Hamsa hand of fatima

And in Israel the hamsa — whether on necklaces, keychains or displayed on walls — is as ubiquitous as the Star of David.

The Hamsa Hand is a universal sign of protection, power and strength that dates back to ancient Mesopotamia. Known as the Hand of Fatima in Islam and Hand of Miriam in Judaism, it's believed to protect against against the evil eye and and all negative energies. For Hindus and Buddhists, it symbolizes chakras, energy flow in the body, the five senses and the mudras that effect them. Each finger connects to an element and chakra: Thumb- Fire element, solar plexus chakra. Forefinger- Air element, heart chakra. Middle Finger- Ethereal elements, throat chakra.

Hamsa hand of fatima

Early use of the hamsa could be traced to ancient Mesopotamian artifacts in the amulets of the goddess Inanna or Ishtar. The image of the open right hand is also seen in Carthage [7] modern-day Tunisia and ancient North Africa and in Phoenician colonies in the Iberian Peninsula Spain and Portugal. One theory postulates a connection between the khamsa and the Mano Pantea or Hand-of-the-All-Goddess , an amulet known to ancient Egyptians as the Two Fingers. In this amulet, the Two Fingers represent Isis and Osiris and the thumb represents their child Horus. It was used to invoke the protective spirits of parents over their child. This relates to the belief that God exists in everything. Another meaning of this symbol relates to the sky god, Horus. It refers to the Eye of Horus , which means humans cannot escape from the eye of conscience. It says that the sun and moon are the eyes of Horus. The Hand of Fatima also represents femininity and is referred to as the woman's holy hand. It is believed to have extraordinary characteristics that can protect people from evil and other dangers. It is speculated that Sephardic Jews were among the first to use this amulet due to their beliefs about the evil eye. However, the notion of a protective hand has been present in Judaism dating back to Biblical times, where it is referenced in Deuteronomy , stated in the Ten Commandments as the "strong hand" of God who led the Jews out of Egypt.

There are two ways to display the Hamsa: Hand Ltpdc2000d Down or Varada Mudra When the Hamsa hand faces down, it opens you up to all of the abundance and goodness of the universe, welcoming them into your life. Palestinian Costume.

The Hamsa , or the Hand of Fatima, is a symbolic hand which represents protection in both Jewish and Islamic cultures. Relating to Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed the founder of Islam , and Miriam , the sister of Moses, this symbol directly correlates back to various religions and cultures. As a teen with a Muslim-Palestinian father and a Jewish-American mother, this symbol has always meant a lot to me and my family. Growing up in a mixed-culture and mixed-religion family is confusing. Nowadays, there's an internal grapple with the two sides of my identity, but also a beautiful mix of two cultures coming together as one around me. This is constantly shown through the various holidays we practice, trips to see family around the world, flavorful meals, and my personal favorite, the symbol of my family: the Hamsa, or, the Hand of Fatima.

If you're not familiar with the hamsa or the traditions surrounding the symbol, you'd be forgiven for not quite making out what you're looking at. Is it a flower of some sort? An elephant with three trunks? No, the hamsa is a depiction of a human hand, often, though not always, with a central eye motif. The symbol is widely used across much of the Middle East and North Africa The Hebrew word hamesh means five, as does the Arabic word khamsah. In Muslim traditions, it is sometimes known as the Hand of Fatima, named for one of the prophet Muhammad's daughters, according to Frankel. In some Christian usages, it is referred to as the Hand of Mary. It's an image recognized and used as a sign of protection at many times and in many cultures throughout history, traditionally believed to provide defense against the evil eye, a powerful notion in many of those cultures. As far as pronunciation goes, "technically if you were Muslim or an Israeli, you would pronounce it as ' cham -sa,' with a hard ch," according to Dr.

Hamsa hand of fatima

Did you know that a simple symbol can hold profound meaning in a culture? The Hamsa Hand, an ancient symbol found in various cultures, carries significant symbolism in Islam. But what does the Hamsa Hand truly represent in this religious context? In this article, we will explore the deep-rooted meaning of the Hamsa Hand in Islam, its historical origins, and its role as a symbol of protection and spirituality.

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You can find a wide variety in most Judaica stores and online. It has sometimes been used as decoration for the Ketubah , or marriage contracts, as well as items that dress the Torah such as pointers, and the Passover Haggadah. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications. Some traditions believe that The Fatima Hand should be worn down to ward off Evil, and up to bring good luck. New York: Oxford University Press. For me, the Hamsa means something slightly different to that of my parents as I am the merger of the two cultures. Ring Finger- Earth element, root chakra. The name comes from Mohammed's daughter Fatima. Especially in a world where I constantly will be working to be connected with both sides, the Hamsa and I have that characteristic in common. Hamsa Muscle Tank.

This is the start of an interesting trip into the history and meaning of the Hand of Fatima , also called the Hamsa Hand. People have been drawn to this strong sign for hundreds of years because it has deep religious and cultural meanings in many cultures. Scholars say it started in Mesopotamia and Phoenicia in ancient times and then spread to other countries.

Fatima, who at the time had been cooking, dropped the soup ladle she had been using. A symbol of protection in various religions and cultures is also used as a symbol of unity for a positively messy mix of backgrounds in my family. Often, in this position, the fingers are spread apart to ward off evil. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact time when hamsas emerged in Jewish culture, though it is clearly a symbol of Sephardic nature. Sonbol, Amira El Azhary Privacy Policy. Brill's first encyclopedia of Islam, — Reprint ed. Origin of the Hamsa Hand Although the hamsa hand has been symbolic in Islam and Judaism for centuries, archeological digs in the Middle East provide evidence that the hamsa pre-dates these religions and originated with the Phoenicians and was used as a protective symbol for an ancient Middle Eastern goddess. Origin of the Hamsa Hand? Highly stylized versions may be difficult to recognize as hands, and can consist of five circles representing the fingers, situated around a central circle representing the palm. Palestinian Costume. Footprint Egypt 4th, illustrated ed. In reply to Great Story! Your name. Thank you!