Many people believe in the evil eye in Morocco: according to a 2012 Pew Research study, up to 80% of the population would accept the existence of some type of personal curse, making it the third country in the world with the highest acceptance of this belief (only behind Tanzania and Tunisia). And this despite Morocco being a predominantly Muslim country (and widely practicing), and Islam expressly forbidding witchcraft and superstition. But what exactly does this belief consist of? What do people do to protect themselves from it? In these lines we provide some insights on the matter.
The Evil Eye in Morocco
The evil eye in Morocco is identified by the name al-ayn and refers to the curse that a person could receive simply by suffering a malevolent or envious gaze (or any other interaction, such as excessive praise) from someone who possesses that negative energy. Among the consequences of this supposed curse are bad luck, illness, or even death. And people especially vulnerable to it would be pregnant women and babies (due to lacking natural energetic defenses), although in reality no one would escape its effects.
It is difficult to know what the origin of this concern about the evil eye and amulets is, but it could be a ‘legacy’ of the civilization Berber or Amazigh, so important in this country and throughout the Maghreb, a people who ended up accepting the Muslim religion after the conquest of this territory in the 7th century but who may have maintained a series of popular beliefs deeply rooted in their culture.
Methods to Protect Against the Evil Eye in Morocco
Having identified the evil, those who believe in the evil eye in Morocco also strive to find the remedy. And that’s where amulets come into play, which would have the objective of protection against ayn, making those envious and malevolent gazes have no effect on the wearer. Below we mention some of the most widespread amulets:
- The Hand of Fatima: also known as khamsa, which means ‘five’, in reference to the five fingers of the hand. It is a protective symbol intertwined with Islam, as it would be a reference to the daughter of Muhammad, to whom a special benevolent energy is attributed
- The Blue Eye or Nazar: it consists of several concentric rings of dark blue, light blue, white, and dark blue, often combined with the Hand of Fatima, positioned inside it. It can be worn as a pendant or medallion, and would have the ability to absorb the envy projected toward the wearer
- Henna: these tattoos with natural ink cover the body with the most imaginative design patterns, especially on women, and their designs can include symbols against the evil eye. In fact, it is a ritual associated with brides on their ‘henna night’ before the wedding, which would help combat any curse against the marriage she is about to enter
- Healing Herbs: this last method of protection is more of a ‘healing’ one, meaning it is applied to someone who believes they have been a victim of the evil eye. It is normally performed through fumigation, burning plants such as rosemary or laurel in authentic purification rituals
Given the popularity of all these amulets, you will easily find jewelry, home accessories, clothing items, tiles or other objects with these protective symbols. So if you also believe in the evil eye or at least want to give it the benefit of the doubt, you can consider them a good purchase in the souk shops or in the markets of the medina.
