Completely off topic, just wondering.

[MDresden]

What is the common consensus among Pashtuns regarding people that are able to do small feats of what is commonly called "magic." Such as through force of will light a small fire, or create a breeze when indoors because it's hot.

Just wondering if there's any word or text based on that in Pashtunwali.

[BarakzaiAbdali]

What is the common consensus among Pashtuns regarding people that are able to do small feats of what is commonly called "magic." Such as through force of will light a small fire, or create a breeze when indoors because it's hot.

Just wondering if there's any word or text based on that in Pashtunwali.

Pashtuns prior to Islams coming appear to have had a rather shamanistic bent to their way of life. This is why spirits are called Piryaan (also the term for Ghost - it was the same name that Najib gave his elite cadre of KGB trained killers). So then, the Pashtuns referred to those that could communicate with the spirits as "pirs" Hence, Pir Sabir Shah, the gentleman who was involved in choosing Ahmad Shah Abdali to rule the Afghan nation, was a mystic given to having trances.

In the villages there is a high degree of belief in the concept of casting spells, or doing "dhaams" (word for incantation). Some are for good things like attempting to have children, and others were for cursing other folks.

The belief in this stems from the Quranic concept that such dark arts do exist. I can provide you references.

For example, the Quran notes that one way the old Arab tribes used to resort to cursing magic was via a spell that involved blowing on knots. The reader is urged to take refuge in God alone from such practices.

[BarakzaiAbdali]

This shamanistic past has been fused with the era post introduction of Islam where many Pirs, like Pir Gilani, are now considered an Islamic cleric of sort. In other situations, the Pir set up violates the spirit of Islam and the Pir is given a little too much status.

However, Pirs are not the only ones that do dhamoona (spells). Sometimes various traveling women called Babo's are also adept at claiming they know these arts. Not the kind you mention about starting fires randomly and spontaneously etc.