Does the evil eye strike immediately, or can it be delayed?

The evil eye is real, and its effect on the afflicted is like that of a physical assault. This effect varies in strength, weakness, speed, and slowness, depending on how strongly the evil eye caster's soul adapts to the malevolent state.

Ibn Al-Qayyim believes that only someone devoid of human reality would deny the effect of the envious person on the envied. This is the origin of being afflicted by the evil eye, for the envious soul adapts to a malevolent state and affects the envied. He likened this to a snake that emits its venom when facing its enemy. The evil eye can cause a miscarriage or blind a person.

The evil eye consists of arrows that emerge from the soul of the envious person or the evil eye caster; they may strike or miss. If they find the afflicted person exposed, they affect him. But if they find him fortified, they do not affect him, and they may even rebound upon the caster. The origin of the evil eye is the caster's admiration for something, followed by a malevolent soul that uses a glance at the afflicted person. A person may cast the evil eye upon himself or upon others without intention.

Therefore, a Muslim must strive to mend his heart and avoid envy, and he should adorn his blessings with the shields of gratitude to ward off the treachery of the envious.