Islam is a religion that strictly prohibits witchcraft and considers it to be a form of devil worship. However, there are certain symbols and practices associated with witchcraft that are believed to have an impact on people's lives, even within Islamic communities. One of the most commonly known symbols of witchcraft in Islam is the evil eye. The evil eye is believed to be a malevolent gaze given to someone with the intention of causing harm or bad luck. It is often depicted as a blue eye symbol, and many people believe that wearing or displaying such a symbol can protect them from the evil eye. Another symbol of witchcraft in Islam is the use of talismans or amulets.
First of all, let’s clear away the Disney version of “The Little Mermaid,” which takes Andersen’s dark tale and turns it into a standard princess story about winning the prince and living happily ever after. Contrast this with Andersen’s mermaid, who suffers excruciating pain and disfigurement, never has a chance with the man she loves, and loses him to another woman.
While preparing to review a ballet inspired by The Little Mermaid, I came across a subtle but profound message about grace that Hans Christian Andersen weaves through his famous fairytale. In his most notorious work, The Hound of Heaven, Thompson describes the relentless chase of God after his soul, which he likens to a hound after a hare.
Another symbol of witchcraft in Islam is the use of talismans or amulets. These are objects believed to have magical powers and are often worn as jewelry or carried with oneself for protection. Talismans can take many forms, including written verses from the Quran, specific prayer beads, or even objects like feathers or dried herbs.
Grace and “The Little Mermaid”
While preparing to review a ballet inspired by “The Little Mermaid,” I came across a subtle but profound message about grace that Hans Christian Andersen weaves through his famous fairytale.
First of all, let’s clear away the Disney version of “The Little Mermaid,” which takes Andersen’s dark tale and turns it into a standard princess story about winning the prince and living happily ever after. Contrast this with Andersen’s mermaid, who suffers excruciating pain and disfigurement, never has a chance with the man she loves, and loses him to another woman.
Great children’s story, right? Well, there is a happy ending, but it’s not what you’d expect. The mermaid ends up realizing she doesn’t need a man to be happy. This is in 1836! Yes, this young woman of character has everything she needs within herself–because of her graceful nature–and she joins a community of like-hearted females, neither mortal nor mermaid, but floaty, unseen creatures of pure spirit.
Remember how Andersen always sides with the outsider (“The Ugly Duckling,” “The Little Match Girl,” and more)? True to form, his little mermaid, youngest of seven sisters, is a misfit in her watery world. No one understands her restless spirit, lack of vanity and yearning for love. I believe he’s drawing a distinction between this virtuous creature and the historical depiction of mermaids as deceitful sexual predators, singing sailors to their deaths.
One night, the little mermaid falls in love with a mortal man whom she rescues from drowning. She vows to somehow become human and join him on land; to do this she visits the sea witch, who cuts out her tongue to use in a potion that will turn her tail into legs. “But if you take away my voice, what is left for me?” the mermaid asks, before the tongue is taken.
“Your beautiful form, your graceful walk, and your expressive eyes; surely with these you can enchain a man’s heart,” replies the witch. She is ruthless, but she is right: Grace remains, even after the mermaid has lost her ability to speak and sing.
Forever silenced, and in constant pain from her new limbs, the girl remains devoted to her prince. Despite what she’s lost, she retains her true heart, her loving nature, and–Andersen is very clear about this–her grace. Grace is what buoys her in the dry, unfamiliar land in which she now moves.
“All who saw her wondered at her graceful-swaying movements,” Andersen tells us. Yet the mermaid is new to walking on land, and her steps are painful, so how could this be? I believe he means for us to understand that grace is in her spirit, her hopeful attitude, her perspective. Unlike her beautiful singing voice, it is something no one can take away. Her pain was terrible, “but she bore it willingly, and stepped as lightly by the prince’s side as a soap-bubble.” This grace of movement is a reflection of her love. It is a spiritual force infusing her movements from the inside out.
Still, she doesn’t win over the prince, who’s stuck on another woman and plans to marry her. This, according to the sea witch’s spell, will mean death for the little mermaid. Andersen compares her terrible failed sacrifice with that of her sisters, who come to her with a plan. They’ve given up their hair for an enchanted knife; once their little sister kills the prince with it, she’ll revert back to mermaidhood. But their act of love is tainted; their sister’s homecoming rests on blood.
