Ayn refers to the harm caused when someone looks at something with  admiration, often accompanied by jealousy or a strong desire, without invoking Allah’s blessings by saying “Maa sha Allah.” This gaze can disrupt the Barakah (blessings) of the admired object, person, or situation. Some people may unintentionally transmit Ayn more easily due to the intensity of their admiration and unspoken desire.

Ayn can also come from a collective gaze, where the combined effect of admiration or envy from multiple people has a stronger impact. Although Ayn is not the same as Sihr (black magic), its effects can sometimes be similar, making a person feel drained or affected in ways that resemble the effects of Sihr.

Due to these similarities, Ruqya (spiritual healing) often includes treatment for Ayn alongside other remedies, helping to alleviate the symptoms caused by this harmful gaze.

One way to know if a person is affect with Sihr or Ayn, the effect of Ayn will be immediate while the effects of Sihr will take a long time to affect the person, sometimes months or years.