Hand of Fatima 5
The Hand of Fatima or Khamsa can be found in souks all around Morocco. Khamsa means five in Arabic and refers to the 5 fingers of the hand.
Khamsa is typical of both the Islamic and Jewish religions,
and for Muslims it is a symbol of faith and patience.
The Hand of Fatima can be found in many forms and is made from different materials.
It can be metallic, ceramic or made from camel bone.
It is powerful against the evil eye and against negative influences in general.
The number five is a reminder of the pillars of Islam which are the statement of faith and prayer, making the pilgrimage to Mecca, Zakat (support for the needy) and fasting in Ramadan.
Khamsa also represents the eye of Allah who watches over worshippers.
For Shiites the five fingers of Khamsa represent the members of the sacred family: Mohamed, Fatima, Ali, Hussein and Hassan.
In the Jewish religion it is known as the Hand of Myriam’s sister of Aronne and Moses.
In this case the number five is associated with the number of books of the Torah.
(Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).
The origins of this symbol are even more ancient and still yet to be fully discovered. Similar symbols of protection are known to have existed in Mesopotamia and even in Buddhism through the number of gestures of Buddha.
