Where Medicine 'Fails': The Evil Eye and Childcare Beliefs among Rural Saraiki Mothers in Punjab, Pakistan
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ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Where Medicine ‘Fails’: The Evil Eye and
Childcare Beliefs among Rural Saraiki Mothers
in Punjab, Pakistan
Azher Hameed Qamar; Qurat-ul-Ain
Abstract medical interventions. This study brings to light
The study explores the evil eye belief the need for cultural competence of medical
practices among Saraiki mothers in a village in professionals while working in indigenous
South Punjab, Pakistan. This study unfolds three communities where modern medicine cannot work
aspects of the evil eye phenomenon; first, the if it is not gradually replacing or working in-line
‘diagnosis’ of the evil eye that constitute the with the folk medical beliefs. Key Words:
ineffectiveness of the available modern medicine, indigenous medicine, evil eye; magico-religious
second the socio-cultural nexus of folk medical beliefs; childcare beliefs
system and unmanageable or unexplained threats,
and third the protective and remedial practices that Introduction
disclose indigenous healthcare culture. Using Belief and belief practices are not
semi-structured interviews and interpretative independent of the socio-cultural contexts.
phenomenological analysis, five interviews were Healthcare beliefs particularly incorporate the
conducted and analyzed. Findings revealed the cultural cognition of the health-seeking
perceived failure of the available modern medicine phenomenon. The belief in the evil eye is
when the evil eye effects are diagnosed. People historically and culturally constituted across the
religiously believe in the evil eye and relate it with globe (Dundes, 1992; Qamar, 2016). Evil eye is
the feelings of envy that bring harm to the child by considered as the intentional or unintentional
resisting the effects of any medicine and internal overlooking something or someone out of envy or
immunity. The study concludes jealousy, hatred, jealousy. Similarities in the fear of evil eye and the
and deprivation as primary causes, and religious presence of a specific word for the evil eye in
and folk remedial practices provide a magico- many languages make the concept more universal.
religious shield allowing the effectiveness of other The phenomenon is interested as it situates the
status of a person as ‘the evil eye possessor’ and a
relative status of the victim (a person or an object)
Azher Hameed Qamar as vulnerable and exposed to harm for its social
Post-doc researcher, School of Social Work, Lund value (Abu-Rabia, 2005; Daniel and Stevans,
University, Sweden. 2003; Qamar, 2016). The cultural (and religious)
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Behavioural perception of the evil eye is linked with an ‘innate
Sciences, National University of Sciences and
evil’ that can bring harm through the eyes of the
Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan
Email: azher.hameed@live.com evil eye possessor (Abu-Rabia, 2005; Qamar,
2013). Hence, a wistful and envious glance may
Qurat-ul-Ain have powers to inflict injury, harm, and even death
E.S.E (Elementary School Educator) to those whom it falls. Children are physically
Govt. Girls High School Saggu Shumail, Kallurkot, vulnerable and exposed to the risk of the evil eye,
Bhakkar, Pakistan
particularly during infancy. Mothers, before and
Email: aainaqureshi540@gmail.com
after childbirth, are easy victims. Problems during
Received: June 13, 2020.
Accepted: August 15, 2020. pregnancy, infertility, abortion, dried breasts are
Conflict of interest: none. common effects that are supposedly caused by the
Social Medicine (www.socialmedicine.info) -87- Volume 14, Number 2, May - August 2021.evil eye. Fever, fatigue, lack of appetite, and Even though rejected by western science, the
drowsiness are common symptoms seen as effects power of ‘staring’ is seen carrying negative
of the evil eye (Abu-Rabia, 2005; Donaldson, energies that ultimately interprets the evil eye
1992; Qamar, 2018). phenomenon. Ross (2010) mentioned the
Using a qualitative research approach to electrophysiological basis of evil eye belief and
understand the phenomenon of the evil eye belief called this energy as ‘human ocular extramission’
practice and health-seeking behavior of the Saraiki that has the potential to affect the objects it falls.
