The Ruling on Ruqyah for Animals and Inanimate Objects

If the object of envy is an animal, some property, a house, crops, a car, or the like, the ruqyah should be recited in the house or over the crops. If possible, the animal should be held while the ruqyah is recited over it. One may also blow into one’s palms while reciting the protective surahs and then wipe the animal with them. This will suffice, and the animal will recover by Allah’s leave. This is far more beneficial than hanging up things that may lead to shirk. Allah Most High knows best.

The basis for this is that ruqyah applies generally and is not restricted to human beings; any claim of exclusivity can be established only by evidence. The evil eye may afflict a human being, an animal, or a house. One who admires his garden has been instructed to say, “What Allah has willed! There is no power except with Allah,” so that it will not be afflicted by the evil eye.

It is also narrated from Suhaym ibn Nawfal that he said: “We were with Abdullāh, comparing copies of the Quran, when a Bedouin girl came to one of us and said, ‘So-and-so has struck your colt with his evil eye. It is reeling around in circles; it neither eats nor drinks, nor does it urinate or pass dung. Find someone to perform ruqyah for it.’ Abdullāh replied, ‘We will not seek anyone to perform ruqyah for it. Rather, go to it, blow into its right nostril four times and into its left nostril three times, and say: “There is no harm. Remove the affliction, O Lord of mankind. Heal, for You are the Healer; none can remove harm except You.”’ The man arose and left. Before we had departed, he returned and said to Abdullāh, ‘I did as you instructed me, and I did not leave until it had eaten, drunk, urinated, and passed dung.’” (1)

This is an explicit report concerning the treatment of animals, but it is weak, and the point is established by other evidence.