What is the origin of the evil eye pendants among Muslims?

Posted on July 3rd, 2009 by admin

In countries like Turkey and Iraq and other places they sell ‘evil eyes’, which are usually blue discs with a white circle and a black dot in the center. It’s meant to look like an eye and its purpose is to ward-off hased (envy), and I think magic too. I don’t believe in this trash of superstition but I wish to know more about it and what cultures have it. Thanks.

I once met a OLD MAN at a Greek Day Fest and we swore to me it’s a Greek "thing" the sailors use to keep eveil away… as long as it’s being watched evil can’t be done!

..as FOR MUSLIMS, what you spoke of Turkey and Iraq, This Hamsa hand, called a Hand of Fatima by Muslims and a Hand of Miriam among Jews, contains the eye motif that wards off the evil eye. Belief in the evil eye is found in Islamic doctrine, based upon the verse of the Qur’an, "And from the evil of the envier when he envies," [Chapter al-Falaq, verse 5]and the statement of Prophet Muhammad, "The influence of an evil eye is a fact…" [Sahih Muslim, Book 26, Number 5427] Authentic practices of warding off the evil eye are also commonly practiced by Muslims: rather than directly expressing appreciation of, for example, a child’s beauty, it is customary to say Masha’Allah, that is, "God has willed it", or invoking God’s blessings upon the object or person that is being admired. Aside from beliefs based upon authentic Islamic texts, a number of unsubstantiated beliefs about the evil eye are found in folk religion, typically revolving around the use of amulets or talismans as a means of protection.

.. as for the origin it’s a guess BUT he oldest instance of belief in the evil eye dates back to biblical Israel. There are many instances of people casting the evil eye (ayin hara) in both the Tanakh and the Talmud. Ashkenazi Jews in Europe and the Americas routinely exclaim Keyn aynhoreh! (also spelled Kein ayin hara!), meaning "No evil eye!" in Yiddish, to ward off a jinx after something or someone has been rashly praised or good news has been spoken aloud.

Predates Islam By a few centuries.

PEACE

16 Responses

  1. Shushanik G Says:

    yaa..
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  2. youreabird Says:

    ithink its from egyptian times ?
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  3. Geoff W Says:

    It originated from the old movie "the good, the bad and the ugly. Because Clint Eastwood’s stare is known to kill a man dead in his tracks
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  4. vtecpakiness Says:

    well im muslim and i have never seen a thing like this, it sounds pretty stupid to me
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  5. foofoo Says:

    As a Muslim, I hope I’m qualified to answer this question. It’s not necessarily magic but it is culturally based. Just as native americans have dream catchers, we have the evil eye. I’ve never questioned it’s presence and haven’t ever regarded it so don’t beat yourself up over it lol. =P Take care.
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  6. happygolucky Says:

    It is not a Muslim thing rather a middle eastern and Mediterranean thing. I am Greek(thus christian) and I have seen those sold everywhere. In kabbalah that is what the red sting is for…to ward off the evil eye. Here is more info http://ezinearticles.com/?What-is-the-Evil-Eye?&id=20447 .
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  7. Sina (روحي لفلسطين) Says:

    Just an other Bida’a made by You Shia’a
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  8. ElwoodsBrotherJake Says:

    I once met a OLD MAN at a Greek Day Fest and we swore to me it’s a Greek "thing" the sailors use to keep eveil away… as long as it’s being watched evil can’t be done!

    ..as FOR MUSLIMS, what you spoke of Turkey and Iraq, This Hamsa hand, called a Hand of Fatima by Muslims and a Hand of Miriam among Jews, contains the eye motif that wards off the evil eye. Belief in the evil eye is found in Islamic doctrine, based upon the verse of the Qur’an, "And from the evil of the envier when he envies," [Chapter al-Falaq, verse 5]and the statement of Prophet Muhammad, "The influence of an evil eye is a fact…" [Sahih Muslim, Book 26, Number 5427] Authentic practices of warding off the evil eye are also commonly practiced by Muslims: rather than directly expressing appreciation of, for example, a child’s beauty, it is customary to say Masha’Allah, that is, "God has willed it", or invoking God’s blessings upon the object or person that is being admired. Aside from beliefs based upon authentic Islamic texts, a number of unsubstantiated beliefs about the evil eye are found in folk religion, typically revolving around the use of amulets or talismans as a means of protection.

    .. as for the origin it’s a guess BUT he oldest instance of belief in the evil eye dates back to biblical Israel. There are many instances of people casting the evil eye (ayin hara) in both the Tanakh and the Talmud. Ashkenazi Jews in Europe and the Americas routinely exclaim Keyn aynhoreh! (also spelled Kein ayin hara!), meaning "No evil eye!" in Yiddish, to ward off a jinx after something or someone has been rashly praised or good news has been spoken aloud.

    Predates Islam By a few centuries.

    PEACE
    References :
    ** I Love when people thumbs you down, because they were to lazy to do their home work.
    ** Here’s another young man that’s states something about this a few hours later after THIS post.

  9. RAK Says:

    It is not Muslim,it has nothing to do with religion,in fact in Greece,Cyprus and Italy they have them.It is an evil eye catcher some people who are jealous have a "bad eye".It stems back to the time of the Egyptian Pharaohs
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  10. Layla~ Proud~ Muslimah Says:

    salaam
    the evil eye is cultural thing from turkey but sufis and some scholars say that there are three symbols that prevent you from shaytan
    the way we right Allah in arabic
    the evil eye
    and the cross
    its true according to some scholars but in general its just supersticion

    the evil eye or the allah pendants are worn for protection from people with an evil eye
    believe what you wanna believe
    your welcome
    peace outzz
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  11. jenn Says:

    This has nothing to do with Islam it is a cultural thing. In Islam we do not believe in trinkets and things like this we only believe in Allah(swt). The only power is Allah(swt).
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  12. Lila Says:

    That’s not religion, its culture. Culture is of course a lot older than religion so thats why people are still superstitious
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  13. asmaa Says:

    the evil eye takes away the bad eye of people
    they usually put it to new borns,so the bad eye of people don t hurt them
    when a person comes to look at u the eye attracj=ked them more than the person
    that s why it s blue
    the bad eye exist ,but does the evil eye help
    i don t know
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  14. Mintee Says:

    We as muslims are not to beleive in superstition and have trinkets like such to ward off things…
    We should just trust in Allah and be done with it..
    … having said this… I was in one of those off shoot shops once in Bahrain.. (im from Saudi).. and the whole shop was filled with charms, and such.. loads of blue ceramic eyes incased in gold, silver, lockets. necklases.. keychains etc.. It was weird to look at the jewelry case and see the eyes
    staring at you..
    …and something I’ll bet you never think about… Look at the US dollar bill.. one huge eyeball right on the pyramid… Is that suppose to be Gods eye?… Weird huh.. talk about supersitious…
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  15. leon a Says:

    It is more of a cultural and superstitious believe, unless it means to show to us that out of darkness, there is always a light to shine on all of us, to guide us to the right path, so don’t get despair and upset.
    References :

  16. person Says:

    when i was born my granmother sent one of those eyes for me. it is meant to remind me God is always watching
    References :

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