Volume 1

An account of the manners and customs of the modern Egyptians, written in Egypt during the years 1833, -34, and -35, partly from notes made during a former visit to that country in the years 1825, -26, -27, and -28 / By Edward William Lane.

  • Edward William Lane
Date:
1836
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An account of the manners and customs of the modern Egyptians, written in Egypt during the years 1833, -34, and -35, partly from notes made during a former visit to that country in the years 1825, -26, -27, and -28 / By Edward William Lane. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    plain silver. ‘To the former, and to many other charms, most extensive efficacy is attributed: they are esteemed preservatives against disease, enchantment, the evil eye, and a variety of other evils. The charm next in point of estimation to the moos’hhaf is a book or scroll contain- ing certain chapters of the Ckoor-a’/n ; as the 6th, 18th, 36th, 44th, 55th, 67th, and 78th; or some others; gene- rally seven.—Another charm, which is believed to protect the wearer (who usually places it within his cap) from the devil, genii, and many other objects of fear, is a piece of paper inscribed with the following passages from the Ckoor-a’n*, “ And the preservation of both [heaven and earth] is no burden unto Him. He is the High, the Great” (chap. ii., ver. 256). “ But God is the best protector ; and He is the most merciful of those who show mercy”’ (chap. xii., ver. 64). “ They watch him by the command of God ”’ (chap. xiii., ver.12). ‘“ And we guard them from every devil driven away with stones” (chap. xv., ver. 17). “And a guard against every rebellious devil” (chap. xxxvii, ver. 7). “Anda guard. This is the decree of the Mighty, the Wise ”’ (chap. lxi., ver. 11). ‘‘ And God encompasseth them behind. Verily it is a glorious Ckoor-a’n, [written] on a preserved tablet’ (chap. Ixxxv., ver. 20, 21, 22).—The ninety-nine names, or epithets, of God, comprising all the divine attributes, if frequently repeated, and written on a paper, and worn on the person, are supposed to make the wearer a particular object for the exercise of all the beneficent attributes —In like manner it is believed that the ninety-nine names, or titles, &c., of the Prophet, written upon anything, compose acharm which (accord- * Called a'ya’t el-hhefz (the verses of protection, or preserva- tion).