There was a time when abundance demanded an audience. New homes were paraded through open doors, gold caught the sun on unashamed wrists, and success spoke loudly, almost defiantly, in public spaces. To possess was not enough; one had to be seen possessing. Material achievement became a language of arrival, proof that one had crossed some invisible threshold into worthiness. Pride wore itself openly, believing admiration to be harmless, even deserved. But something subtle has changed. Today, prosperity often lowers its voice. It tucks itself away behind muted colors, private celebrations, and carefully cropped photographs. The same success that once demanded validation now seeks concealment. Not out of humility alone, but out of caution. A fear lingers—ancient yet newly awakened—the fear of the evil eye, of envy that bruises blessings, of unseen forces stirred by too much display.
In a world hyperconnected by screens, where comparison travels faster than joy, admiration easily curdles into resentment. A single image can invite thousands of silent witnesses, each carrying their own longing, grief, or unmet desire. What was once celebration now feels like provocation. And so people learn to protect their joy by hiding it.
We no longer announce good news immediately. We wait. We no longer post everything we own or achieve. We blur backgrounds, avoid tags, and downplay milestones. Wealth dresses simply. Happiness becomes private. Even gratitude is whispered, as though loud thanksgiving might tempt loss.
The evil eye, whether believed as superstition or understood metaphorically, has come to represent the vulnerability of joy in the presence of unchecked envy. It is the recognition that not all eyes wish us well, and not all attention is benign. In acknowledging this, people have grown more guarded, more intentional about what they reveal and what they hide.
Yet there is some ugliness in this restraint. With concealment, possessions lose their performative role and success sticks to the person who was supposed to perforate a part of it to the community.
In today’s world, many people have become so fearful of the *evil eye* that they shape their entire behavior around avoiding it. Consider praising someone’s capacious House. He/she would immediately say ‘Oh please. It’s just four walls, a roof, and crushing maintenance stress. Honestly, I miss my old leaking ceiling.” Similarly if someone spends a good vacation he would call it a very long, very exhausting and a very expensive work trip to the Maldives. Call a baby, cute and his mother would immediately call him a difficult child. The girl child (or koeri bache in kashmiri) is put on display on whatsapp and facebook and the sons don’t get introduced until they begin their school. Similarly a newly married young and romantic couple would call marriage the biggest fassad that has (not) happened to them. They say,”Relax, it’s not happiness. It’s just two people arguing about food every day.”
Generally speaking, people pretend to be miserable, unsuccessful and unwell and hide their blessings, or downplay the good in their lives—not out of humility, but out of fear. They believe that if others see them as successful, shining, blooming, growing, prospering or progressing, harm will surely follow. While Islam does teach that the evil eye is real and can affect a person, it also teaches something far more powerful: nothing can harm or benefit us except by the permission of Allah. The Prophet taught us precautions, not paranoia. Evil eye may be real but not necessarily with the interpretation we assume. We seem to extend the realm of evil eye far beyond its field of gravity.
Prophet Yusuf was the most handsome man yet he never developed a skin disease on that account. So was Prophet Moses quite tall and strong, yet he never fell ill for that reason. Prophet Ibrahim had a vast livestock, silver, and gold and so was Solomon, famed for immense wealth, wisdom and a unique kingdom.
Allah is the One who distributes provisions, health, trials, and ease. Each person’s share in blessings of life—whether in health, wealth, success, beauty, longevity, progeny and also in hardship of all sorts is part of a divine plan crafted with perfect justice and wisdom. Our blessings are not fragile ornaments that collapse under someone’s gaze nor do we remain in the state of misery forever. Islam encourages gratitude and humility rather than concealment through falsehood.
I wonder why do the people fearing evil eye not fear how they will be penalized on account of skipping the Salah, undoing the fast, ceasing the charity, not observing the modesty in behavior, not fulfilling satisfactorily the obligations at work place and back home and N number of other responsibilities whether moral, social, religious, domestic, professional or personal. Why is evil eye the only evil.
If an affliction is destined to reach a person, it will do so regardless of his precautions and calculations. Conversely, if something good or great is intended for a person, no amount of envy or evil intent can prevent it happen. What misses us is what was not due or deserved yet what has to reach us will reach us any way. Divine schemes of distribution do not come through human strategies nor through Hit and trial mode but right on the target at the specific space-time coordinates.
There is a well-known Urdu couplet
“Muddai lakh bura chahe tuo kya hota hai, wahi hota hai jo manzoor-e-khuda hota hai”
Meaning, if a thousand adversaries wish ill, only that will happen which is ordained by God.
The eye is a passive receptor of light. If there were any evil to be swapped among eyes, it would be carried by the photons received by the person trying to create a curse by glaring. Imagine what would happen if you tried to cast your evil eye upon the sun: guess who ends up getting burned? (LOL)
Dr. Qudsia Gani, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Physics, Govt. Degree College, Pattan