The blue Turkish evil eye may be the first image that comes to mind when you think of popular jewellery charms, but there is another motif that often adorns Islamic jewellery. The Ayatul Kursi, which is the 255th verse of the second surah (chapter) of the Quran, speaks about God’s incomparability, and is invoked for protection against evil.
Its 10 lines are often memorised by Muslims, some of whom recite the prayer before setting off on a journey, in the morning and before sleeping. The verse is also frequently inscribed on gold and silver jewellery, and worn as talismans by those who believe in its protective qualities.
Protective talisman
“Wearing the Ayatul Kursi and other verses of the Quran as amulets as a means of protection has been [popular] since the early days of Islam,” explains Rabia Karim, founder of Imaan Lifestyle, an e-commerce platform that sells Islamic jewellery including cuffs and round pendants engraved with the Ayatul Kursi prayer. “For many, it is also a way of expressing their identity and attachment to their religion.”
Traditionally worn by elder generations, Ayatul Kursi jewellery is finding renewed significance among younger Muslims, who are attracted to the protective and sentimental qualities it holds. “It is one of my staple jewellery items, and I rarely leave the house without it,” says British-Moroccan Sara Chouki, 28, who only takes off her pendant with this prayer when going to sleep and, out of respect, before entering a bathroom. “It acts as a constant day-to-day reminder of my purpose [in this world]; it reminds me why I am here.”
Chouki’s attachment to her gold Ayatul Kursi pendant has familial roots; it was originally given to her mother when she gave birth to Chouki’s younger sister 18 years ago. “My mum gave it to me when I moved to Dubai as it gave her ease of mind to know I am keeping both a part of her and God close to my heart while I am miles away,” says Chouki.
Ayatul Kursi designs
There are Ayatul Kursi pendants and charms galore at traditional souqs and souvenir shops in the Middle East – some are inscribed on dainty gold pendants or more masculine metal tags, and others are printed on papers rolled up scroll-style and encased within sterling silver, like a message in a bottle.
Contemporary jewellery brands have also reappropriated the popular prayer: US-based jewellery brands such as Nominal and Zudo, for instance, sell Ayatul Kursi jewellery on their websites, targeting millennial Muslims in the West.
Jewellery for men
As an everlasting symbol of spirituality, Ayatul Kursi icons are far from gender-specific – they are popular among men, too. “I have worn my Ayatul Kursi necklace for as long as I can remember,” says Palestinian-American fashion designer Zaid Farouki, 29, from Dubai. “In Jordan and Palestine when a child – regardless of gender – is born, they are gifted gold evil eyes, Ayatul Kursi charms and coins to congratulate the parents on the child’s arrival.”
These gifts, he explains, are both symbolic and valuable, as the gold is often seen as an investment for the child to keep. The necklace that Farouki wears daily was given to him on the day of his birth, and this in itself, he says, makes it meaningful. “The idea that it was bestowed upon me by a caring person on the day I was born is enough for me to fall in love with it,” Farouki says.
While Farouki believes that the Quranic verse has protective qualities, he also recognises that jewellery pieces inscribed with the prayer may be more treasured for their symbolic appeal than any actual “magic” properties that protect wearers from harm. “God knows everything from the past and future, so what’s meant to be is meant to be – but we as humans have the urge to hold on to things,” he says.
One with faith
Perhaps it's this tangibility – giving a solid surface to the realm of the unseen – that makes Islamic jewellery so covetable. And at a time when the Muslim community, or ummah, is so diverse and scattered, many young Muslims are refashioning their Islamic identities with the usage of timeless, borderless imagery.
“The words of the Quran are eternal and transcend cultural differences, they connect and unify Muslims, regardless of their differences,” says Karim.
Whether manly and minimalist or gold-plated and diamond-emblazoned, jewellery inscribed with the Ayatul Kursi make for an aesthetically pleasing badges of faith, offering solace and comfort in the idea of God’s protection. Still, most wearers admit that faith transcends material objects like jewellery, which are mere tokens serving as spiritual reminders. “I believe that God protects us regardless – with, or without an Ayatul Kursi around our necks or hanging on our walls at home,” says Chouki. “His protection is all-encompassing.”
