What does the Evil Eye or Hamsa Mean?
The Evil Eye = Jealousy or Envy
An Evil Eye Charm or Talisman is meant to deflect negativity.
The Evil Eye is believed to be cast by a malevolent glare or bad wishes and negative intentions sent to someone when they are unaware. The idea expressed by the term causes many different cultures to pursue protective measures against it.
Charms and decorations with eye-like symbols known as ‘nazars’, used to repel the Evil Eye, are common from Portugal to Greece, Israel, Egypt, and Turkey.
The Evil Eye is also know as the Hamsa or the Hand of Fatima after the daughter of the prophet Muhammad.
The Hamsa (Arabic – khamsah) is a palm-shaped amulet popular throughout the Middle East and North Africa and commonly used in jewelry and wall hangings. Depicting the open right hand, an image recognized and used as a sign of protection in many times throughout history, the Hamsa is believed by some, predominantly Muslims and Jews, to provide defense against the evil eye.
Khamsah is an Arabic word that means “five”, but also “the five fingers of the hand”