Amulets and talismans – taweez have long been woven into the cultural fabric of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), holding a powerful place in the region’s history, religious practices, and daily life. These small objects, ranging from inscribed stones to intricately designed scrolls, have been used for centuries to invoke divine protection, healing, and good fortune. In many ways, they represent more than just physical artifacts—they embody a deep connection to the supernatural, acting as conduits between the human world and forces beyond understanding.
Historically, amulets and talismans have crossed religious and cultural boundaries, with shared traditions among Muslims, Jews, Christians, and others in the region. From the sacred verses inscribed on protective charms to the materials chosen for their symbolic power, these objects have been crafted with a specific intent: to safeguard the wearer or place from harm and to channel divine energy or magical forces. Whether carried on the body, hung on walls, or even ingested, they have served as an enduring link between the physical and metaphysical realms.
Historical and Cultural Background
Historically, the use of tawiz-amulet in the MENA region can be traced to pre-Islamic times. However, the tradition truly flourished in the Islamic world, where amulets became embedded in both religious and everyday life.
One of the key influences on the Islamic tradition of amulet-making was the Cairo Genizah, a collection of ancient Jewish manuscripts preserved in a synagogue’s storage room from the 11th to 19th centuries. According to the author Gideon Bohak, many of the magical texts from the Genizah reveal how Jewish magical practices, including amulets, were deeply influenced by Arabic-Islamic traditions. These magical texts, which were often written in Judaeo-Arabic—Arabic written in the Hebrew script—show that Jews in medieval Cairo used not only Hebrew and Aramaic but also Arabic sources to create their own magical formulas. As Bohak highlights, Hebrew and Aramaic magical texts were sometimes phonetically transformed into Arabic. This cross-cultural transmission is a prime example of how amulets and magical texts in the region were influenced by interactions between Jewish and Muslim communities.
Islamic amulets, also known as taweez were not just confined to spiritual use but also extended into medical realms. As the researcher Petra Sijpesteijn discusses, Arabic medical-magical manuscripts like those from al-Ṣanawbarī—a prominent 13th-century scholar—provided specific instructions for creating amulets to treat various ailments. These amulets often combined prayers, magic, and medicinal practices. The use of amulets for healing was a central aspect of their functionality, reflecting the blend of medical and magical traditions in the Islamic world.
Amulets also became objects of power through specific rituals of activation, such as reciting prayers or performing acts of devotion. Activation could occur through various means—reciting sacred texts aloud, touching, wearing, or even ingesting the amulet to absorb its power. This process made the amulet a dynamic, living object that gained potency through its interaction with the user, a feature that set it apart from purely decorative or symbolic objects.
One notable example of taweez use can be found in Ottoman Cairo, where house inscriptions served as protective talismans. The author Juan E. Campo discusses the use of inscriptions in domestic spaces, where verses from the Quran—including the Throne Verse (Ayat al-Kursi)—were inscribed on walls to ward off evil. These inscriptions, often placed in prominent locations within the home, were believed to protect the inhabitants from harm, illness, and negative forces. The Ottoman period, therefore, represents a time when amulets were incorporated into architectural features, adding another layer to their cultural significance.
Moreover, as Marcela A. Garcia Probert notes, amulets were not only used by the wealthy or literate. In fact, many amulets were created from everyday materials such as twigs, stones, or herbs and used by common people across the MENA region. These natural amulets were often found in the Tawfik Canaan Collection of Palestinian amulets, which provides a fascinating glimpse into the folk practices of rural communities. These objects, sometimes simple and unadorned, reflected a continuity of belief in the power of the natural world to protect individuals from harm.
Types of taweez
Amulets and talismans in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) come in a variety of forms, materials, and functions. They are not merely decorative objects, but rather powerful items imbued with spiritual or magical significance.
Inscribed Amulets and Talismans
Taweez with inscriptions are perhaps the most recognized and studied form. These objects were often inscribed with sacred texts, magical formulas, or divine names, believed to imbue them with protective power. In many cases, Quranic verses were used to activate their potency.
As we already wrote – Juan E. Campo highlights the role of house inscriptions, which were placed in prominent areas, often over doorways or windows, to guard against evil forces and misfortune. Similarly, the scientist Karl R. Schaefer discusses the importance of block-printed amulets, where magical inscriptions were printed on paper and used by individuals for protection, healing, or invoking good fortune.
Talismanic Scrolls
Talismanic scrolls are another significant type of amulet found in MENA. These are usually long, scroll-like pieces of paper or parchment, often decorated with both text and symbolic designs. The Mamluk talismanic scroll discussed by the researcher Yasmine Al-Saleh is a key example of this type, where Quranic verses were combined with astrological symbols to create a highly potent protective object. The scroll was believed to hold specific power tied to the celestial alignment at the time of its creation.
As Al-Saleh points out, these scrolls were used in the Mamluk period (14th–16th centuries) and were closely tied to the socio-political and religious environment in which they were created.
Natural Amulets
Natural materials, such as twigs, stones, and herbs, were also commonly used in the creation of amulets. These objects were often considered inherently powerful due to their connection to nature and the belief that they held inherent spiritual energy. Marcela A. Garcia Probert emphasizes the role of natural amulets in the Tawfik Canaan Collection, where twigs from specific trees, such as rue and jujube, were used for their protective qualities.
