What's the Difference Between a Nazar and a Hamsa?
, by Divya Chatani de Tourani, 3 min reading time
Nazar and Hamsa are often confused, but they're two separate protective symbols with different origins — here's the real difference and why they're so often seen together.
Nazar and Hamsa are the two most common protective symbols you'll see in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean-inspired home decor and jewelry — and they're often confused for each other, or assumed to be the same thing. They're not. Here's the real difference.
What is a nazar (the evil eye)?
The nazar, commonly called the "evil eye," is an eye-shaped charm, traditionally blue and white. It's rooted in a belief found across dozens of cultures: that an envious or admiring glance — even one given without any bad intention — can cause misfortune to whatever it's directed at. The charm is believed to symbolically "watch back," deflecting that negative energy. Encyclopaedia Britannica notes that belief in the evil eye is ancient and found across Greek, Roman, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, and Hindu traditions, among others. The earliest known nazar amulets date back to around 3,300 BCE.
What is a Hamsa?
The Hamsa is a hand-shaped symbol, usually shown palm-forward with the fingers spread or together. "Hamsa" comes from the Arabic word for "five," referring to the five fingers. In some Islamic traditions, it's also called the Hand of Fatima. Like the nazar, it's used for protection — but it developed as its own distinct symbol, with its own separate history, rather than as a variation of the evil eye.
Why are the nazar and Hamsa so often seen together?
The two symbols are frequently combined — an eye set into the palm of a hand — which is likely why they get confused. Both are protective symbols from overlapping regions (Middle East, North Africa, Mediterranean), both are commonly rendered in blue, and both show up on the same categories of objects: jewelry, wall hangings, tableware, keychains. But they are two separate symbols with two separate origins, not one thing with two names.
How can you tell a nazar from a Hamsa?
- An eye shape (with or without a hand around it) = nazar / evil eye
- A hand shape (with or without an eye in the palm) = Hamsa
- An eye set inside a hand = both symbols combined into one piece
What do each of them look like on Casa Duniya pieces?
A nazar is the easier one to spot on everyday objects. The Zara Turkish Evil Eye Keychain is a classic example: a small eye charm you can clip to a bag or keys.
The Hamsa shows up as the hand. The hand-painted Fatima Salt and Pepper Shakers are named for the Hand of Fatima and put the symbol on the dinner table.
Read more about the evil eye's full history in our evil eye meaning guide, browse our complete Evil Eye Guide for the full range by category, or explore the Evil Eye Protection collection for pieces featuring both symbols, hand-painted and hand-embroidered by artisans in Turkey and Jordan.
What are the Hamsa's other names, and how old is it?
Hebrew hamesh also means five. The name "Hand of Fatima" was popularised by Europeans in colonial North Africa; Jewish communities call the symbol the Hand of Miriam, and Levantine Christians the Hand of Mary. Documented use in al-Andalus goes back to the thirteenth century, and hand amulets such as the hand of Ishtar protected buildings in ancient Mesopotamia. A hand with fingers pointing up is said to ward off evil, while fingers pointing down are said to bestow blessings.
Source: Hamsa, Wikipedia.