symbol of envy and the evil eye. Fire represents feelings of anger and animosity, which may indicate exposure to negative energy or envy from those around you.
Seeing Predatory Animals
Dreaming of predatory animals, such as hyenas, black cats, or dogs, may indicate envy or ill intentions from others. These animals represent people who cause harm or envy you.
A Lizard Entering the Home
If you see a lizard entering your home in your dream, it is a clear symbol of the entry of envious and jealous individuals into your life, exposing you to the evil eye.
Married couples may experience certain dreams that directly point to envy in their relationship:
Rain Falling from the Ceiling
If a husband or wife dreams of rain falling from the ceiling of their house, it might indicate tensions or negative feelings affecting their married life. This could be a sign of envy or unwanted emotions between the couple.
Seeing Blood Coming from Eyes
Seeing a known person or group of people with blood coming from their eyes in the dream might symbolize the envy affecting both partners.
Experiencing Theft
If the husband dreams of being robbed by a specific person, this may signify someone envies him and seeks to harm him.
Seeing Jews in the Dream
Seeing Jews or speaking to them in a dream might symbolize the presence of envy or negative energy affecting the couple. This could stem from ill intentions from others in their environment.
Seeing a Needle in the Dream
A needle in a dream could symbolize the evil eye or envy. It is believed that a needle in the dream may directly represent the impact of envy.
Seeing Holes in the Dream
If the husband or wife dreams of seeing holes, it might indicate the presence of envy or the evil eye that is affecting their life.
Seeing a Snake or Predatory Animals
If the husband or wife dreams of a snake coiling around them or attacking them, it may signify the presence of intense envy or a deliberate attempt to harm. Similarly, seeing dangerous animals like cats with red or yellow eyes symbolizes malice and hatred.
A doctor specializing in envy and the evil eye may focus on different areas of treatment, depending on the nature of the case. Here are some specialists that might be relevant:
Psychiatrist
Sometimes, envy or the evil eye may be linked to psychological issues such as anxiety or depression. A psychiatrist can help treat the mental symptoms associated with these feelings.
General Practitioner or Internal Medicine Specialist
If the physical symptoms related to envy or the evil eye include certain health problems, such as weakened immunity or chronic fatigue, a general practitioner or internal medicine specialist might be best suited for diagnosis and treatment.
Sheikh or Practitioner of Ruqyah (Spiritual Healing)
For cases where the belief in envy or magic is strong, Ruqyah practitioners are considered specialists in this area. Ruqyah involves reciting the Qur'an and supplications for spiritual protection and healing.
Alternative Medicine or Integrative Therapies
Sometimes, people turn to herbal treatments or energy healing, such as using essential oils or crystals, as part of alternative therapies.
If you believe you need treatment for envy or the evil eye, it may be necessary to consult a spiritual healer like a Ruqyah practitioner, alongside medical doctors if there are physical health effects.