I'm so grateful I have all of this written down. It all started when I was burning palo santo and my dad told me to put it out because he hates the smell. He pulled out a bag of Arab incense and started to light some up instead.
Growing up, I always saw my family use bukhoor, lead (rsas/رصاص), harmal seeds (الحرمل) and alum (shabba/الشبة) with Qur'an and dua (prayer) to remove the evil eye. I've had it done on me a number of times, but I never memorised them or recorded them. This is when I started asking questions and writing stuff down!
Have I heard of using bukhoor as a way to remove the evil eye? In my culture, yes. This is common amongst Arabs and it's known that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) loved using incense for the scent. However, these scents and resins are used as part of traditional medicine.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar mentions in ‘Fath al-Bari’ that some exorcists will warm an axe on fire and after cooling it down they will rub it on the patient. Some of these methods are from the prophetic way, while others are from traditional medicine (Source: Seekers Path).
Some may call these innovations, others will refer to it as traditional/local medicine mixed with what is known as the ultimate tool to remove bad entities: the Qur'an. I'll leave it to you to decide.
Before I start with the techniques, here are two duas you can use:
بسم الله أرقيك ,من كلّ شيء يؤذيك ,من شر كلّ نفس أو عين حاسد ,الله يشفيك, بسم الله أرقيك
Bismillahi arqeek, min kulli shay’in yu’dheek, min sharri kulli nafsin aw ‘aynin haasid, Allaahu yashfeek, Bismillaahi arqeek.
With the Name of Allah, I recite over you (to cleanse you) from all that troubles you, and from every harmful mischief and from the evil of the eyes of an envier. Allah will cure you; and with the Name of Allah, I recite over you.
The next one isn't from the Sunnah but it's one my aunt used to recite over me:
حسد حاسد وحجر يابس وشهاب قابس في عين كل حاسد
Hassudun hasid, wa hajurun yabis wa shab qabis fe kul ain hasid
May the envy of the envious form as a dry stone and a shooting star in the eye of every inflicter of the evil eye.
Here are two techniques I've grown up with and FINALLY have the instructions:
Burning alum on harmal seeds:
1. Using a bukhoor burner (mine is electric), heat harmal seeds until they start to pop.
While you're doing this, recite Surat al Fatiha, Ayat al Kursi, Surat al Falaq, Surat al Nas, along with the bismillah arqeeq dua. Recite the hasudun hasid, or any other dua of your choice. You can even start with Ruqiya Shariya and continue throughout the process.
2. Once the harmal seeds feel warm enough (at least 3 minutes), place the alum over the seeds. Let the alum burn and melt. You can either stay quiet or recite Qur'an during this step. Keep the bukhoor burner going because you need the heat.
3. Poke the harmal seeds to stop them from drying up (this inhibits the melting of the alum), or add more seeds. You can also fan the bukhoor burner to encourage the process.
4. You'll see the alum melt and harden. Sometimes you can even see distinctive hints of facial features of the person/people giving you the eye. I don't think you should delve too much into this step. Just trust it's working and keep praying.
5. Once the alum has melted into the harmal and has formed a hard-ish substance, the process is over. Dispose of everything.
Using led to remove the evil eye. This doesn't have Islamic roots, but it's something that was done during the Ottoman Empire (which is probably why it's common in Palestine). I've had this done on me when I was younger and I've seen it done on family with lots of Qur'an.
Throughout the whole process, recite recite Surat al Fatiha, Ayat al Kursi, Surat al Falaq, Surat al Nas, along with the bismillah arqeeq dua as a minimum.
1. Prepare a bowl of lukewarm water between your feet and start melting the lead inside a spoon.
2. Once melted, quickly pour the lead into the bowl and let a shape form. Some people analyse the shape, whereas others ignore it.
3. Repeat the process with the same lead, with the bowl staying between your feet.
4. Hold the bowl above your head and ask someone to melt the same lead again as they pour it into the bowl of water which is now placed on top of your head.
5. Keep the lead in the water and dispose of the whole thing outside.
After either of these two processes, Ruqiya Shariah is recited, which I always find funny because that's the specific Prophetic way to removing the evil eye.
Personally, because water is so receptive to the vibration around it, I like to recite Qur'an/prayers/Ruqiya Shariah over water (sometimes I'll put a recording next to the water) and drink the charged water to ingest the blessings.
Peace, love and blessings to you all! x