Hamsa Bracelet

Hamsa Hand – Meaning and Origins of the Popular Symbol

Hamsa is a very popular motif in modern culture. The Hamsa hand is believed to protect against the evil eye. Instead, the Hamsa hand provides blessing of good fortune to the ones who own it. You can see Hamsa almost everywhere you go: Hamsa decorates key chains, mobile accessories, they are hung on walls and doors and feature many fashion accessories.

The Hamsa is shaped as a symmetrical five-finger hand with two symmetrical thumbs on each side. The Semitic name of the symbol, Hamsa literally means “five” in Arabic, referring to the five stretched fingers of the hand.
Origins of the Hamsa hand

Origins of the symbol

According to Archaeologist findings, the origins of Hamsa can be traced to thousands of years ago. First appearances of the Hamsa hand are linked to the Moon goddess Tanit, who was one of the patron goddesses of Carthage.
Later on, Hamsa has been adopted by both Judaism and Islam. However, it is not a religious symbol. The hamsa hand is used for the same purpose everywhere around the world- as a good luck charm that banishes the evil eye.

Hamsa hand in Jewish tradition

Judaism has adopted the Semitic name. There are several alternative names for Hamsa in Jewish tradition: one of them is the Hand of Miriam. Miriam is the older sister of biblical Moses and Aaron. Miriam played a significant role in the story of Exodus and she participated in the escape of the Israelites from Egypt. Miriam’s miraculous well has provided water that saved the Israelites from dehydration in the Sinai desert.

In Jewish tradition, Hamsa hand is also known as the hand of God or the protective hand of God. Many Jewish believers and Kabablists see the five fingers of the Hamsa hand as representing the five books of the Torah.

Hamsa hand and Islam

In Islam, Hamsa is also known the Hand of Fatima or Eye of Fatima. The names Fatima refers to Fatima Zahra, the daughter of Mohamed, the prophet of Islam. There is a remarkable folklore behind that name. According to the story, Fatima was stirring hot milk when her husband Ali suddenly entered the room in with another woman. Overwhelmed, Fatima dropped her spoon into the boiling stew. Without noticing, Fatima kept on stirring using her own hand as a spoon. Thus, the hand of Fatima has turned into a symbol of faith and tolerance. An image of an eye is often incorporated in Hamsa designs and stands for the tear that Fatima shed.