I like to believe that I’m a logical person, but Arab superstitions have got me in a chokehold. To this day, I refuse to whistle inside the house because years ago my devout Muslim mother told me that doing so invites the devil into your home. That’s just one of the many dark warnings I was taught growing up that, sure, might defy any sort of common sense, but were nothing out of the ordinary. Others include not pouring hot water down the drain because you might get possessed by an evil spirit and also not showering at night because— you guessed it— you might get possessed by an evil spirit.
Today, the Arab world is permeated with pre-Islamic superstitions that derived from folklore and ancient mythology. These beliefs, which are typically passed down from generation to generation, don’t really have any basis nor do they conform with scientific reasoning or Islam, which classifies any kind of superstition as shirk. Still, as a lot of Muslim parents nod along to imams warning against false idols and superstitions, they have no problem going home and lecturing their children for accidentally spilling salt or leaving a shoe upside down. And as New Age practices such as astrology, tarot, crystal healing, and spirituality, continue to trend, it appears that more young Arabs are falling victim to superstition. With that said, below, we rounded up some of the most interesting and outrageous superstitions from the Arab world.
Don’t leave a shoe upside down (Across the Arab world)
In several Arab countries, including Egypt, leaving your shoes upside down is believed to bring in bad luck.
A shoe stacked on top of another shoe means you will travel (Across the Arab world)
What is it with Arabs and shoes?
The unexpected signs of guests (Algeria and Iraq)
In Algeria, if you see a moth in the home, that means that you can expect to have guests. Similarly in Iraq, they say that if you have a flock of birds chirping outside of your home, you will welcome visitors.
Don’t whistle inside the house (Morocco)
Or very bad things will happen.
Don’t cry over spilt coffee (Saudi Arabia)
It’s a sign of good things to come!
Never snap scissors inside a home (Across the Arab world)
If you don’t want your parents to divorce, then you should probably never snap scissors inside your home.
Never step over someone laying down (Algeria and the UAE)
According to Algerian and Emirati moms, stepping over someone can stop the person on the floor from growing taller and the only way to reverse such a tragedy is to step back over them in the opposite direction.
Broken glass is actually good thing (Iraq)
Not all Arab superstitions are bad. A lot of people believe that if glass shatters, it means that any bad vibes or energy surrounding the family breaks with it. “Enkasar el shar” is the phrase tied to any glass that breaks.
You must properly dispose of hair trimmings and nail clippings (North Africa)
Otherwise someone will use them to cast a dark spell on you and curse you…
Pay attention to your twitching eye (Across the Arab world)
Because it means money, honey!
Dough as an indicator of a successful marriage (Lebanon)
In Lebanon, the bride is given some dough to smash on the wall on her wedding day. If it sticks, it means the marriage will be successful and the newlyweds will live happily ever after, and if it does not stick, well, it’s a bad sign.
Pour water outside to ensure a safe return home (Tunisia and Iraq)
Before traveling, many Tunisians and Iraqis pour water outside their home to ensure that they return home safely.
The secret to a long life (Across the Arab world)
Want to live forever? Simply appear while someone’s talking about you. In many parts of the Arab world, this is seen as a sign of a long life ahead.