mothers in rural Punjab, Pakistan, this study Freud relates the evil eye with negative emotions
provides a rich interpretation of the phenomenon, including envy and jealousy (Freud and Strachey,
identifying the symptoms of the evil eye and 1955). Envy or invidia (a Latin word for the sense
indigenous remedial practices. This study will help of envy) is a negative emotion describing the
the medical professionals and psychiatrists to uneasy feeling that we experience while observing
incorporate cultural competency while promoting the ‘valuable’ possession of others. Invidia
modern childcare practices in traditional societies. compels us to feel the pain of the deprivation that
is relative to another's possession. This behavioral
Literature Review script takes the social value of a person, animal, or
A definition of the evil eye relevant to this object into consideration and puts it at risk of envy
study is; “the evil eye is an ancient belief which from the people who are deprived of it. In this
can bring harm to the person under the effect of connection, the one who does not possess a
malevolent gaze when people have envious socially valued object or status may possess the
thoughts intentionally or unknowingly” (Berger, evil eye (Berger, 2013; Qamar, 2016). In-between
2013, p 785). the anthropological perspective (evil eye as a
Possible perspectives that interpret the evil worldview) and psychological perspectives (evil
eye belief are; the historical existence of the evil eye as paranoia) lies the complex internalized and
eye (Elworthy, 2003), the cross-cultural presence socio-cultural construction of the psycho-social
of the belief in the evil eye, the underlying basis of evil eye phenomenon.
phenomenon of the evil eye belief practice, and a Historically, different types of amulets in
psychological interpretation of the belief practice different shapes and colors (such as hand-shaped,
(Tourney and Plazak, 1954). Religious eye-shaped, phallus) were used to be protected
perspectives (such as Hinduism, Judaism, against the evil eye. Other protective measures
Christianity, and Islam) describe the evil eye as include strings with knots, tattoos, covering
innate and powerful behavior that can bring women and children, and hiding the things or
harm/damage to other living and non-living pleasures that may invoke envy (Juan, 2004;
objects; unless the human does not follow the Lewis, 2001; Malina, 2001; Webster, 2010). In the
religious directives (Aquaro, 2004; Bloomfield, contemporary world, people use various types of
1990; Goldin, 2010; Qamar, 2013; Ulmer, 1994). healing methods. In the societies where belief
In the Islamic perspective, envy and jealousy are practices are primarily influenced by the religion,
the Satanic devices that trigger the innate evil religious healing is prioritized over other folk
tendencies to bring harm. Jealousy was the first act methods without any absolute denial of these
of crime committed on the earth. The Quran gave methods. Religious healing involves religious
evidence of Adam and Eve when Satan was practices to seek relief and protection; for
jealous of them. Another is when Qabil murdered example, meditation, prayers, and ritual practices
Habil because of jealousy. Therefore, it is (Cullifored, 2002; Qamar, 2013, 2016).
repeatedly advised by the religious teachers to As the belief in the evil eye situates the social
read the last two chapters of the Holy Quran to complications and the individual status conflict in
protect ourselves from the envious people (Qamar, the socio-cultural nexus of possession and
2013). deprivation, this study unfolds the evil eye belief
Another metaphysical view on the evil eye as it emerges from the individual perceptions and
is the power of ‘overlooking’ that can initiate the experience. In this context this study pursues
negative emotions to meet the objective of following research questions;
bringing harm to others (Lykiardopoulos, 1981).
Social Medicine (www.socialmedicine.info) -88- Volume 14, Number 2, May - August 2021.● How do the Saraiki mothers in rural recorded with permission. To gain a rich
Punjab experience the effects of the evil interpretation of the participant-centered meanings
eye? of the experience grounded in their perceptions,
● How do they protect and heal themselves beliefs, and understanding, we used Interpretative
and the children? Phenomenological Analysis, IPA (Smith, 1996).
● How does the evil eye belief situate the After conducting interviews, audio data was
perceived limitation of modern medicines transcribed in Saraiki language to capture the
against the evil eye effects? original meanings in coding. Two researchers
separately coded the interviews and shared the
Research Methods codes to reach an inter-coder consensus. Thematic
Using a qualitative research design, this categories emerged from the codes and coded data.
study was conducted in a Saraiki village in South We sorted out significant statements
Punjab, Pakistan. The village has one Village corresponding to themes and translated them into
Health Centre (VHC) providing basic medical English. Significant statements were re-analyzed
care, two primary and one middle school. Farming in connection with relevant themes and
and agricultural labor are common professions. ambiguities were addressed going through data
Most of the people live in joint families. and codes.
