Evil eye

views updated

Evil eye. The eye is widely believed to have the power to convey mischief or damage, and is then known as the evil eye. According to Jewish sages, Sarah cast the evil eye (Heb., ayin raʾah or ayin ha-ra) on Hagar (Gen. R. 45. 5), as did Joseph's brothers on Joseph (Gen. R. 84. 10). In Islam, the evil eye (Arab., ʿayn) can take effect even without the intention of the person possessing it, causing harm or death to human beings or animals, damage to crops or goods, etc.

This whole concept is disapproved of by orthodox Islam since it seems to deny or bypass the absolute divine power and decree, but it is virtually impossible to eradicate, and survives today in folklore, on the fringes of religion and medicine.

More From encyclopedia.com