its one of speacil stuff of Turkey,and its good for decorating or using as accseuar>>>>http://www.tulumba.com/store.asp?tag=r13

İt is same here too,we have same concept,and the evil eye take different shapes too
But most of all,we hang a small gold piece got an evil blue eye in it, to the clothes of a new born baby
Believing it would protect the baby,by drawing people attention away from the baby
Maybe it is not true but it is sort of tradition

ahhh interesting,anyhow nice to hear some common traditions on different lands

anyhow some superstitions so usefull for the some foxy traders

lol evet, although Nazar is real , but i don't know where have they got that idea of the blue evil eye from ?? lol

Don't know! How long have they been using that symbol?
Could it be linked with Attaturk's eyes?????

i think it all goes back to the ancient egyptians

Nahh it goes back long time before Attaturk,

Nazar is a real thing written in Quran,

But the concept of being protected from Nazar by putting an evil eye,not there,so i really don't know when all have started to use it first place,or where did it come from

And i don't think it is ancient egyptians thing,i didn't see it as symbols there on the paintings,or with kigs belongings,i saw an eye yes,but not the blue evil eye

That is something i must search first before i say,but we sure use the evil eye here in Egypt

Hey,What is that Attaturk's eyes anyway ?

Oh I meant maybe because he had brilliant blue eyes! I know nazar dates right back! Just that they might have used the eye to minick his as a sign of respect!!!!!!

lol i got it ,but then that is a new concept of the blue evil eye,lol

İ wonder was it deep blue,baby blue,or what ?? lol

My understanding of the meaning of the nazar boncuğu or nazarlık, for Turkish people is that it wards off the 'evil' eye of others, particularly the evil looks of the envious.

I think 'nazar' is what we in England would call 'luck/fortune/ (good or bad, although it means 'evil eye'). So basically the concept is something like, the nazar boncuk is a kind of message saying 'I can 'see' your envy/evil intentions, so you cant hurt me! Well this is a bit of a simple meaning I guess, but its all a bit hard to translate into english.


The Turkish concept of saying 'Maşallah!'when things are going well or before a compliment to someone is a similar kind of thing. If you don't say it, then it is bad luck and you are inviting misfortune! For example, if you say to a new parent 'congratulations on a beautiful new baby' - you must say 'Maşallah' first or it will be bad luck for the baby. Maşallah, translates into something like 'by Gods will', but not saying it can invite 'nazar' which as I said means 'evil eye'.

There are lots of other countries use something similar try this link for a discussion on all of them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_eye

I hope everyone is well.

Nazar,not just a meaning to Turkish people,Nazar is meaning to all Muslims,
İt is simply close as you put it,it means this one 'which not good ofcourse' is enving the other for what they have
No matter what they have is ,money,health,kids...anything
But not just enving them,wishing he could have same,but he actually want them to lose what they have too

And nazar boncuğu is some sort of believe,or something that this blue eye,will back ward this bad look or Nazar,to the one who is enving or making this Nazar
Maybe not true,but it is kind of old believes

But ofcourse the right thing,or the true thing is to say
Maşallah or 'Besm ALLAH maşallah'that is what İslam asked us to say when having something good,or seeing something good,no matter if this thing belong to us or to others

As a wish or Doa etmek'prayer' that ALLAH will take care of it,so with ALLAH well,nothing would harm it,not even bad eye,or Nazar

So it is always better to say it first thing,even before saying congratulations over anything,it would be much appreciated from others too

Thank you Canlı. Can you just repeat the full words, 'Besm Allah, Maşallah' Is it 'Besm' or is there a typing mistake? Sorry, but I want to be sure. Is it arabic?

As a non-muslim in Türkiye, would it be weird to use those words?

I decided for myself I will not use them till I'm fluent anyways, but will it still be weird then?

Not wierd,but i guess they would just think how did you knew them
İt is some kind of words that use in daily life,and it is more like a wish or doa atmek, so it would be appreciated by all means
Sure anywhere when you find someone who is praying for you ,you would appreciate it
İ am Muslim and i have a British friend He is Catholic when i had an examp,he lighten an Candle for me,i really appreciated this from him
And when he got important job,i pray for him too,and sometimes he ask me even to pray

So it is all appreciated in all countries and in all religions i think

Selam Kızım.
I always use Maşallah! and Inşallah! I think it might sound weird to my UK friends and family, but my Turkish friends love me saying it and are very happy when I do.

