Hand of Fatima

Hand of Fatima

HAND OF FATIMA

A folk motif.

European name for the khamsa (from Arabic, "five"), the hand with five fingers extended. It can be found today throughout the Middle East in women's jewelry, flat-weaving, embroidery, door-knockers, automobile ornamentation, and so on. Precursors include the Punic "Hand of Baal" and the Roman V-shaped amulets (possibly representing the Roman numeral five), all for protection from the evil eye.

laurence michalak

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Michalak, Laurence. "Hand of Fatima." Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

Michalak, Laurence. "Hand of Fatima." Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3424601190.html

Michalak, Laurence. "Hand of Fatima." Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa. 2004. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3424601190.html

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Hand of Fāṭima

Hand of Fāṭima (Arab., yad Fāṭima, also known as al-kaff, ‘the palm’). Decorated hand or palm, common in Islam as a charm. It has no connection with Fāṭima, the daughter of Muḥammad.

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JOHN BOWKER. "Hand of Fāṭima." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Hand of Fāṭima." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-HandofFima.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Hand of Fāṭima." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-HandofFima.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

"White Hands Campaign" awards Sheikha Fatima the Order of 'Model Woman'.
News Wire article from: WAM - United Arab Emirates News Agency; 12/13/2011
Carolyn Theriault: Stealing Fatima's Hand.(Brief article)(Book review)
Magazine article from: World Literature Today; 9/1/2010
CLEAN UP; THIS JUNKIE YARD MESS; Fatima Mansions is one of the country's most...
Newspaper article from: Sunday Mirror (London, England); 7/25/1999

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