This iron door knocker that has the shape of a hand is also known as “the hand of Fatima”.

In the Jewish and Islamic world, these hands are associated by the number “five”, alluding to the five fingers. In Judaism this refers to the five books of the Torah, in Islam to the five pillars of Islam.

The evil eye is a very important force in Islam. Showing the khamsa, which means five in Arabic, is a way of warding off the evil eye. The khamsa is also known as the hand of Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed. The hand of Fatima is also used for superstitious protection throughout the Middle East and in parts of Africa.

In Jewish tradition it’s called the hand of Mirjam, the sister of Moses.

But the use of the hand as a symbol is probably much older than the modern religions. Even now and in our western world, the hand is seen as a symbol of protection, blessing and turning away from evil.

There are different types of door knockers in the shape of a hand, there are left and right hands, some have a ring, … This could also confirm another story that states that there are also male and female variants, each with their own specific sound. The visitor would then knock the appropriate knocker according to his / her gender and the woman of the house would know whether or not she should open the door.