The Arab lucky charm: desert and mysteries
The Arabs built one of the greatest empires of all time, and welcomed a religion that dominated (and still dominates) much of the world: Islam. The Arab lucky charm reflects this greatness.
Initially, Arabia was inhabited by more or less confederated nomadic tribes.
Because a major trade route passed along its flanks, Arabia had contact with Egyptian, Greco-Roman, and Persian and Indian civilizations for thousands of years. This region has therefore always been a cultural crossroads and a hub of global trade. Such a country can only be intriguing, mysteries and legends of rich merchants have developed. All this constituted an exceptional breeding ground for the emergence of the Arab lucky charm.
Originally designating the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula, the term "Arab" is today commonly used to refer to those who one day lived under the Islamic caliphate. The Arabic lucky charm also therefore designates a very broad cultural field, and sometimes very contrasting too.
Islam, due to its essentially Arab nature, therefore constitutes the main contribution of this people to the rest of the world. This contribution is offered to you today too.
Between the Arabian desert and its Bedouin merchants and the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, Arab culture is fascinating and full of mysteries to unravel.
The hand of Fatma, emblematic Arab lucky charm
Arab women are known for their refinement... and their superstitious character!
If they can find a talisman or jewel capable of warding off bad luck, it's a win for them. But that is precisely the case with this one.
The hand of Fatma, or Hamsa (translation to the number five in Arabic, undoubtedly a reference to the five fingers of the hand) is an Arabic lucky charm representing the palm of an open hand. To clearly see what we are talking about, here are some examples of Fatma's hands offered on our site/
Popular for a long time, the hand of Fatma was already used by the Eastern world as early as the Middle Ages. Some historians even find an older origin by linking it to certain symbols found in Mesopotamia.
Anyway, we know that today the hand of Fatma is one of the most used Arab lucky charms to bring good luck, but above all to combat a terrible curse: the evil eye.
Popular custom dictates that an evil look thrown in your direction can be the source of immense evils and misfortunes. This type of curse is definitely not to be taken lightly.
To understand its powers, it is good to look at the name of the hand of Fatma (and, as you will see, the legend surrounding this symbol).
In fact, Fatma was the name of one of the daughters of the Prophet Muhammad. Obviously, a great force can only be linked to it.
Other Arab theologians and scholars also make a link between the five fingers of the hand and the five pillars of Islam.
Muslim symbols to the glory of Allah
The question of wearing amulets, talismans and lucky charms in the Arab world is necessarily linked to the question of Islam.
It is important to understand that a Muslim will seek to apply the teachings of his religion (the tawhid) in all aspects of his life... and therefore necessarily in the choice of his jewelry and his lucky accessories.
Scholars are actually divided on the issue. The evil eye is recognized as a reality, but superstitions are often poorly considered. For the Koran, it is not impossible that a poorly used protective symbol could have the opposite effect and bring bad luck.
For some experts in the Arab world, wearing this type of protection is witchcraft, and is therefore strictly prohibited by the Koran.
For other scholars of Islam, this is not necessarily recommended by the Prophet, but is not prohibited either.
The question therefore remains open.
However, certain Arab lucky charms will be unanimous: these are religious symbols.
In fact, whether we are talking about amulets decorated with the 99 names of Allah or verses from the Koran, there is no doubt that this kind of symbol is in accordance with the principles of Islam.
If you are afraid of making a mistake, you can always refer to our collection of Muslim lucky charms : each of them will necessarily have a pious meaning.
The terrible Arab lucky scimitars
The sword has always been a universal symbol of strength, victory and glory. The Arab scimitar will therefore have more or less this meaning as a lucky charm.
A particularly light and handy weapon, the scimitar is a kind of oriental saber composed of a curved, single-edged teardrop. The fetish blade of the desert peoples, the scimitar is a symbol of luck and an omen of future victories.
From the Maghreb to Central Asia, there are of course some regional variations. We can notably cite the Yemeni Jambiya, the Turkish Kilij, the Moroccan Nimcha, the Persian Shamshir or the Afghan Pulwar.
It is clear: this weapon is well linked to oriental culture, and it must have earned its title as an Arab lucky charm at one point or another in its history.
This was indeed the case, and more than once.
Already, this weapon caused terror among the enemies of the Arab tribes. During the Crusades, for example, Christian knights very often cited scimitars as the most formidable swords of their enemies.
Several times in history, it was also used by famous men. We can notably cite the great conqueror Saladin, or Ali, the cousin and greatest ally of the Prophet Muhammad.
