What is the ruling on destroying a golden necklace that has a plastic eye used to ward off envy, and does the ruling differ if the intention of use is not corrupt?
Using a necklace to ward off the evil eye is polytheism (shirk) and is among the amulets forbidden by Islamic law. Those who believe this must be advised and guided to the legal ruling. Destroying the necklace depends on whether it has another benefit:
1. That which has no benefit: It is permissible for one who is able to destroy it, provided it does not lead to a greater evil. 2. That which can be utilized for a permissible purpose: It is not permissible to destroy it; rather, it should be utilized, and the disobedient person should be prevented from using it for forbidden things.
Condemning evil has degrees: The first is that it ceases and is replaced by its opposite, and the second is that it diminishes. Both of these are permissible. However, if it is replaced by something similar, then it is a matter of ijtihad (independent reasoning), and if it is replaced by something worse, then it is forbidden. If the necklace is solely for adornment without any belief (of warding off evil), then it is permissible for women, and it is not permissible to destroy it.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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