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In Arabic, also known as חמסה, Khamsa in Hebrew, is a hand shaped amulet used for protection by both Jewish and Muslim people; comes from a Semitic root literally means "five;" Some associate the significance of the five fingers to the five books of the Torah; usually shaped in the form of a symmetrical hand, thumbs on both side, and not in the anatomically correct way. A "protecting hand" or "hand of God" is thought to protect against the Evil Eye it is widely used by both Jewish and Muslim people; origins pre-date both religions and is attributed to the goddess Tanit who was a Phoenician lunar goddess, worshiped as the patron goddess at Carthage. Alternative names: the Hand of Fatima or Eye of Fatima, in reference to, the daughter of Muhammad, or the Hand of Miriam, in reference to, the sister of Moses.
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