The Evil Eye and Cultural Beliefs among the Bedouin Tribes of the Negev, Middle East [1

[1] This paper was presented at the International Conference on Health and Illness in Middle East Societies, 11 June 2002, at the Department of Middle East Studies, Ben-Gurion University, Israel.

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Abstract

This paper examines Bedouin attitudes and practices relating to the evil eye as a cause of misfortune. The evil eye is perceived by the Bedouin as one of the most dangerous forces that can interfere in their lives, and they invest much energy in a variety of methods to counteract it. This paper seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the phenomenon by describing the rituals of diagnosis, treatment and prevention among the Bedouin tribes of the Negev in the Middle East.

The evil eye can bring a man to his grave, and a camel to the cooking pot (Arab-Bedouin saying).

The evil eye is like a light. You can see it, feel it, be affected by it, or affect others by means of it. It can cause harm or even death in large numbers, but you never succeed in holding it in your hands. This is the will of Allah (Bedouin saying).

Acknowledgements

The author is grateful to Anita Nudelman, Clinton Bailey, Emanuel Marx, Gedoen Kressel and Ann Gardner for helpful suggestions and comments in the course of preparing this article, and also for the suggestions and comments of the two readers.

Notes

[1] This paper was presented at the International Conference on Health and Illness in Middle East Societies, 11 June 2002, at the Department of Middle East Studies, Ben-Gurion University, Israel.

[2] Nafs has many meanings, including “soul,” “spirit,” “psyche,” “self,” “desire,” “appetite” and “covetousness” (see Sviri 2002, 195–215).

[3] ‘Aradh: In some cases you only see him, and that means that he ‘aradh lak (“crossed your path and caused you bad luck”). The term ‘aradh derives from the Arabic word ‘ird—which means “spirit,” “soul” or “one's self.” Al-‘Irrid means the man who brings evil or mischief to people (al-Munjid fi al-Lugha wal-‘Alam 1975 , 498). In this context, it means that the impure spirit of that person crossed your path and caused you bad luck and misfortune.

[4] Shabbih: alum, is either potash alum, potassium aluminium sulphate or ammonia alum. During the British Mandate in Palestine, there was a sulphur quarry in al-Mashabbih south-east of Gaza (in the territory of al-Hanajra clan), which produced shabbih for all of Palestine, and some of it was also exported.