The hand of Fatima and its meaning arouse curiosity about this mysterious amulet and shoot several unknowns about its origin and why it receives us at the gates. In this note we are going to dispel those doubts and learn about some curiosities that this talisman protects in its history.
Fatima’s hand: significance in Carthage and North Africa
The first step in unlocking the mysteries about what does the hand of fatima mean, is to know its origin, to know where this amulet comes from.
Although there is no written evidence, it is believed that its first appearance was in the ancient city of Carthage around 820 BC. C.. For that civilization, this hand was associated with the goddess Tanit, patron saint of the city and deity of fertility, sexuality and war.
This symbol spread throughout North Africa at the hands of the Maghrebis and Berbers who linked it with authority, strength and power. Thanks to this expansion, peoples such as the Sephardic Jews and the Arabs learned about this amulet and assumed it; each with an independent meaning.
It is important to comment that this talisman is also often called Hamsa, which in the Arabic language means the number five, thus referring to the number of fingers that the hand has.
A legend, several peoples
The hand of fatima meaning and origin, can become the title of dozens of historical research projects. It is that about its origin there is no documentation, only myths and legends. Perhaps the most famous is the one starring Fatima az-Zahra, daughter of the prophet Maoma, founder of Islam.
Legend has it that one night Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and Fatima’s husband, came home hand in hand with a concubine. When Muhammad’s daughter saw this scene, she could not bear the jealousy and pain. whereupon he cut and burned his own hand as a way to vent his rage. The unusual thing is that it is said that she did not perceive any pain.
Ali realized the serious mistake he had made as well as the suffering inflicted on Fatima, making the decision to dedicate his life to his wife from that day on. That is why it is said that this story had such an impact that many ancient women began to associate this amulet to the possibility of being able to achieve peace, patience and fortune.
The hand of fatima: meaning and history for two great religions
As we have previously commented, this symbol has been present in different civilizations from Africa to the Middle East, slipping into the customs of the great monotheistic religions. That is how Fatima’s hand can be seen both in a Muslim home and in a Jewish home, especially Sephardic..
Although superstitions are prohibited in Islam, this symbol preserves a certain legitimacy, to the point of associating its five fingers with the pillars of this religion: the profession of faith, ritual prayer, almsgiving, helping during Ramadan and pilgrimage to Mecca.
In the case of the Jewish people, it usually associates its shape with the five books of the Torah: genesis, exodus, levítico, numbers and deuteronomy.
The fact that both religions accept this symbol, although each one gives it its own meaning, has served as a point of reconciliation and meeting at times when these peoples have been confronted, thus being a kind of cultural bridge between Islam and Islam. Judaism.
What do the hand of fatima and the eye mean?
when we wonder what does the hand of fatima meanwe must not only refer to its history, but we must pay attention to how it is composed and in what orientation it is shown to us.
The first thing is to meet her. This talisman is basically a five-fingered hand, but beware! these fingers keep a singularity. The so-called middle finger is located in the middle, accompanied by a slightly smaller ring and index finger, then two slightly outward-angled thumbs complete the image.
In In some specimens, the hand is accompanied by the so-called Eye of Fatima, which is usually located in the center of the palm, adding wishes for good fortune and love for the future..
Another point that determines what the hand of Fatima and the Turkish eye mean is how it is oriented, that is, if it looks up or down.
If you arrive at your neighbor’s house and see a hand of Fatima with the fingers upIn said home they seek to be blessed and attract energies related to strength and power.
On the contrary, If our famous talisman directs its fingers downwards in that home or business, it is sought that the hand protects them from the evil eyethat is, they seek to protect themselves from bad luck in the future.
The Hand of Fatima: a contemporary amulet
This symbol, which has already harvested thousands of years, accompanying the luck and future of many civilizations and cultures, remains valid until our times. The Hand of Fatima and its meaning have gone from being just a talisman hanging in the doorways of old houses to becoming an icon of Western pop culture. Associated with the exotic, today it is part of the souvenirs that are hung or stamped on a piece of clothing, a refrigerator magnet and why not the fashionable tattoo.
This icon of the culture of Carthage, assumed by Islam and the Serfaradi Jews as a shield of good luck, today is an inevitable piece in the flea markets of the big capitals, especially in the Middle East and Europe, a sort of irrefutable proof of that you took your traveler’s backpack to remote corners of the world.
A lots of they decide that its protective powers accompany them in their day to day, carrying the talisman close to their body in a ring, a bracelet and of course, as we mentioned before, on their skin as a tattoo..
Hand of Fatima: meaning, superstition and luck
We have talked about its history, myths and curiosities, its cultural and religious incidences. All this to answer the question that kept us awake while we were reading this note: what does the Hand of Fatima mean? A question whose answer has multiple approaches, which it is worth reviewing:
– Although today it is almost certainly associated with the cultures of North Africa and the Middle East, especially Arabs and Sephardim, we must bear in mind that it is a pre-Islamic symbol.
– Its name ¨Hand of Fatima” responds to the legend carried out by Fatima daughter of the prophet Mohammed, where her wounded hand represents the pain and in turn the repentance of her husband before what he had generated in her.
– In general lines it is seen as a good luck or protection charm, depending on its interpretation according to the orientation in which it is arranged in space. Remember, fingers up seek good energy and evoke strength, while fingers down seek to be a protective shield against the evil eye.
The Hand of Fatima: universal meaning
Whether it is for a cultural, religious or merely ornamental issue, the Hand of Fatima is an irrefutable example of how certain symbols and traditions can widely overcome the passage of time.
This talisman of Carthage origin spread throughout the world thanks to the Islamic and Sephardic Jewish influence, teaches us that the desire for good fortune is universal, to the point that everything that generates or invokes good energy does not know of the East or the West, of Asia or Europe, from ancient or contemporary times.
Its mystique transcends generations and it is important that those of us who collect this talisman, who brought it from a trip or gave it as a souvenir to a friend, reinforce that He has in his hands (or on his skin, if we talk about tattoos) a symbol of good omen, strength and protection.
One hand, five fingers and one eye, more than a symbol, an example of how culture overcomes all borders.