in the languages of these cultures. In Arabic, it
can be al-ayn, “the eye,” al-nazra, “the look,” or
al-hasad, “envy.” In Persian, it is known as chashm
zakhm, “the eye that wounds,” or chashm shur,
“the salty eye.” A child, a nursing mother, a valu-
able farm animal, a fruitful agricultural field, a
plate of good food, or a valuable possession (such
as a car or truck, a machine used in making a liv-
ing, a business, or a home) can provoke feelings of
jealousy or inadvertently attract envious glances
from passersby, neighbors, friends, or competitors
and opponents. Once such a person’s envious eye
looks at or “hits” its target, it can cause it serious
harm. If the victim is a person, especially a male
child, it can cause illness, an accident, or even
death. The milk of a lactating woman, a goat, or
a cow may stop flowing. A field can suffer crop
damage. A car or machine might be destroyed or
damaged in an accident or suffer a breakdown.
One’s business or home might burn down. Prais-
ing someone or something, even with the best of
intentions, is thought to make the object of praise
even more susceptible to the malevolent effects of
the envious eye.
Within such a belief system, a number of
preventive devices and remedies are available.
The most common is to place a colorful piece
of jewelry, often a blue and white bead, on the
person or possession to deflect “the look.” An
amulet containing the name of God or a verse
from the qUran also has apotropaic power.
Many people hang or paint verses of the Quran
in their businesses and homes or on their cars
and trucks. Among the parts of the Quran usu-
ally employed for such purposes are the basmala
(Q 1:1), the Fatiha (Q 1), the Throne Verse (Q
2:255), and the last two chapters of the Quran,
known as “the protection-seeking ones” (Q 113
and 114). In fact, Q 113 implores God’s protec-
tion “from the evil of the envier when he envies.”
A copy of the whole Quran is also believed to
offer protection.
Similarly, in everyday speech, people utter
formulaic phrases containing God’s name, such
as smallah, “in the name of God,” ma shaa Allah,
“whatever God wills,” or Allah akbar, “God is
greater.” One popular incantation used against the
evil eye states, “In the name of God I cast a spell
to protect you from everything that may harm
you; from every envious eye. In the name of God
I cast a spell to protect you, and may God heal
you from every harmful person or eye.” There
are many other methods used for deflecting the
eye. Among them is “dispraise.” For example,
instead of praising a cute or beautiful baby, well-
wishers instead will tell the parents how ugly the
child is. Proud parents will interpret such expres-
sions as compliments. Other protective measures
include disguising male infants as females, leaving
them unwashed, and calling them by unflatter-
ing names. Images of outstretched hands are also
thought to provide protection. With a new home,
business, vehicle, or machine, it is not unusual for
the owners to sacrifice an animal and make hand
imprints with its blood in a visible place on the
new possession. Burning incense and consulting
with male and female magicians are other mea-
sures people use for protection from the evil eye.
See also amUlets and talismans; animals;
baraka; children.Further reading: Alan Dundes, ed., The Evil Eye: A
Casebook (Madison: University of Wisconsin Press,
1981); Amitav Ghosh, “Reflections of Envy in an Egyp-
tian Village.” Ethnology 22 (1983): 211–233; Edward
Westermarck, Ritual and Belief in Morocco, 2 vols. (New
York: University Books, 1968).exegesis See tafsir.
exegesis 221 J