Asma’ daughter of ‘Umais said, “Messenger of Go'd, Ja’far’s children are readily susceptible to the influence of the evil eye, so may I use an invocation for them?” He replied, “Yes, for if anything could get ahead of the decree the evil eye could.”
Abu Umama b. Sahl b. Hunaif told that ‘Amir b. Rabi'a saw Sahl b. Hunaif bathing and said, “I swear by God that I have seen no skin to compare with what I have seen to-day, not even that of a secluded girl.”
Sahl fell to the ground and people went to God’s messenger and said to him, “Messenger of God, can you do anything for Sahl b. Hunaif? We swear by God that he cannot raise his head ”
He asked if they suspected anyone, and when they replied that they suspected ‘Amir b. Rabl‘a.
God’s messenger summoned ‘Amir, and speaking roughly to him, said, “Why does one of you kill his brother? Why did you not invoke a blessing? Bathe on his behalf ”
‘Amir then washed on his behalf his face, hands, elbows, knees and toes, and inside his lower garment, collected the water in a vessel and poured it over him, so he recovered and went away with the people none the worse.*
It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.
Malik transmitted it, and in his version he said, “The evil eye is real. Perform ablution for him.” He therefore did so.
* The trouble was due to the words of praise which were not qualified by any reference to what God might will, and accordingly attributed to the evil eye.
