Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Strings, rings, charms, or similar objects worn with the intention of protection from the evil eye, magic, or harm fall under the category of amulets that Islamic teachings prohibit. A Muslim is commanded to attach his heart to Allah and to believe that benefit and harm are in His hands alone.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever hangs an amulet has committed shirk.”
Narrated by Ahmad.
The ruling differs according to what a person believes about it.
If a person believes that the amulet itself can independently bring benefit or ward off harm apart from Allah, this is major shirk, because he has attributed to something other than Allah an independent power to bring benefit or cause harm.
However, if he believes that Allah alone is the One who brings benefit and causes harm, but regards the amulet as a means of protection from the evil eye or magic, even though neither Islamic teachings nor proven physical causes establish it as such a means, then this is minor shirk. This is because he has treated something as a cause when it has not been established as a legitimate religious or physical cause.
For this reason, Islam is keen to prevent the heart from becoming attached to such objects and superstitions and directs the Muslim instead toward trusting Allah and seeking His help.
If these strings or charms are commonly known among people as things worn for protection from the evil eye, magic, or similar harms, they should not be worn even if a person says that he does not believe in them and wears them only as a custom.
The Prophet ﷺ instructed people to remove objects worn for such purposes and did not regard the continuation of these customs as permissible.
The Prophet ﷺ once saw a man wearing a brass ring on his arm to ward off illness. He ordered him to remove it and said:
“Remove it, for it will only increase you in weakness.”
Narrated by Ibn Majah.
Moreover, wearing something widely recognized as an amulet may give others the impression that such beliefs are valid and may contribute to their continuation and spread.
What is prescribed for a Muslim is to rely upon Allah, regularly recite the established remembrances and supplications, use legitimate Islamic ruqyah, and take permissible means of protection without becoming attached to strings, charms, or objects that Allah has not made a means of protection.
Wearing strings, charms, and amulets with the intention of warding off the evil eye or magic is not permissible.
If a person believes that they independently bring benefit or ward off harm, this constitutes major shirk. If he believes that they are merely a means of protection despite there being no religious or proven physical evidence establishing them as such, this constitutes minor shirk.
They should also be avoided even when worn merely as a custom without belief in them if they are commonly recognized as amulets used for protection from the evil eye or magic.
A Muslim must place his reliance and trust in Allah while using the legitimate means of protection prescribed in Islam.
And Allah knows best.