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The hand of Fátima, meaning and origin, can become the title of dozens of historical research projects.. There is no documentation about its origin, 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, arrived home hand in hand with a concubine. When Muhammad’s daughter saw this scene, she could not bear her jealousy and pain, so she cut and burned her own hand as a way to vent her rage. The unusual thing is that it is said that she did not perceive any pain.
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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 with the possibility of achieving peace, patience and fortune.
What does the hand of Fatima and the eye mean?
When we ask ourselves what does the hand of Fatima meanwe must not only refer to its stories, but we must pay attention to how it is composed and in what orientation it is shown to us.
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The first thing is to know her. This talisman is basically a five-fingered hand, but be careful! These fingers have a uniqueness. The so-called middle finger is located in the middle, accompanied by a ring finger and an index finger of a slightly smaller size, then two thumbs tilted slightly outward 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 of 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, whether it looks up or down.
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If you arrive at your neighbor’s house and see a hand of Fatima with the fingers upIn this 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, the hand is expected to protect them from the evil eye.that is, they seek to protect themselves from bad luck in the future.
The hand of Fatima: a contemporary amulet
This symbol, which has been accompanying the fortunes and future of many civilizations and cultures for thousands of years, remains valid to this day. The Hand of Fatima and its meaning have gone from being just a talisman hanging on 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 printed on a piece of clothing, a refrigerator magnet and why not the fashionable tattoo.
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This icon of the culture of Carthage, assumed by Islam and Serfarad Jews as a shield of good luck, today is an essential piece in the flea markets of the big capitals, especially in the Middle East and Europe, a kind of irrefutable proof of that you carried your traveler’s backpack to remote corners of the world.
Many They decide that its protective powers accompany them in their daily lives, wearing the talisman close to their body in a ring, a bracelet and of course, as we mentioned above, on their skin as a tattoo..
Meaning, superstition and luck
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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 does not hurt to review:
- Although today it is almost undoubtedly associated with the cultures of North Africa and the Middle East, especially Arabs and Sephardic people, we must keep in mind that it is a pre-Islamic symbol.
- Its name “Hand of Fatima” responds to the legend starring Fatima, daughter of the prophet Muhammad, where her wounded hand represents the pain and, in turn, her husband’s repentance for what he had generated in her.
- In general terms, it is seen as an amulet of good luck or protection, its interpretation depending on the orientation in which it is arranged in space. Remember, fingers facing up seek good energy and evoke strength, while with fingers facing downwards they seek to be a protective shield against the evil eye.
Universal meaning
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Whether for a cultural, religious or merely ornamental issue, the Hand of Fatima is an irrefutable example of how certain symbols and traditions can far surpass the passage of time.
This talisman of Carthaginian origin, spread throughout the world thanks to 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 energies does not know East or West, 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 back 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. A hand, five fingers and an eye, more than a symbol, an example of how culture transcends all borders.