Actually the other day, my Turkish friend in my house said. ' I am feeling very tired today and it is your fault!'
'What' I replied, 'how is it my fault?'
He said. 'You said to me, "Oh Yakup, you have so much energy, you are always busy and fast." and you didn't say "
Maşallah!', so now I am tired....'

He was kind of joking, but I know he meant it! Lots of Turkish people are very superstitious about this. I am sure that you can say it and all your Turkish friends will not think you are weird, but be very happy. Your Dutch friends and family might feel differently

Whahah yeah I think so

Good to see you back Annelyncim..!!

We were at a nargile-cafe each night and grew familiar with one of the waiters and the yenge.. and she apparantly told her friends about us, because when we passed her and her friends, they all said 'maşallah, so sweet!'.. hehe !


I'm becoming superstitious too (is that the right spelling?).. I got a nazar when I was born from a Greek uncle.. I always put it on when I go into the car or plane.. and now I won't take it off till I'm safe in türkiye again and I think i'll wear it there too

lol İ go with you Lyndie all the way ,lol

My Türk friend,and we both are really close friend too,did same with me

He was showing me something,and i said ohh that is so great,i love it,looks great really,and i forgot to say Besm ALLAH Maşallah

A while later he asked me, didn't you forgot to say something,i got confused,so he told me that you didn't say Besm ALLAH Maşallah

Although we are really good friends,and he knows i won't look at him in bad way,but i guess,saying this excepress your care too

And always nice to have good Doa i guess

Me too.
I have a nazar boncu in every room in my house. I have lots of jewellery with them on too. I always wear a small one whenver I feel I need extra good luck. So I am also becoming quite superstitious about it. When I went to meet Yakup from the airport, I was terrified the Immigration Officers would find some reason not to let him come into the UK, I was weighed down with nazar boncu I had so many.

I also have some hanging from the mirror in my car, I have one on my computer screen. I always carry a small gold one in my purse.

I even have one in my garden.

Last week I was selling things at a small market, I got talking to a really nice lady who bought a necklace from me. She was going to live in France and I gave her a little silver mounted nazar boncu and told her it would bring her good luck! Well it bought me good luck too, because she bought a picture from me for £10 to put in her house in France!

hahah class act

Yes, I'm gonna hang them in every room of my appartment too. Those bright blue glass-stone things just appeal to me! And I looove the necklaces where they are set in gold..

I bought nazar for my friends too, and nice purses with turkish carpet-motives on it and nice cards.. I'm gonna write them and give them a nazar-filled purse when I leave.

i think there r many superstitions on every beliefs and religions.and some of em really usefull for feel ourself in safe as a self theraphyso sometime a little nazar boncuğu can be more skilfull then a pshycologist

lol Omg Lyndie

İ just have one hanging it in my house that is all
And i had one at my car mirror too

Deli,if you by any chance going to Türkiya soon,it would be nice to bring him or buy him Nazar boncu to hang it in his car
he would appreciate it really

I have a thin rope with around 10 microscopic eyes, rounded around my wrist. A friend bought it for me at Istanbul and I m wearing it since.
I m not that superstitious, but it looks nice and gives a feeling of safety.

Your welcome Deli

have a good time inşallah

I have an evil eye fridge magnet and have bought various small gifts for friends - such as key rings, bracelets, necklaces and purses - have told them the meaning and they have all seemed pleased to have something to keep them safe - even though they all say they are not superstitious!!

i have a nazar boncuğu hanging in my house, in my car, hanging on my phone, and i wear one around my neck. maybe too much? but i feel a little better.

i have bought some for friends and even though they aren't superstitiuos, they do seem happy to receive them.

evet, i like to keep the evil eye sellers in business

oh yes, i got a lot of the free ones when i was in türkiye... actually, most of the ones i have were for free...

hehe,then all evil eyes sallers thinking as me ,i'm not alone ha?