Substantial modern healthcare facilities and
educational resources are not available. Hence, Findings
modern healthcare practices are not common. Findings report the evil eye belief as a
Popular religious healing methods are taweez common belief rooted in the religious and cultural
(amulets) and dum (incantations) used to heal and life of the Saraiki mothers. There are specific
protect against the ‘unexplained’ diseases and symptoms that are perceived to indicate the evil
threats. Different herbs are also used as folk eye effects on the human body. The perception
medicine. about the ill effects of the evil eye on the human
body is strong, and people believe that no
Data Collection and Analysis medicine can cure the body until the effects of the
Using a purposive sampling technique, we evil eye are not warded off with traditional healing
interviewed five mothers fulfilling the following methods. The perception of the evil eye belief is
inclusion criteria. closely connected to the health-seeking behavior
of the people. The causes and sources of any
● Saraiki mothers from the selected village ‘unexplained’ threat or disease trigger their belief
● Age range 30 to 40 years in the evil eye and the power of embodied invidia
● Belong to the Muslim community (envy) to bring harm.
● All the women were able to read the
Quran and prayers (that are in Arabic). The Evil Eye Belief: Sources and Causes
Following tables provide the themes and
In pre-interview meetings, all the participants significant statements from the data about the
were informed about the topic of the research, and perceptions about the evil eye, its causes and
informant consent was sought. They were assured sources that trigger it.
about the confidentiality of the data. For their Participants reported a religious basis of
comfort, they were interviewed at their homes on the belief in the evil eye and confirmed the belief
their availability. Participants’ names and any referring to the Quranic verses that they recited to
other information that might identify them were ward off the evil eye (as advised by the religious
not disclosed. teacher ‘imam’). One of the participants
In-depth semi-structured interviews were emphasized the belief as part of the religion, “An
conducted. An interview guide was prepared and evil eye can make us lifeless. Our Holy Prophet
revised after conducting a pilot interview. All the (peace be upon him) was inflicted with the evil
interviews were conducted in the Saraiki language eye. Believing in the evil eye is part of our
(the native language of the participants) at the religion.”
participants’ places (homes) and were audio-
Social Medicine (www.socialmedicine.info) -89- Volume 14, Number 2, May - August 2021.Table 1. The Evil Eye Belief As the data suggests, the belief in the evil
eye is grounded in the religious interpretation of
Themes Significant Statements the human innate evil providing a causative
Embodied Evil “Our religion Islam also says explanation of the loss or damage that occurs as
Envy /Jealousy that the evil eye is a reality” ‘unmanageable’ threats.
Religious belief “The evil eye is a power that The most common response from the
Explains the affects due to negative feelings
participants about the sources or causes of the evil
unexplained like envy and jealousy.”
“Envious people may attack eye was the feelings of jealousy and envy among
the things they are deprived of, deprived members of the family or the community.
intentionally or They reported that overlooking with a sense of
unintentionally.” deprivation is harmful as it emerges from the
“It is truth, how can a healthy wistfulness of the person. For example, one
baby suddenly get sick?” participant said;
“.. if someone has intelligent children who are
Table 2. Sources and Causes of the Evil Eye good in school and the children who wear
good clothes and have plenty to eat; some
Themes Significant Statements people are likely to be jealous and think about
their children in comparison and in
Envy and “Childless mothers can see our
desperation that can become the cause of the
jealousy children with desperation. That
evil eye.”
Hatred and causes the evil eye.”
“Anyone deprived of the Here, being envious is perceived as ‘the
aversion
Agony of children may have negative feelings of deprivation that a person has when
deprivation emotions towards other comparing his/her status of possession with
Evil eye children out of jealousy.” others’. Another participant reported, “When my
possessors “Pregnant mothers or new son was born, he was very beautiful. I once took
mothers are often afraid of him to a woman whose son had died a few days
childless women, who may after birth. When she saw my son, she started
possess the powers of the evil crying, and my son fell seriously ill.”
eye.”
“Sometimes some woman in
the relatives who is not happy
Symptoms / Effects
with the family possess the evil
eye because of her hatred.” The symptoms of the evil eye are seen in
connection with the effects that people observe
without any concrete reasons that they can
The strong belief in the evil eye has its medically rationalize. On the other hand, if a
roots in the religious presentation of ‘the evil’ that medicine or folk remedy (such as the use of herbs)
humans can hold and practice intentionally or does not work, it is seen as the effect of the evil
unintentionally. A human may have the potential eye, for example, a participant said,
to affect other human-beings or objects merely “A child inflicted with the evil eye cannot
with the power of the envy that he/she hold get relief with the medicine. It is an
because of his/her sense of deprivation. Even indication. Medicine will not work unless
though participants’ perceptions reveal the notion the evil eye is not warded off.”
of embodied evil that humans can practice Mostly the evil eye is seen as affecting the
bringing harm; interestingly, the power of the evil general health of the people. Broken sleep or loss
eye is relative, and the sense of deprivation is of sleep, headache, constant yawning, any kind of
connected with the conceptualization of the social pain, fever, depression, and weakness are mostly
value of the person or a thing. According to the considered the symptoms of the evil eye. Children,
participants, the belief in the evil eye gets stronger women during pregnancy and the postpartum
when it ‘explains’ the sudden tragedies that have period, and cattle are vulnerable and exposed to
no other rational explanation. the evil eye. Participants reported the sudden
sickness or unexpected harm, and failure of
Social Medicine (www.socialmedicine.info) -90- Volume 14, Number 2, May - August 2021.Figure 1. The Evil Eye Phenomenon
Explaining the Un-explained
Envy/
Jealousy
Embodied/ Evil Eye Possessor - Hatered/
Potentionaly Dangerous
Innat Evil Aversion
Agony of
Deprivation
Cultural/Religious Belief
medicines as symptoms of the evil eye. Irritation, the best source of protection against the evil eye.
crying, lack of hunger are the common effects of However, they also told about folk remedies.
the evil eye found in children. Similarly, the poor
or poisonous feed of the mother, and during Table 3. Symptoms and Effects of the Evil Eye
pregnancy miscarriage or death of a baby after on Children
birth are described as the effects of the evil eye.
Themes Significant Statements
Protection and Cure ● Fever “Fever, lack of sleep and hunger,
● Lack of sleep headache, and body pain are the
Two healing and protective remedies were
● Lack of effects that point to the evil eye.”
reported. First, the religious healing that is hunger When my child keeps on crying
dominant and practiced with religious feelings and ● Headache without any reason. I suspect the evil
expectations of divine efficacy. Second, the folk ● Body pain eye has inflicted him.”
healing (often named as tona), the protective and ● Crying “Children who are seen inflicted with
curative remedies being practiced and followed the evil eye have a fever; they cry a
generation after generation. Religious healing lot; they do not sleep and do not eat.”
requires the religious knowledge, and people “Under evil eye effects, elders usually
contact the religious teachers in the village or the feel severe body pain and headache.
spiritual leaders they follow. Folk healing is an Children do not feel comfortable and
do not eat properly.”
ancestor’s knowledge and family elders guide the
“Fever, crying, and refusing mother
procedure or practice themselves. All the feed is common when infants get
participants unanimously reported the use of inflicted with the evil eye.”
Islamic amulets (tawiz) and incantations (dum) as
Social Medicine (www.socialmedicine.info) -91- Volume 14, Number 2, May - August 2021.Figure 2. Hasar-e-Azeem (the complete Quranic protection)
Selection and
Recitation of
Quranic Verses
Repeating the Blowing on Hands
process for or water to transfer
perfection and Quranic healing
concentration
Moving hands or
sprinkinng water Touching the
ensuring the effected body with
complete body incanted hands or
under incantation water
Table 4. Protection and Cure against the Evil Religious healing.
Eye Religious healing is significant as it
directly addresses the religious foundation of the
Subthemes Significant Statements
belief in the evil eye. It is believed that there is
● Religious “Tawiz and incanted water is best to
healing in the Quran for those who believe.
healing protect against the evil eye and cure
● Folk healing its effects.” Recitation of the Quran is seen as the source of
protection against all kinds of evil effects
“My children have tawiz around their (Usmani, 2011). Hasar-e-Azeem (the complete
neck since infancy.” protection) is the procedure of Quranic incantation
“Black color is mostly used for the that participants reported as authentic medication.
protection of the evil eye, for The religious healing process that participants
example spotting the child’s forehead reported is as follows;
with kohl (kajal).” The religious healer recites verses from
the Quran, blows on hands, and moves hands
“Islamic remedies like an incantation
touching the whole body of the child. He repeats
(dum), taweez are used for both
protection and cure of the evil eye.” the process three times or more. Sometimes he
also recites verses on water and sprinkle it on the
“I use seven whole red chilies or a child, or the child drinks that water.
piece of Alum (phatkari). I move In this process (figure 2) touch of the
chilies or alum around the baby religious healer transfers the healing power to the
seven times and threw it in the fire. It sick body that healer is gaining while reciting
can ward off the evil eye if it is Quranic verses. Enchanted water is taken as a
there” medicine after the religious healer blows in it
while reciting Quranic verses.
Social Medicine (www.socialmedicine.info) -92- Volume 14, Number 2, May - August 2021.Even though the role of the religious Egyptians and Arabs believed that jealousy is the
healer is significant for a complete cure, however, damaging power. This power is transferred when
people who know how to recite the Quran the people admire valuables (assets or persons)
memories certain verses from the Quran and do with the feeling of envy (Mughazy, 2000).
self-incantation when they feel the effects of the Likewise, deprivation, the people have envy when
evil eye. Yet, for children, they seek help from they hate someone because of their status (social
religious healers (often the religious teachers in or economic) that create insecurities for them
the mosque). (Ansari, 2006). Sense of deprivation, jealousy, and
hatred are interconnected negative emotions that
Folk healing. emerge in the form of the belief in the evil eye
The folk healing method used by the (Figure 1). In this connection, the social value of
Saraiki mothers is composed of well-described the child in society has many facets including the
tona (local name for folk healing method) that higher status of the mother that significantly raises
they learned from their elders and follow in the social value of a woman. The notion of ‘social
ritualized settings. The use of red chilies and alum value’ provokes the jealousy, hatred, and agony of
(phatkari) is a common device that, if used as deprivation constituting the strong bases of the
described in traditions, can absorb the negative evil eye belief, and consequently the
effects of the evil eye. One participant described marginalization of the deprived persons as the
the process: ‘evil eye possessors’ that works to increase the
Moving seven red chilies or a piece of sense of deprivation.
phatkari around the baby’s head seven times, and
throwing it into the fire tell about the presence of Although the belief in the evil eye is a
the evil eye and also ward it off. If phatkari takes significant aspect of human behavior in traditional
the form of a human face-like shape after melting societies, there is a general lack of awareness
in the fire, it is the indication of the evil eye. The about several scientific medical reasons (such
chilies burning with no smell also indicate the evil quality of drinking water, hygiene, and maternal
eye effects. health) that makes the symptoms ‘unexplained’.
There are two interesting aspects of these Consequently, the cultural beliefs play their role in
folk methods. First, these methods diagnose and seeking a causative explanation in the form of the
cure at the same time, and folk healing disclose the evil eye. On the other hand, the ‘unexplained’
presence of the evil eye and cure it. Second, the threat of the evil eye is managed with a well-
ritual performer is not necessarily an expert (like a written health-seeking behavior script. Initiation of
religious healer). Anyone in the family who can a physical contact with the blessed object (tawiz or
follow the culturally prescribed steps can practice water) and with the affected body, on one hand,
folk healing. The people are more inclined to transfers the blessings of health from the object to
religious healing, and folk-healing methods are the body, and on the other hand, creates a ‘divine’
gradually diminishing. People do not show a firm shield that protects the body against the evil eyes.
confidence in folk healing now as they are Religious inspiration and cognitive pattern (that
confirmed about the religious healing, “It can perceives ‘contact’ as a medium to transfer health
work, or it may not. This is tona we have heard blessings) contribute to achieving internal
from our elders. However, we believe in religious satisfaction and synthesize the divine and
healing.” One participant said. operational efficacy of the protective and curative
remedy against the evil eye. Since in traditional
Discussion contexts religious behavior is an inseparable part
Freud explored the reasons that make of the human psyche and cannot be forced to
people feel powerful and explained the fear of refute in with ‘medical rationality’, it offers a
losing (the internal drives of deprivation or want) mode of health-seeking behavior that may be
associated with the feelings of envy that can bring useful while providing modern intervention and
harm to others (Freud and Strachey, 1955). The incorporating cultural competency according to
person with the feeling of envy overlooks others’ the socio-cultural context of the disease and the
possessions or valuables that causes damage. patients.
Social Medicine (www.socialmedicine.info) -93- Volume 14, Number 2, May - August 2021.Conclusions Light of Qur'an, Sunnah And Hadith.
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