It is a common habit amongst many Muslims to say 'Māshā'Allah' (Allāh has Willed it) when
It is a common habit amongst many Muslims to say 'Māshā'Allah' (Allāh has Willed it) when we see the blessings of Allāh being bestowed upon others, believing it will protect them from evil eye. However, this is not correct as Shaykh Badr al-ʿUtaybī حفظه الله explains. When it comes to our own blessings and ourselves we should say 'Māshā'Allah' but when it comes to the blessings of others, the Sunnah is that we should ask Allāh to bless it/them, with phrases such as 'Allāhumma Bārik' and 'BārakAllāhu Lahu' and so on, because the Prophet ﷺ instructed the Muslim, if he sees something with his Muslim brothers that he admires, to pray for barakah (blessings) for them.
He ﷺ said in a ḥadīth:
إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمْ مِنْ أَخِيهِ مَا يُعْجِبُهُ، فَلْيَدْعُ لَهُ بِالْبَرَكَةِ
"If one of you sees something with his brother that he admires, let him pray for blessing (barakah) for him."
[Sunan Ibn Mājah, 3509]
Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr رحمه الله said:
وفي قول رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: (أَلَا بَرَّكْت) دليل: على أن العين لا تضر ولا تعدو إذا برك العائن، وأنها إنما تعدو إذا لم يبرك؛ فواجب على كل من أعجبه شيء أن يبرك، فإنه إذا دعا بالبركة، صرف المحذور لا محالة، والله أعلم
"The words of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ: 'Did you not pray for barakah (blessings) for him?' indicates that the evil eye does not cause any harm if the one who looks at a thing prays for barakah for it; it can only cause harm if he does not offer supplication. So what is required of everyone who admires a thing is to pray for barakah for it. If he prays for barakah, that will inevitably ward off what is feared of harm. And Allāh knows best."
[Al-Tamhīd, 6/240-241]
