There have been reports of an increase in the number of families paying large amounts to people who claim they can cure an evil eye (Ain) or envy (Hasad). These alleged curers, mostly in Yemen and Oman, ask questions, like the afflicted person's name and the mother's name. After half an hour, they give a prescription over the telephone saying, “We have removed the Ain and Hasad, but you must be cautious.” Telephone treatment An Asharq reporter contacted such a self-acclaimed curer called Abu Nafea in Oman saying that he was suffering from Ain. After he gave his name and his mother's name, he was asked to call back in half hour's time. When the reporter called back, Abu Nafea said: “You've been cured. You have to send SR4,000 and the moment we receive the amount, you'll be OK and this evil eye will leave you. It was caused by a relative of yours who envies you.” Ahmad Al-Qaash, another such practitioner based in Yemen, said he also can “cure” people over the phone. “This is a great blessing for I can cure people from an evil eye and envy for just SR500. I receive phone calls from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. They are cured immediately, so calls start pouring in from people. I've inherited this profession from my forefathers.” Al-Qaash said he has many customers and he knows how to remove their diseases. Treatment of the disabled Some families also resort to magic, sorcery and superstitions to cure a physically-disabled child. Tahani Al-Amoudi, a female psychologist, said the mothers are resorting to sorcery and magic out of desperation. “Unfortunately, they fall easy prey to some people who deal in herbs and oils. By doing so, these mothers are delaying the appropriate treatment for their physically-challenged children.” Al-Amoudi does not deny that a person might be affected by an evil eye, as Al-Ain has been mentioned in the sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and some of the cases can be treated through recitation of verses of the Holy Qur'an. However, she said that some of those who claim to treat ask people to do strange things, like shaving the child's head completely or to not give him a bath for two weeks. “It is possible to determine if the fetus is disabled or not while still in the mother's womb but others suffer a disability during delivery when a medical error occurs. Still others are born as normal babies but after two years or so, they become disabled, apart from cases of children who sustain disabilities due to accidents.” Al-Amoudi said that though treatment is a requirement, choosing the right type of treatment is more important. Herbs and medicines Umm Khalid, a Saudi woman, resorted to herbs and strange medicines besides Al-Ruqyah Al-Shar'iah (treatment by recitation of verses of the Holy Qur'an) to treat her son after he was disabled in a traffic accident. She said her son's condition started to improve. Another mother went beyond acceptable bounds by giving drinking water left over by an allegedly pious sheikh to her son thinking that it would cure him of his disability. Omar Al-Jouri treats people suffering from physical disablement through recitation of verses of the Holy Qur'an. He said: “Some mothers search for a speedy cure for their children, hence resorting to any means even if it violates the rules of the religion without being aware of what they are doing. This affects medical treatment for their children.” However, some people warn that any seemingly miraculous cures could be the result of satanic forces. Sheikh Mushaiqah Al-Mushaiqah, Chairman of the Department to Combat Magic and Sorcery in Al-Qassim region, said: “Regrettably the majority of people fall easy prey to such priests (Al-Kahanah), who take the help of jinn.” He stressed that it is impermissible to deal with them regardless of the reason.
