SAYING "MA SHA ALLAH" TO PREVENT THE EVIL EYE
by Sheikh Ahmad Musa Jibril
There is a misconception amongst many Muslims today, and it is to do with the phrase "Ma sha Allah, Tabarak Allah" and the phrase "Ma sha Allah, la hawla wala quwata illah billah" in order to repel the evil eye, but this is all baseless.
Now most people think that by saying these du'aas it will repel the 'ayn (evil eye) but what they fail to understand is that this phrasing is not the correct form of the du'aa instructed by our beloved Prophet (saws). Instead when we see a beautiful child, nice car, nice house, we MUST make du'aa for Allah to bless it Insha'Allah... Its WRONG TO SAY:
Masha'Allah (Allah has willed [it])
TabarakAllah (Allah is Blessed)
La ilaha Illah (There none worthy of worship but Allah)
Allahumma Salli alah (may Allah send blessing on [the Prophet])
However all these above can and should be In sha Allah used for regular Thikr within talks, BUT they do not ward off the Evil Eye.
And as for those who use the verse in Surah al-Kahf:
وَلَولا إِذ دَخَلتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلتَ ما شاءَا للَّهُ لا قُوَّةَ إِلّا بِاللَّه -
"It was better for you to say, when you entered your garden: 'That which Allāh wills (will come to pass)! There is no power but with Allāh '. If you see me less than you in wealth, and children." [Al-Kahf 18:39]
As evidence for their statement, then they have misunderstood the verse entirely. Since this verse is about a debate that took place between two men, a Muslim and a kaafir. And it is not to show a particular du'aa for people to use (against the evil eye) and the evidence for that is the fact that neither the Prophet (saws) nor the Companions used this expression to ward off the evil eye. And do not confuse the other Ahadith which mention the rewards of saying la hawla wala quwata illah billah, since that is talking about a whole different topic, and it does not deal with the evil eye.
However you will still find scholars who will tell you it is allowed even though it lacks evidence. Hence in this regards Shaikh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah writes in his book "Ma'aarij al-Wusool":
And it is through the ijtihaad of many from the salaf as well as the khalaf (later generations) that a lot of bid'ah has become widespread today, not knowing that it in reality it was a bid'ah. Either due to them relying upon hadith they thought to be authentic (which wasn't the case) or verses from the Qur'aan they misinterpreted etc. But for every mujtahid with sincere pursuit of the truth will always get one reward even if he is mistaken. [Raf'u al-Ghayn by Shaikh Maahir al-Qahtaani p.75]
However the CORRECT Sunnah is to make Du'aa for the blessing of Allah upon that person or object, so Insha'Allah they can be protected from the Evil Eye:
Narrated Sahl ibn Haneef (ra) that the Prophet (saws) came out and traveled with him towards Makkah, until they were in the mountain pass of al-Kharaar in al-Jahfah. There Sahl ibn Haneef did ghusl, and he was a handsome white-skinned man with beautiful skin. ‘Aamir ibn Rabee’ah, one of Banu ‘Adiyy ibn Ka’b looked at him whilst he was doing ghusl and said: “I have never seen such beautiful skin as this, not even the skin of a virgin,” and Sahl fell to the ground. They went to Messenger of Allah (saws) came and said, “O Messenger of Allah, can you do anything for Sahl, because by Allah he cannot raise his head.” He said, “Do you accuse anyone with regard to him?” They said, “ ‘Aamir ibn Rabee’ah looked at him.” So the Messenger of Allah (saws) called ‘Aamir and rebuked him strongly. He said, “Why would one of you kill his brother? If you see something that you like, then pray for blessing for him.” Then he said to him, “Wash yourself for him.” So he washed his face, hands, forearms, knees and the sides of his feet, and inside his izaar (lower garment) in the vessel. Then that water was poured over him, and a man poured it over his head and back from behind. He did that to him, then Sahl got up and joined the people and there was nothing wrong with him. [Imam Ahmad (15550), Maalik (1811), al-Nasaa’i and Ibn Hibbaan - Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Mishkaat, 4562]
Hence In sha Allah say:
Directly to males: Barak Allahu feek (singular)/feekum (plural) (may Allah bless you)
Directly to females: Barak Allahu feeki(singular)/feekun (plural) (may Allah bless you)
About males: Allahumma Barik lahu (singular)/lahum (plural) (may Allah bless him)
About famales: Allahumma Barik laha (singular)/lahun (plural) (may Allah bless her)
To an object such as a Car, etc: Barak Allahu laka fiha (female noun/plural)/fihi (male noun) (may Allah bless it)