Hand of Fátima – meaning, origin, representation and how to use

Do you know what the hand of Fatima means? Also known as “Hamsa”, “Hand of God”, “Chamsá”, “Abhaya Mudra”, “Hand of Miriam” and “Hand of Hameshh”, the symbol was spread by Islam and Judaism. However, it has become a popular amulet in Brazil, and can be seen in various accessories and objects.

I bet you’ve seen this drawing in several places and wondered: what does this symbol mean? In this article, we will explain to you the meaning of the hand of Fatimaits origin and how to use it.

Hand of Fatima – meaning

Hamsá or Hand of Fatima is an amulet against the evil eye, to ward off negative energies and attract good vibes.

The word Hamsa literally means “five”, alluding to the five fingers of the hand. The symbol means exactly what we see: a hand that stops, that prevents evil from reaching you and transmits power, strength and protection, attracting good.

In Islam, the fingers represent the five pillars of religion:

• Shahada – faith;
• Salat – prayer;
• Zakat – charity;
• Sawm – fasting;
• Haji – pilgrimage.

Representation of the hand of Fatima

Now that you know the meaning of the hand of Fatima, let’s see how it is represented. The hand symbol of Fatima is the drawing of a right hand with the two extreme fingers (thumb and little finger) of the same size and proportions. The other three middle fingers are of different sizes.

In the palm of the hand appears a symbol that can vary according to belief. In some representations, we have the Greek eye in the palm of your hand. In others, we have the Star of David, fish or pigeons.

These symbols reinforce the concept of protecting the hand of Fátima, which has numerous representations.

According to popular belief, depending on the position of the fingers, the object has different purposes. For example, in representations where the hand of Fatima has the fingers together, the amulet is used to attract good luck. If the fingers are separated, the talisman should be used to ward off negative energies.

History of Fatima

We have already shown why the symbol is called Hamsa. But why is he also called the hand of Fatima?

To understand the meaning of the hand of Fatima, you also need to know who this woman was. The name alludes to the youngest daughter of the prophet Muhammad, spiritual leader of Islam, with his wife Cadija. For the followers of Islam, Fatima was a sanctified woman. If we make a comparison with Catholicism, it can be associated with Our Lady of Fatima or the Virgin Mary.

Fatima was born in Mecca in the year 614 AD. She was the only daughter to give heirs to Muhammad, ensuring the prophet’s descent. Furthermore, she took care of her father until the end.

Before he died, Muhammad told Fatima that he had received a visit from the angel Gabriel. On this visit, the angel revealed that when she died, she would meet him in the Heavenly Realm. She died in 632 AD

Through her life story, obedience, devotion and dedication to her family, Fátima serves as an inspiration, mirror and model for Muslim women. She is known as the “Lady of the Women of Paradise”.

Therefore, it is common to see Muslim women wearing the hand amulet of Fatima.

Origin of the amulet

Scholars report that the origin of the hand of Fatima is linked to the Phoenicians. His cult was associated with Tanith, the main deity of the city of Carthage, which is on the African coast, in what is now Tunisia.

It was only later that the Arabs and Jews adopted the mystical symbol and gave meaning to the hand of Fatima. While Muslims attribute the hand to Mohammed’s firstborn, Jews attribute the representation to Miriam, sister of Moses, the prophet who led the Hebrew people towards the Promised Land. That’s why the Jews call the hand amulet Miriam.

In Buddhism, the symbol is called the Abhaya Mudra and it means the dispelling of fear.

Hand of Fatima – how to use it?

The Hand of Fatima amulet can be worn both upside down and upside down.

Some lines of study of symbolism say that the hand facing up represents male energy, and facing downwards female energy.

In other lines, the positioning of the hand upwards refers to heaven, the spiritual world, and downwards, to the earth, the physical world.

The amulet can be used in many ways. The most common is to see people wearing it through a piece of jewelry, as in the hand bracelet of Fátima. It can also be seen on key chains, sculptures, paintings, fabric paintings and in tattoos.

Depending on the place where it is used, the hand of Fátima offers a different type of protection:

As a keyring: many people put it in the car key to protect the driver from accidents.

As a decorative piece: normally placed facing the door to prevent the evil eye from entering.

As amulet: so that the person always has it with them and scare away bad luck. In this case, the use in necklaces is the most indicated, since it will absorb the evil eye more easily.

How to tattoo: to carry the talisman in their own skin and protect themselves from the envy of others.

Fátima’s hand can also be seen stamped on t-shirts and on various types of jewelry, from earrings to stylized rings in the shape of the little hand.