SUPERSTITIONS were rampant in the past when people used to travel on mules and donkeys. People were controlled by a group of priests who claimed that they possess incredible powers through wizardry or witchcraft and can do wonders with the support of supernatural genies. In those days people used to exchange imaginary stories that sane men and women would never believe. There is a saying that superstitions would disappear when people get educated and we can see this happening all over the world. Unfortunately many people in our society still believe in superstitions and the supernatural powers some religious men wield. Let me ask some questions to prove them wrong and foolish. They believe that lavatories are full of genies and it is advised not to pour hot water in certain corners of the toilet. We don't know the reason why hot water should not be poured and why the genies stay in the corners of the lavatory, not in the front or back? It is also advised not to cross a black cat, which is considered one of the abodes of genies. We don't know the reason for the genie's love for black. Couples have often been advised to visit spiritual healers to settle family disputes, which people believe are caused by genies as if their main job is to undermine family life. They claim genies sometimes enter a married woman's body and on some occasions an unmarried woman's body. Possessed by genies these women will always have a love life. People also believe that a genie enters a person's body through his small finger and gets out through his eyes and a person could lose sight because of this process. Genies have different religions and nationalities and you can see Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist genies as well as Saudi, Egyptian, Iranian and Chinese genies and liberal and extremist genies. We often hear about Makkawis who have established intimate relationship with genies and keep in touch with them via Twitter and WhatsApp. Unlike in the past when genies were asked to bring a man's hair or a duck's beak, the new generation genies face demands such as iPhones and Galaxy Note 7s. If you had watched a recent episode of Dawood Al-Shirian's talk-show on MBC you would understand there is no exaggeration in what I have mentioned. Throughout the show that lasted for an hour spiritual healers and a psychiatrist were discussing the issue of genie. During the discussion, a spiritual healer pointed out that on one occasion he had noticed the genie using WhatsApp and sending a video clip using this popular social media. They also argued that cats will talk if possessed by a genie and Shirian equated it with Disneyland. They spoke about the nationalities of genies. What we need today is just to believe in genie — like our belief in spirit — as per the teachings of our faith without going into details about their forms and when they appear. Before concluding I would like to advise patients: Visiting a psychologist does not mean weakness of a person's faith in God. On the other hand, approaching fake practitioners such as black magicians and spiritual healers shows the intellectual weakness of a person.
