A dispute arose between a man and his cousin, and they quarreled and boycotted each other for a year, knowing that both men are approaching eighty years of age. Is there any advice for them?

The questioner : A dispute arose between a man and his cousin because the other said to this man: "You—using the colloquial term—you cast the evil eye on me." It has been more than a year, and they are boycotting each other, knowing that both men are approaching eighty years of age?

The Shaykh : It is obligatory for a Muslim not to boycott his brother for more than three days, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): The claim that he was afflicted by the evil eye, meaning that he cast it on him, may be false and one of the illusions that Satan casts into his heart. If it is possible that the suspicion is valid, then the second brother should do what pleases the first, such that he performs wudu, washes his private parts, and collects the water that splashes from him so that the one claiming to be afflicted by the evil eye can use it. This does no harm; that is, it does no harm for the one accused of casting the evil eye to do this. Perhaps Allah will place good and relief in that. However, I advise this man and others to be wary of the illusions that Satan casts into the heart of a person. Many people, when they feel the slightest illness, say: "This is the evil eye," "This is sorcery," or the like. These illusions develop until they become knots in their minds, and then they become a real illness. How often a person is made ill by illusions that develop in his heart until they evolve and become a reality. If a person neglects a matter, turns away from it, and distracts himself from it, it will disappear by the permission of Allah. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the one who feels bad thoughts in himself that may take a person out of the religion to seek refuge in Allah and stop doing so. The Companions complained to him that they find in their hearts what they would prefer to fall from the sky or be burnt charcoal rather than speak of. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: In another hadith, he said: Then he ordered that a person should seek help from Allah and stop the illusions that have occurred in his heart. Yes.

The questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh.