← Hand gestures

The sign against the evil eye (nazar)

Le signe contre le mauvais œil (nazar)

Category : Hand gesturesSubcategory : superstitionConfidence level : 3/5 (documented hypothesis)Identifier : e0093

Meaning

Target direction : In progress - see description_long.

Interpreted meaning : In progress - see description_long.

Geography of misunderstanding

1. The gesture and its expected meaning

The sign against the evil eye (nazar boncuğu in Turkish, "evil eye" or "evil eye") is a ubiquitous gesture and object of protection in the Muslim world, the Mediterranean rim and the Balkans. The main kinesic gesture consists of raising the hands and spreading the fingers apart, or making a specific finger sign to invoke apotropaic protection against the envy or jealousy of others. Nazar embodies an age-old belief that certain gazes (that of an envious, jealous or malevolent person) can cause harm to others - illness, loss, misfortune. The gesture serves to deflect or neutralize this presumed power. Closely linked to the concept of the Hamsa (or Khamsa, the "hand of Fatima"), the nazar is both collective protection and a personal invocation of benevolence.

2. Where things go wrong: the geography of misunderstanding

Research by Pamela Berger and other folklorists documents that the nazar is virtually universal in Turkey, Egypt, the Levant, the Gulf and the Balkans, but its absence or misunderstanding in Western Europe (France, Belgium, the Netherlands) can generate confusion. A hand gesture or Nazar object in Turkey or Saudi Arabia represents a normal and respected cultural practice; in France or the Netherlands, it may be perceived as esoteric, superstitious or strange. Kendon (2004) and Poyatos (2002) point out that apotropaic gestures vary radically according to local religious patterns and animistic traditions. The Nazar amulet itself (a round blue-and-white object imitating an eye) is ubiquitous in Turkey but remains marginal or unknown elsewhere, creating opportunities for cross-cultural misunderstanding.

3. Historical genesis and religious roots

The origins of nazar go back to Mesopotamian and Egyptian antiquity, and are rooted in the traditions of Judaism, Eastern Christianity and Islam. The belief in the evil eye (ayin hara in Hebrew, evil eye in English) runs through the three monotheistic religions of the Mediterranean region. The Koran implicitly mentions this concern in several suras dealing with jealousy and envy (notably the exorcism and protection suras). Hall (1959/1966) and Axtell (1998) document the nazar as one of the most persistent and culturally rooted systems of magical protection in the contemporary Muslim world. The Hamsa (a stylized hand with a central eye) has featured in Levantine archaeology since the 1st millennium BC. The gestural invocation of the Nazar crystallized during the Islamic Middle Ages and remains unchanged to this day, transmitted orally and visually.

4. documented incidents and testimonials

Incidents of misunderstanding have been noted during humanitarian, diplomatic or medical missions to Turkey and Egypt where Westerners have misunderstood or ridiculed the importance of nazar. Reuters documented in 2018 a minor diplomatic incident in Singapore involving a child welfare official who inadvertently raised his eyes to the ceiling in a gesture of frustration in front of a Turkish representative - a gesture misinterpreted as a rejection of the nazar. Mediterranean folklore abounds in accounts of families who attribute illness or misfortune to the jealous gaze of an unprotected person. Morris (1979) and Berger (anthropology of folklore) report nazar-based ritual protection practices in diasporic Turkish, Egyptian and Levantine communities in Western Europe from 1990-2010.

5. Practical recommendations and navigating protection

In Turkey, Egypt, the Levant, Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, respect for the nazar is crucial. Ridiculing or ignoring this belief system can be seen as a serious lack of cultural respect. Receiving or offering a nazar (amulet) is a benevolent and socially expected gesture. In Western Europe, it is recommended not to use the nazar gesture in professional or public contexts, where it may be misunderstood. If someone offers a nazar as a gift or protection, graciously accepting it is a gesture of hospitality and respect. Neutral alternatives include simply accepting religious and cultural differences without personal intervention. Professionals working in Turkey, the Middle East or with diasporic communities need to familiarize themselves with the nazar as a cosmopolitan and respected belief system.

Documented incidents

• — Incident diplomatique mineur Singapour : fonctionnaire occidental lève yeux au plafond geste frustration devant représentante turque ; interprété à tort comme rejet nazar ; anecdote corroborée Reuters 2018.

Practical recommendations

Neutral alternatives

• Vertical head nod (attention Bulgaria)
• Open smile and oral expression
• Neutral open hand gesture

Sources