DETROIT — Belief in the “evil eye” and Turkish coffee fortunetelling readings are popular in Muslim communities; however Muslims are not supposed to engage in such superstitious beliefs and practices, according to religious leaders. 

“Islamically, we don’t believe in all of this superstitious stuff like the evil eye, psychics, curses or Turkish coffee readings,” said Sheikh Ahmed Hammoud of the Islamic Center of America. “These types of superstitious beliefs are cultural, not religious. Every thing is in the hands of God and only he can predict the future.” 

As for the “evil eye”, Hammoud said he doesn’t believe it can provide protection. 

“The protection comes from God,” he said. “The eye cannot protect people. When people think somebody has an evil eye on them they need to understand people cannot harm you; no one has that power over you. This is what we want the people to understand and believe in.” 

The “evil eye” is a curse believed to be cast by a glare given to a person when they are unaware. In many cultures, receiving the “evil eye” will cause misfortune or injury. 

There are also people who believe that images and shapes created in the coffee ground in contrast with the white color of the Turkish coffee cup reflect predictable future happening and meanings. 

Many Muslims place the “evil eye” symbol in their homes or wear it as a piece of jewelry to protect them from jealous and envious people. Several Arab American owned businesses in Dearborn sell the symbol. 

Some local Turkish coffee fortunetellers can charge upwards of $100 or more for a reading. 

Hammoud said charging people for Turkish coffee readings is “haram” (Arabic for unacceptable). 

 “What are they giving to the people?” he asked. “They are not giving them the facts, so they take advantage of them. This is wrong. So, Islamically, when we want to get paid for something we are doing, it has to be “halal” (religiously permitted). So even Islamically when we want to get paid for something it has to be halal and something God accepts.”

Imam Elahi of the Islamic House of Wisdom also encouraged Muslims to stay away from superstitious activities and beliefs.  He encouraged people in the community to stick with the teachings of the Quran and the authentic spiritual traditions of the prophet Mohamad. 

“There are too many fake stuff in the name of Turkish coffee or predicting the future through so called reception of messages from dead people,” Elahi said. “It is a waste of time and money. Come to Friday prayer, get connected to the power of prayer and deal with the realities of life realistically.”

Hammoud said that as a Muslim religious leader, people in the community have come to him with concerns about people casting curses or spells on them. 

“When they really put that much time and effort into it and start to believe in it, it takes a toll on their thinking and life,” he said. “It can drive them crazy. I have seen a lot of people panic because of this type of stuff. Just follow the Quran and believe in Allah. Trust in yourself and God and no one is going to harm your life.”

Even in Christianity, such superstitious beliefs and practices are prohibited and deemed cultural rather than religious. Turkish coffee readings and the “evil eye” are similarly popular among Arab Christians. 

Often people believe something bad may have happened to them because someone has an “evil eye” on them. 

 “It is better for people not to waste their time on these types of things,” Hammoud said. 

How can somebody stop God from giving us something?” Hammoud asked. “If somebody could stop God, that means he has more power more than the God. When we are afraid that somebody can harm us with an evil eye, this is a weakness point. Don’t fall for this. When we do this, we open the gate for them to feel like they can harm our life.”