Qur-an and prophetic supplications for protection from harm, evil, and the evil eye - with sources.
Protection in Islam is asked for directly from Allah, using His words and His names. The Qur-an itself – Ayat al-Kursi and the last two surahs – is the foundation, alongside the prophetic wordings below.
Key points
- Ayat al-Kursi and the last two surahs of the Qur-an are the core of protection.
- "A'udhu bi-kalimati Llahi t-tammati min sharri ma khalaq" is a complete refuge, said in the evening and when stopping anywhere.
- There is a specific prophetic wording for seeking protection over children.
- Seeking refuge is worship and reliance on Allah; it is not an amulet or a charm.
Practical steps
- Recite Ayat al-Kursi and the three protective surahs as part of the morning and evening adhkar.
- Say "A'udhu bi-kalimati Llahi t-tammati min sharri ma khalaq" three times in the evening.
- Say "Bismillahi lladhi la yadurru..." three times morning and evening.
- For children, say "A'udhu bi-kalimati Llahi t-tammati min kulli shaytanin wa hammah, wa min kulli 'aynin lammah".
Qur’an
“Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.”
Surah Al-Baqarah — 2:255 (Ayat al-Kursi)
When to read: The single most emphasised verse for protection. Recited after each prayer, in the morning and evening, and before sleep.
Qul a'udhu bi-rabbi l-falaq...
“1. Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak 2. From the evil of that which He created 3. And from the evil of darkness when it settles 4. And from the evil of the blowers in knots 5. And from the evil of an envier when he envies."”
Surah Al-Falaq — 113
When to read: Surah al-Falaq seeks refuge from external harms - darkness, envy, and sorcery. Recited with an-Nas.
Qul a'udhu bi-rabbi n-nas...
“1. Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, 2. The Sovereign of mankind. 3. The God of mankind, 4. From the evil of the retreating whisperer - 5. Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind - 6. From among the jinn and mankind."”
Surah An-Nas — 114
When to read: Surah an-Nas seeks refuge from the whisperer. The Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasised reciting al-Falaq and an-Nas for seeking refuge with Allah (Sahih Muslim).
Hadith
A'udhu bi-kalimati Llahi t-tammati min sharri ma khalaq.
I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created.
Sahih Muslim, no. 2708 .
When to read: Said three times in the evening, and when stopping at any place. The narration says nothing will harm the one who says it.
Bismillahi lladhi la yadurru ma'a smihi shay'un fi l-ardi wa la fi s-sama', wa Huwa s-Sami'u l-'Alim.
In the name of Allah, with whose name nothing on earth or in the heaven can cause harm, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
Sunan Abi Dawud, no. 5088 — graded sahih by al-Albani.
When to read: Said three times morning and evening. The narration promises safety from sudden affliction.
A'udhu bi-kalimati Llahi t-tammati min kulli shaytanin wa hammah, wa min kulli 'aynin lammah.
I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from every devil and every poisonous creature, and from every harmful envious eye.
Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 3371 .
When to read: The Prophet (peace be upon him) would say this to seek protection for al-Hasan and al-Husayn, noting that Ibrahim sought refuge for Ismail and Ishaq with the same words. Commonly said by parents over their children.
Hadith text and grading above are shown as supplied by their source. HikmahBridge does not grade Hadith itself. See Sources & Methodology.
FAQ
Is the "evil eye" a real thing in Islam?
Yes - the Prophet (peace be upon him) affirmed that the evil eye is real (Sahih al-Bukhari 5740, Sahih Muslim 2187). The response is the seeking of refuge above, and asking someone suspected of it to make wudu and give the water to the affected person, as reported in the Sunnah. It is not a licence for suspicion or blame.
Can I write these on paper and wear them?
Scholars differ on amulets even of Qur-an; many discourage it to avoid resembling forbidden charms. The agreed practice is to recite, not to wear.
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