Thread by @aaolomi

The evil eye is a malevolent force that disrupts, harms, and damages through gaze alone. It is a pre-Islamic concept part of the wider Mediterranean, Middle East and South Asia and still widespread today

A thread on the evil eye-

Classically, the evil eye was described as a sort of supernatural poison directed by the eyes. It becomes incorporated into Islams and is referenced in the hadiths, likely an integration of pre-Islamic belief into the spreading religion.

Called al ayn or chesm nazar, the evil eye is said to spring from envy or malice. It can be simultaneously intentional or unintentional. Jawziyya argued that the source of the evil eye is the soul.

It is described as a piercing gaze or a hungry gaze that attempts to swallow up

It is described as either poison that toxifies something good (health, wealth, luck) or as a “rays” like the sun that dry up the fecundity of your good fortune.

Some people are said to be born with the power of the evil eye while others are said to cultivate it as a supernatural power.

The jinn themselves were said to have their own evil eye. A jinn who falls in love with a person could afflict them with it.

As a result it is often associated with sihr or sorcery and the possession of the evil eye can be a marker that a person is born with a sorcerous disposition or abilities.

There is some implication that the evil eye can be inherited.

Though envy & malice are said to be the wellspring of it, it can also be unconscious and the person who directs the evil eye doesn’t even mean it or realize it.

It is occasionally preceded by some form of praise

“Oh you have such a lovely home” or “Your child is so beautiful”

The ubiquitous belief in the evil eye has produced an assortment of protections, the most common being the evil eye charm. An amuletic blue eye that can be a wall decoration, necklace, bead, and is usually fashioned of blue glass (plastic is common now too) or occasional red.

For example pinning a small evil eye bead to the bed of a baby is a common practice to protect the child.

Stores, shops, and homes are also decorated with wonderfully elaborate evil eye charms. These eye charms have fused with hasma or hand of Fatima talismans as well

Eye charms are quite ancient in the region, with examples of the Egyptian and Greek eye charms dating back to antiquity.

The blue color could perhaps stem from an ancient theory that blue eyed people could inflict the evil eye so the charm is reflective, it can also stem from the treatment of the evil eye as a sort of “hot” ray and so blue cools. It could also be entirely for material reasons.

Verbal protections are also common. Mashallah, or similar blessings are invoked before or after praise. This can be done to block the power of the evil eye, but socially is also a marker by the person doing the praising that they have no hidden ill-will.

Other prayers include invocation of the Qur’an: The Throne verse, Sura al Falaq are commonly used.

Quran 67: 3 - 4 is also used.

In one example, a caravan was traveling and one man who infamously had the evil eye, gazed at a she-camel who promptly collapsed. The owner then recited Qur’an 67:3-4 to heal the creature and the eyes of the other man fell out!

While charms and invocations are used to ward off the evil eye, bodily washing done with prayers or herbal mixtures can heal the evil eye once it has infected a person.

Incense is also commonly used, burning of rue seeds can cleanse a person or place. In the Persianate world it is accompanied by rhyming verse.

In the Turkic tradition the seeds are hung in a cloth bag.

Children are particular susceptible to the evil eye and so there are many folk practices aimed at protecting them.

Alum beads hung from a bed, or kohl lining the eyes, or smeared on the forehead. (Sometimes indigo)

Interesting kohl is both used both for protection and to cultivate the power of the evil eye.

Older women are said to be uniquely gifted in healing the evil eye & a common practice for a young child afflicted was to put them under the care of their grandmother. It was even said salt from a righteous grandma (or a righteous widow) was powerful in curing evil eye

The evil eye is an ancient belief that not only survived but is an example of a global folk belief. Through historical contact we find it in Latin American folk practices & as a feature of popular culture.

I’ll post threads on the evil eye & folk practices in the future