These taweez were typically used by rural populations, who may not have had access to inscribed or expensive materials. Instead, they relied on the perceived spiritual power of natural objects. Some of these natural amulets were believed to carry the power of the specific plant or tree from which they were derived, and rituals surrounding their use often involved burning, carrying, or placing them in homes to ward off evil.
Medical-Magical Amulets
The author Petra Sijpesteijn explores the Arabic medical-magical manuscripts, which were pivotal in creating amulets designed for healing. These manuscripts often combined elements of Islamic medicine with magical practices, offering instructions on how to create amulets to protect against illness or promote recovery.
For instance, al-Ṣanawbarī’s Kitāb al-Raḥma (circa 1250) included instructions on how to create amulets for stress relief and anger management. The amulets in these manuscripts were designed not just as symbols of protection but as active tools to influence the body and mind, often requiring specific rituals to be effective.
Block-Printed Amulets
A more recent development in taweez production was the use of block-printing, which emerged in the medieval period. As Karl R. Schaefer discusses, block-printed amulets became widely used in the Islamic world, where mass production allowed for a greater circulation of amulets across different social classes. These prints were made by carving text and symbols onto a wooden block, which was then used to create multiple copies of the amulet. Unlike hand-inscribed amulets, block-printed versions were more affordable and accessible, allowing them to be distributed more widely.
Block-printed amulets often contained religious or magical texts, such as names of God or Qur’anic verses, and were designed to be worn, carried, or hung in homes. Some even contained diagrams, such as magic squares, which were believed to enhance the amulet’s efficacy.
How Amulets Work: Theories of Efficacy
Amulets and talismans in the Middle East and North Africa efficacy is not inherent in the object itself but rather in the rituals, materials, and sacred texts associated with them. These objects work through a combination of symbolic meanings, religious beliefs, and performative rituals that activate their power.
Activation through Rituals and Recitation
As the scientist Marcela A. Garcia Probert explains, the power of amulets lies in their activation through ritual acts like reading, reciting, or displaying the object in a particular context. For instance, many amulets are believed to be activated when the user recites the words inscribed on them or recites specific invocations aloud, invoking the protection of the divine.
For example, the Kitab al-Mandal al-Sulaymani, a well-known magical text in Islamic tradition, contains instructions for creating and using amulets for specific purposes, such as healing or protection. These texts guide the user in how to properly activate the amulet and, in some cases, how to care for it after it has been activated. The belief is that these texts imbue the object with spiritual power, which can only be accessed when the amulet is used in the correct way.
The Importance of the shape
As the scientist Yasmine Al-Saleh points out, the design of a talismanic scroll, with its combination of text and symbolic elements, worked to invoke both divine power and celestial influence. In her study of Mamluk talismanic scrolls, she notes that the astrological symbols and magical diagrams on these scrolls worked in tandem with the written Quranic verses to enhance the amulet’s power. The arrangement of these elements on the amulet was therefore not random but was carefully planned to maximize its protective and magical efficacy.
The Role of Time and Space
Taweez are also believed to be more potent when created or activated at specific times or in specific locations. This idea aligns with the Islamic tradition of timing rituals for optimal effectiveness, such as creating an amulet during a lunar phase or at a specific hour of the day. Petra Sijpesteijn notes that certain times and places were considered particularly auspicious for the creation of medical-magical amulets, and that these factors could affect the success of the amulet’s intended purpose.
For example, al-Ṣanawbarī’s instructions on creating amulets for mental health often specified that they should be prepared during specific astrological conditions or at certain times of the day to achieve the best results.
Reuse and Transformation of Amulets
Another fascinating aspect of amulet efficacy is the idea that their power can be reactivated or transformed as they change hands or are reused in different contexts. The authors Karl R. Schaefer and Ursula Hammed discuss how the use of an amulet might evolve over time, especially when it changes ownership. For instance, an amulet that was originally created for a specific purpose might later be reactivated for a different reason, such as general protection or healing.
This notion of reusability suggests that amulets are not static objects but can be charged with new meanings as they pass through different individuals or circumstances.
The Role of Amulets in Modern Times
Taweez continue to play a role in modern Islamic, Jewish, and Christian traditions across the MENA region. As Marcela A. Garcia Probert notes, even today, certain natural amulets collected in the Tawfik Canaan Collection—such as twigs of jujube, rue, and celtis australis—are still believed to offer protection against the evil eye and other misfortunes.
Similarly, Quranic amulets, such as those containing Ayat al-Kursi (Throne Verse) or Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas, are still commonly worn as pendants or kept in cars, homes, and businesses to ward off harm. These inscriptions are no longer just hand-painted but have also been mass-produced as decorative plaques, which people purchase for religious protection.
Today, amulets printed with magical squares, Quranic verses, or astrological symbols can be found in markets across Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, and Iran, demonstrating the continuity of belief despite changing production methods.
In some cases, taweez have also become part of tourist culture. Museums and heritage sites sell replicas of historical talismans, allowing visitors to take home a piece of cultural tradition. For example, in the British Museum’s collection of Arabic and Persian seals, once used as powerful protective amulets, these artifacts are now displayed as historical objects rather than active magical items.
Additionally, in psychological and anthropological studies, amulets are now examined for their placebo effect—where a person’s belief in the protective power of an amulet can influence their mental and emotional state. Studies of traditional healing practices in the Middle East have shown that people often feel safer, calmer, and more confident when wearing an amulet, even if there is no scientifically measurable effect. This aligns with historical traditions where amulets were used to treat stress, fear, and anxiety.