…and from the evil of the envier when he envies.’ The envier is the person who longs for the disappearance of another’s blessing; whenever he sees someone favored, he boils with resentment and wishes that favor to vanish—an act of envy and aggression, may Allah protect us. This trait ranks among the most blameworthy because it challenges Allah’s decree and harms His creatures. Included here is the one who gives the evil eye, for an evil eye is simply a form of envy. Hence you seek refuge in Allah from all such harms. This proves that istiadha (seeking refuge) is an act of worship that must never be directed to anyone but Allah; whoever seeks refuge in a creature has committed shirk. The Prophet ﷺ told Abdullah b. Abbas: ‘When you seek help, seek it from Allah.’ (23) In His words: ‘Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, the King of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of the slinking whisperer who whispers within the breasts of mankind, whether he be of the jinn or of humankind’ (al-Nas 114:1-6), Allah commands us to take refuge in the Lord, the King, and the God of people…