The open hand with five fingers is seen as a shield that halts the evil eye and ill intent. Worn fingers-down it is said to welcome blessings and abundance; fingers-up it wards off harm. When an eye sits in the palm, it adds the power to reflect envious gazes away.
The palm-shaped hamsa is an ancient emblem whose traces reach back to Carthage and Mesopotamia, predating the Abrahamic religions. Jewish tradition knows it as the Hand of Miriam, while in Islamic culture it is the Hand of Fatima, named for the Prophet's daughter, and it remains beloved across the Middle East and North Africa.
The open hand with five fingers is seen as a shield that halts the evil eye and ill intent. Worn fingers-down it is said to welcome blessings and abundance; fingers-up it wards off harm. When an eye sits in the palm, it adds the power to reflect envious gazes away.
It is worn as a pendant or bracelet, or hung on walls near the entrance to guard the home. Across the Middle East and North Africa it is also a favorite gift for newlyweds and new homes.