The hand of Fatima , or hand of Jamsa, is a very widespread symbol in Eastern cultures. Like other amulets and magic items, it is used to ward off bad energies and attract good fortune.
It represents a complete hand , with the peculiarity that it has two thumbs and the index and ring fingers measure exactly the same. In addition, it contains a series of religious inscriptions.
Origin and evolution
The origin of the hand of Fatima dates back to 244 AD Recent research has discovered this motif in the frescoes of the Dura Europos Synagogue in Syria.
Everything indicates that this symbol was used as a magic amulet by the Carthaginians in the 1st century. In North Africa it had a very special bond with the goddess Tanit, and her cult was related to fertility and the moon.
From North Africa, this amulet became part of the culture of the Maghreb and Berbers. These peoples associated it with strength, power, and authority.
From there, the Arab and Jewish cultures adopted the hand of Fatima as an independent symbol. Still, there are certain affinities between the hand of God in Western cultures and the Islamic amulet.
What does the hand of Fatima symbolize?
This is a very nice symbol, made up of a hand with five fingers. A very interesting feature is that the ring and index fingers are shorter than the heart, but are the same size between them.
Although it is not an original symbol of Islam , and taking into account that the Koran establishes the prohibition of the use of superstition, the Islamic religion links the five fingers with the five basic principles of Islam. Regarding the Jewish religion, it relates the hand of Fatima with the five books of the Torah, the Pentateuch.
The meaning of the amulet when the hand is upwards indicates power, strength and blessing. It is also used to ward off the evil eye. On the other hand, when it is down, it is used with “the eye of Fatima”, which attracts luck and love.
Islam
In Islam and Arab culture, the hand of Fatima is used as a talisman to ward off the evil eye. It is therefore an amulet that is believed to attract good luck. The five fingers of the hand represent the pillars of Islam:
- Profession of faith: to be a Muslim you do not have to perform any initiation rite, but rather recite the following profession: “There is no God except Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet .” It is the sacred formula of Islam.
- Alms: Muslims should give alms voluntarily to please Allah.
- Pilgrimage: at least once in their life, all adult Muslims who have sufficient means must make a pilgrimage to Mecca, the hometown of Muhammad.
- Fasting: during the month of Ramadan the faithful must abstain from eating and drinking, as well as smoking and having sexual relations, between sunrise and sunset.
- Prayer: All Muslims have to pray five times a day, in the direction of Mecca and in the direction of Allah.
Legend
There are different theories about the hand of Fatima , although this is the most accepted and widespread of all. She tells that Fatima, Muhammad’s daughter, was at home one day, preparing dinner, when her husband Ali arrived.
Fatima ran to meet him, but Ali did not arrive alone, but accompanied by a young concubine . Fatima felt disappointed and jealous, so, without knowing what she was doing, she began to stir the broth that was boiling in a pot using her hand. He felt so bad that he didn’t notice he was burning. Suddenly her husband appeared and took her hand out of the pot. He healed her hand and confessed that he had spent the night with the concubine.
The next night, Ali was with the concubine again, and Fatima discovered them . When he started crying, Ali realized what he had done, and he turned to loving Fatima for the rest of his life.
Based on this legend, one of the main meanings of the hand of Fatima is the great power it has to attract fertility, good luck, fertility and patience.