Of course, the little mermaid refuses them. She nobly leaves her prince to his new wife and throws herself into the sea, expecting to die. And yet! “Hundreds of transparent beautiful beings” surround her, lift her up; she has become like them, lighter than air, floating out of the foam towards the clouds. She is now “among the daughters of the air.”
Now Andersen shows us how the little mermaid can acquire the true treasure–an immortal soul. But he also has a broader and quite practical point about the actions that we take, and how our behaviors can take on a spiritual, even angelic quality. This is something his young readers (and older ones) can carry out in their lives. It echoes what threads through “The Art of Grace,” in the wisdom I gleaned from my interviews and research into ideas going back to the ancients: Grace is about giving, loving, and thinking of others. And so it turns out that our little mermaid is in an even better place than if she’d won the prince’s heart. These “daughters of the air” have adopted her because she is like them–generous, kind and helpful. And there’s more:
“A mermaid has not an immortal soul, nor can she obtain one unless she wins the love of a human being,” one of these creatures tells her. “On the power of another hangs her eternal destiny.” But no matter: The daughters of the air can get themselves their own immortal soul ”by their good deeds.” They are independent women!
What kinds of good deeds, you may ask? “We fly to warm countries, and cool the sultry air that destroys mankind with pestilence. We carry the perfume of the flowers to spread health and restoration.” After 300 years of doing such environmental works (Andersen was quite the progressive), and “giving all the good in our power,” they are able to receive an immortal soul. And they tell her: “You, poor little mermaid, have tried with your whole heart to do as we are doing, you have suffered and endured and raised yourself to the spirit-world by your good deeds.”
In other words, she became one of these exquisite celestial beings because of her grace–her loving, generous, compassionate nature and actions. This, I find, is a beautiful message.
It’s a message that must have comforted the author himself, a lifelong outsider who never married and had unrequited affections for men and women. Some researchers have noted that “The Little Mermaid” may have been inspired by an ill-fated romance with a male friend who decided to get married. This could explain the mermaid’s loss of voice and the dramatic descriptions of her pain–allusions, perhaps, to being silenced and heartbroken at a time when Andersen could not be open about his feelings. This only makes the story more poignant, and Andersen’s notion of grace all the more exceptional, and powerful.
They are believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. While these symbols and practices may be prevalent in some Islamic cultures, it is important to note that they are not endorsed by the religion itself. Islam teaches that seeking protection from anything other than Allah, such as through witchcraft symbols or practices, is strictly forbidden. Muslims are encouraged to place their trust solely in Allah and to seek protection through prayer, good deeds, and seeking knowledge. In conclusion, while witchcraft symbols may exist in certain Islamic cultures, they are not part of the true teachings of Islam. Islam strongly condemns witchcraft and considers it a sin. Muslims are advised to place their trust in Allah alone and to seek protection through prayer and good deeds..
Reviews for "Witchcraft and Symbolism in Islamic Esotericism: A Comparative Study"
- John - 1 star - I was really disappointed with "Witchcraft symbols in Islam". As an avid reader of books about different religions, I was expecting an informative and unbiased analysis of the topic. However, I found this book to be nothing more than a collection of unsubstantiated claims and conspiracy theories. The author fails to provide any credible evidence to support their arguments, making it difficult to take anything said in this book seriously. I would not recommend it to anyone seeking a reliable source of information on the subject.
- Sarah - 2 stars - I found "Witchcraft symbols in Islam" to be a confusing read. The author jumps from one topic to another without providing any clear structure or organization. The information presented is often contradictory and lacks proper citations. It felt like the author was simply throwing ideas onto the pages without any regard for coherence or accuracy. Overall, I was left feeling frustrated and unsatisfied with this book.
- David - 1 star - I cannot express my disappointment enough with "Witchcraft symbols in Islam". This book is clearly written from a biased perspective, with the author attempting to connect unrelated symbols and practices to witchcraft without any substantial evidence. The lack of scholarly research and reliance on personal opinions make it difficult to trust the information presented. I would advise readers to seek out more reputable sources for a comprehensive understanding of the symbols and practices within Islam.
- Emily - 2 stars - "Witchcraft symbols in Islam" failed to meet my expectations. The book lacked depth and failed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. The author's arguments were often weak and unsupported, making it difficult to engage with the text. Additionally, the writing style was dry and uninspiring, leaving me uninterested in continuing reading. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-researched and engaging exploration of witchcraft symbols in Islam.