The Hamsa Hand is an ancient Middle Eastern amulet symbolizing the Hand of God.   It is also identified as the Hand of Miriam, Aaron and Moses’s sister, and the Hand of Fatima.  In all faiths it is a protective sign. It brings its owner happiness, luck, health, and good fortune.

The hamsa hand has a wide variety of different spellings which includes hamesh, hamsa, chamsa, and khamsa.  The hamsa hand has two main styles.  One style is shaped like a regular hand, and the other has two symmetrical thumbs.  The second of the two styles is the most popular.  The wearer of the hamsa hand can wear it facing up or down and it is believed to give the owner success, harmony, and protection from the “Ayin Ha’ra,” also known as The Evil Eye.

The hamsa hand meaning has a variety of interpretations, depending on the culture.  The word, “hamsa,” derives its name from the five fingers on the hand. In Hebrew, the number five is “hamesh” and the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is “Hey,” one of God’s holy names. “Hamesh” is representative of the five books of the Torah. In Judaism, it is also interpreted to be the Hand of Miriam, and symbolic of the owner’s five senses in an effort to praise God.

In Arabic, it is “khamesh.” In the Sunni culture, the hamsa is associated with the Five Pillars of Islam.  For the Shi’tes, it symbolizes the Five People of the Cloak.  In the Islamic faith, it symbolizes as The Hand of Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed.

The hamsa hand sometimes includes an evil eye symbol, which is thought to protect against the evil eye.  It is often worn as a pendant on a necklace but also is found on key chains, house decorations, baby carriages, and other jewelry items.