Dr. Pothana

1. Power Categories
Folk Islam is filled with an awareness of people, beings, forces, etc. that
contain or can mediate power which will affect their lives (for better or for
worse). Much of a folk Muslim’s life and activity is centered around these
power realities:
 Power People: Walis, Pirs, Mullahs, Astrologers, Diviners, Fortune
Tellers, Medicine Men, Hakims, Sorcerers, living and deceased Saints,
Fakirs, Prophets, Muhammad, etc.
 Power Beings: Allah, Shaytan, Jinn (good and evil spirits or angels),
Zar, Fairies, etc.
 Power Forces: Fate, Baraka, Evil Eye, Omens, Dreams, etc.
 Power Objects: Amulets, Charms, Fetishes, Quran, Herbs, Hair, Nail
Clippings, Black Stone in Kaaba, Rosary, Magic Numbers, Love
potions, etc.
 Power Rituals: Incantations, Sacrifices, Curses, Vows, Divination,
Magic, Sorcery, Exorcism, Dhikr (reciting the names of God), Love
Magic, etc.
 Power Places: Dargahs, Mazars (places of pilgrimage, shrines),
Cemeteries, Sacred Trees, Mosques, Mecca, etc.
 Power Times: Fairs, Festivals, Holidays, Life Cycle Events (births,
circumcisions, weddings, deaths, etc.), Night of Power (27th night of
Ramadan), etc.