Hamsa

The hamsa is an open hand, usually drawn symmetrically with a thumb on either side, raised as if to say stop to misfortune. Its name comes from the Arabic word for five, and it is loved in Jewish and Muslim communities across North Africa and the Near East as a sign of protection and blessing.

Where it comes from

Hands raised in protection appear in the art of many ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern cultures, and scholars have traced possible forerunners in Phoenician and Punic imagery. The exact line of descent is uncertain, but the open hand has clearly been a protective sign in the region for a very long time.

The classic hamsa took shape in the Islamic and Jewish worlds of the Middle Ages, in North Africa and al-Andalus. A famous early example is carved above the Gate of Justice at the Alhambra in Granada, built in 1348, where an open hand crowns the outer arch. It is one of the grand outer gates of the palace city, so the hand greeted a great many of those who came to it.

In cities such as Fez, Marrakesh, Algiers and Tunis, silversmiths, many of them Jewish, made hamsas for homes, cradles and brides. The form travelled with families wherever they settled, so that today it is equally at home in Paris, Jerusalem and New York.

What it means

In Muslim popular tradition the hand is often called the Hand of Fatima, after the beloved daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, and its five fingers are sometimes linked with the five pillars of Islam. In Jewish tradition it may be called the Hand of Miriam, after the sister of Moses and Aaron, and its five fingers can recall the five books of the Torah.

Hebrew speakers also call it hamesh, from the Hebrew word for five. Jewish hamsas may carry Hebrew blessings or verses, and they are often given for a new home, a birth or a wedding.

Five fingers, two faiths, one shared wish: that the home behind the door may be kept safe.

Many hamsas include an eye in the palm, joining the hand to the older belief in the Evil Eye. Fish, which never close their eyes, and blue stones or glass add further layers of watchfulness and good fortune.

The number five itself carries the hand’s protective sense. In parts of North Africa people may say khamsa fi ainek, “five in your eye”, sometimes with the fingers spread, to send back an envious look with a smile rather than a quarrel.

How it is worn and kept

• Hung inside the front door or above it, to watch over everyone who enters.
• Worn as a pendant or bracelet, very often in silver.
• Placed near a baby’s cradle or given as a gift at a birth.
• Painted on walls and tiles, or worked into wedding jewellery.

Fingers pointing up is the classic protective position. Some modern makers point the fingers downwards and describe this as a sign of welcome and abundance, though this distinction is a recent one rather than an old rule.

Silver hamsas darken gently over time, and many families like that softened look as a sign of age and use. If you prefer a brighter finish, a soft polishing cloth is enough; avoid dipping enamelled or glass-set pieces in liquid cleaners.

Wearing it with respect

Because it belongs to two communities at once, the hamsa is also a quiet symbol of shared history. In the old quarters of North African and Near Eastern cities, the same open hand can be found on Jewish and Muslim doorways alike, a reminder of centuries lived side by side.

Variations and relatives

The hamsa sits among a family of watchful charms. The blue Evil Eye bead often hangs from its wrist, the red Cornicello answers similar worries in southern Italy, and the knotted Red String is tied on wrists in Jewish and many other communities. All of them belong to the wider world of talismans of the Mediterranean and Near East.

A silver hamsa by the door makes a warm housewarming gift. It says what people in this region have long said with an open hand: may only good things come in. Explore more talismans for protection and talismans for good luck.

taliaris describes beliefs and customs; it makes no claim that a talisman has an effect.